Knutsen O.A.S. Shipping AS
Knutsen O.A.S. Shipping AS is a privately owned shipping company based in Haugesund, Norway. It operates a large fleet of specialized ships, including shuttle tankers, chemical carriers, and product tankers, and serves customers around the world.
The company runs about 41 ships and has a workforce of roughly 1,300 people, including land-based staff, offshore personnel, and crews from many countries. The CEO is Trygve Seglem and the chair is Harald Magne Eikesdal.
Knutsen OAS was founded in 1895 by Ole Andreas Knutsen. His son Knut Knutsen led the company from 1900 to 1946, helping it grow into one of Norway’s largest shipping firms. The 1970s brought economic difficulties, leading to restructuring. In 1980 Jens Ulltveit Moe became CEO and the company joined Umoe AS. In 2008 Moe’s assets were acquired, and Trygve Seglem became CEO in 2009. Since 1984 the company has focused on long-term contracts with top charterers.
Key milestones include securing its first offshore loading contract with Statoil in 1984 for two shuttle tankers, and the delivery of two new ships, Anna Knutsen and Ragnhild Knutsen, in 1987. All shuttle tankers use dynamic positioning systems from Kongsberg, making them highly capable in offshore operations. Knutsen OAS now operates one of the largest fleets of DP-class shuttle tankers in the world.
In 2008 the company had about 40 ships and 11 more under construction. A notable incident occurred in 1997 when the tanker Tove Knutsen spilled 50 tons of oil in the Humber estuary; the company was fined and cleanup followed.
Business areas include offshore loading and the transport of crude oil, products, chemicals, and LNG. The LNG program began in the mid-2000s, with five LNG ships delivered between 2004 and 2007 and plans for further expansion. LNG transport helps reduce emissions during loading and transport.
Knutsen OAS has also explored pressurized natural gas (PNG) to move gas on ships. Developed with Europipe GMBH and Det Norske Veritas, PNG stores gas on board at about 250 bars. Regulations approved this approach in 2003, offering an energy-efficient alternative to LNG for offshore loading in some situations.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:16 (CET).