Norwegian naval expansion and Norwegian survival on the agenda at the VUC

Professor Fischer will lecture on two topics: from 10.00 – 11.30 on Early (i.e. mid nineteenth century onward) Norwegian naval expansion. How and why did it come about? What were the Norwegian comparative advantages in the area of sail? And did Norway offer any distinctive domestic institutional arrangements that favoured naval expansion?

And from 12.30 – 14.00 on How did the Norwegian naval sector manage to hold its position and readjust when the more capital intensive steel, steam and diesel-engine technologies took over?

Professor Fischer is a specialist in nineteenth and twentieth century maritime economic history, with a special interest in merchant shipping and maritime labour markets. Professor Fischer is the author of more than 200 books and articles on various aspects of the maritime experience, including more than fifty on Norway.

A former Secretary-General of the International Commission for Maritime History, he is also one of the founders of the International Maritime Economic History Association. His work in maritime history has been recognized by honorary degrees from universities in the United Kingdom and Australia.