Andreas Oxholm joined Hafnia Law Firm in 2016 as an assistant attorney and during that same year obtained his Master of Laws degree from the University of Copenhagen with a paper on the "Shipowner’s right to indemnify and limit himself of liability, when a Bill of Lading has been issued for the cargo". During his master studies Andreas did a 7 month internship at the Danish Permanent Representation at NATO.

In 2019 became an attorney-at-law and right of audience before the Højesteret, High Court of Denmark. During 2021 completed an LL.M. at New York University in “International Business Regulation, Litigation and Arbitration”. The year 2024 welcomed Andreas with his appointment as managing counsel and was awarded “Rising Star” within Shipping and Transport by Legal 500.

While doing his law studies, Andreas worked for Folketinget, the Danish Parliament and Bech-Bruun law firm and volunteered at the Copenhagen Legal Aid for three and a half years.

The main area of Andreas’ expertise at Hafnia Law Firm is insurance and litigation, and Andreas regularly takes instructions from insurance companies including numerous marine insurers on both recovery and cover matters. His expertise covers professional and product liability insurance, operational all risk policies, property insurance, management liability as well as marine cargo and marine casualty insurance.

In addition, Andreas has extensive experience in maritime liability matters, including collision matters, cargo insurance matters, shipyard liability as well as limitation funds and also takes instructions from bunker companies and ship suppliers with respect to collection matters as well as contract work. Andreas further advises shipowners on newbuild-contracts as well as sale and purchase of vessels and other transactional work. He also regularly advises clients on the new EU ETS issues and is a co-author on a book regarding decarbonisation of shipping.

Finally, Andreas is a skilled and experienced litigator, and regularly represent both insurance companies as well as companies in commercial disputes before the Danish Courts. He further has experience with international commercial arbitration including LMAA-arbitration.

Dirk Obermann is a deacon, social worker and coordinator of the psycho-social response program (Psychosoziale Notfallversorgung - PSNV) within the worldwide network of the German Seafarers’ Mission.

The physical and psychological strain on seafarers is severe and with a rising number of conflicts and wars in the world, as well as the increase of severe storms and bad weather events, work on board also is increasingly perceived as threatening.

"Fear is always on board", as a seafarer who was worried about pirate attacks said many years ago, when passing the Somali coast. Due to the war in Ukraine, Gaza and, above all, the missile attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, fear has unfortunately become a frequent companion.

Fini Hansen started his career at Nakskov Skibsværft (Nakskov Shipyard) in 1974, where he helped build the Great Belt ferries MF Prins Joachim and MF Kronprins Frederik, which later joined the Gedser-Rostock route.

Following the path he started at the Svendborg Maskinmesterskole (nowadays SIMAC - Svendborg International Maritime Academy) where he graduated as a qualified engineer, he has been at the Royal Danish Navy, DFDS, DSB, DSB-rederi. And Scandlines (at that time when he started somehow 41 years ago, a.k.a. DSB-rederi) in different positions such as Senior Chief Engineer, On Site Manager under the shipbuilding of the Rødby-Püttgarden ferries in 1997, HR-employee and since 2008 Scandlines Technical Superintendent. Fini has extensive experience as marine engineer, specific from "a lot" of Conversion Projects, New Building Projects, and dockings. He currently holds the title of Vice President Fleet.

As Technical Superintendent, Fini Alsted Hansen is responsible for Scandlines' hybrid system, including the installation and operation of the hybrid ferries, with a constant focus on the efficiency potential in ferry operations.

It was Fini's visionary choice that the Rødby-Püttgarden ferries should be designed as diesel-electric as early as 1997, so that there was the possibility of flexibility. And it was ground-breaking when Fini invented the hybrid system in 2013, which has been a huge success and has since been copied by shipping companies worldwide. Since the ferries were launched in 1997, Scandlines has reduced the energy consumption of the double-ended ferries by 50 percent – this is not least due to Fini's ingenuity.

Jens Meinhard Rasmussen is CEO of Smyril Line, a leading North Atlantic shipping company specializing in both RoRo freight and passenger transport. He has held the position since 2021, following a decade as Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Rasmussen is also CEO of Skansi Offshore, an offshore vessel operator based in the Faroe Islands, a role held since 2006. In addition to his executive roles, he serves as Chairman of the Board of the Shipowners of the Faroe Islands and is a long-standing board member of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

Mr. Rasmussen holds a Master Mariner certification from the Faroese Maritime Academy and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Copenhagen. His early career included seagoing service and shipbroking, forming a well-rounded foundation for his leadership in maritime transport.

Smyril Line was established in 1982 and is today a well-reputed shipping company linking the North Atlantic and continental Europe. Headquartered in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Smyril Line also maintains offices in Iceland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. The company’s primary work area is travel and freight transport in the North Atlantic, operating a fleet of four vessels including the Ro-Ro/Passenger Ship - ROPAX MS Norrøna, and currently has two newbuilds on order.

Skuld Germany GmbH former Head of FDD and meanwhile its Vice President of Claims and FDDA-turned claims specialist, Jens M Priess leverage his deep expertise to continue leading and mentoring a team of claims handlers, ensuring excellence in a fast-paced environment.

With over 30 years of experience in the maritime, shipping, and insurance industries, Jens specializes in providing expert legal counsel, strategic claims and risk management, and innovative loss prevention solutions. His journey started in 1995 at ARNECKE SIBETH DABELSTEIN, continued at UK P&I Club London and Ince & Co. Hamburg and arrived at Skuld Hamburg in 2009.

Jens has an ongoing commitment to integrity, continuous learning, and professional growth which "drives value for my clients, my team, and the industry". Bilingual in English and German, he navigates international claims - whether litigation, arbitration, or ADR (CEDR accredited) - with ease, focusing on client-centric solutions that build and maintain long-term relationships.

Jens is an Ambassador for WISTA Germany (Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association) recognised for his longstanding and consistent dedication to equality – both in his role at SKULD and in his personal and professional environments: "His genuine support and ongoing efforts to create equal opportunities make him a role model within the industry". As an active member of the Diversity Project Group, he has played a key role in the development and implementation of the Ambassador Initiative. 

In addition, Jens is a board member of the German Association for International Maritime Law (Der Deutsche Verein für Internationales Seerecht).

Dr Kieran Dodworth has been a Partner at Brookes Bell LLP since 2011 joining the partnership as part of the merger with Safety at Sea Ltd. He is now Director of Naval Architecture with responsibility for that discipline across Brookes Bell.

He was employed in the offshore industry prior to joining Safety at Sea, working for several consultancy firms based in the United Kingdom, in the field of non-linear dynamics of offshore structures.

He studied for a PhD in “damaged vessel hydrodynamics” at the University of Strathclyde which he achieved in 2000. His undergraduate degree was in “Naval Architecture and Small crafts” from the University of Strathclyde, which was completed in 1995.

His substantial knowledge and experience have made his opinion much sought after, offering advice, reporting, and writing articles about his areas of expertise being among others, aero/hydrodynamics, and marine structures. He is responsible for the development and technical output of Brookes Bell in these areas. He has also carried out a considerable body of work in the field of seakeeping and vessel dynamics and is one of the company’s specialists in this field.

He has advised clients on several important legal cases and carried out accident investigations on behalf of flag states for major vessel losses.

Advising clients, Dr Dodworth’s specialist knowledge has led to him, becoming a respected expert witness, providing his expertise in several complex civil and criminal court cases and in arbitration. He has given evidence in arbitration hearings in London and in the US.

Dr Lars Rosenberg Overby is a qualified Danish lawyer and Dr. Juris from the Scandinavian Institute of Maritime law.

With more than 30 years in the business, Lars is one of Denmark's most experienced lawyers within maritime and transport law. He has experience as an arbitrator and has litigated cases before all Danish courts and in international arbitration cases.

Lars was on the BIMCO drafting committee of the standard contract Windtime and has P&I Club experience.

Lars is president of the Danish Maritime Law Association and active in the Polar Shipping Committee of Comité Maritime International. In addition to his work as a lawyer, has been a judge at the Østre Landsret - Court of Appeal of Eastern Denmark. He is a member of the Supreme Court bar and the Arbitration Association.

In addition, Dr Lars Rosenberg Overby has written several books and articles on maritime law topics and has been an external lecturer at the University of Copenhagen in maritime law.

Lars is the Chairman of the trust managing the Danish sail training tall ship GEORG STAGE.

Chief Officer Mads Kyrkjebø-Urheim started his marine life in 2009 at Østensjø Rederi (Haugesund) as A/B apprentice (deck and engine) navigating securely towards Sea-Cargo AS Headquarters - Marine Department, arriving there safely in January 2025.

Experience

2025 Sea-Cargo AS (Paradis, Bergen). Headquarters, Marine Department.
2016-2025 Norled AS (Bergen). Chief Officer, MS Tyrving MS Vingtor MS Njord MS Fjordkatt
2023-2024 Bergen Port. Harbour Master
2014-2016 Østensjø Rederi (Haugesund). 2. Officer, MS Edda Fonn MS Edda Sprint MS Edda Fram TB Thorax
2013-2014 Østensjø Rederi (Haugesund). Cadet, MS Edda Sprint
2009-2012 Østensjø Rederi (Haugesund). A/B apprentice, MS Edda Flora MS Edda Frende MS Edda Sprint

Among Mads many hobbies and interests we find hiking, skiing and cars "which I have successfully shared with my son!"

Nicolai Træde Vestergaard is serving at Scandlines Danmark - in his work with International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) measures - as the Port Security Officer (PSO), Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) and Company Security Officer (CSO) since January 2020 where he arrived from a position as Logistics coordinator for the Copenhagen Malmö Port.

His daily tasks centers around infrastructure and automation projects and LEAN transformation initiatives:

"My role closely integrates with corporate crisis management ensuring that our operation remain resilient and efficient in the face of challenges".

Most of Nicolai´s life experience has been firmly acquired on the ground, at Danish Defence (Defense Command, Ministry of Defence and MOFA, NATO Headquarters and Kabul) as Military Policeman and Close protection Officer.

Some of his tasks and responsibilities but not all, have been: Supporting military units with the maintenance of law, order, and discipline among military personnel. Monitoring of crowd control, maritime security, travel safety, personnel safety, transport safety and value management. Assisted in conducting quality control of risk analysis, safety instructions, and emergency procedures. Follow the known risk assessments development, through close dialogue with relevant authorities. Advise and assist managers in identifying and implementing relevant security measures through reporting.

Nicolai has also been a Freelance Consultant at "Velkommen Hjem" (Welcome Home) an organization owned and operated by a number of companies and foundations, to benefit veterans' journey from a military to a civilian life. Part of a small team - primarily freelancers who work with most disciplines within communication, consulting, teaching, as well as with a number of central structural and administrative tasks.

Tue Lippert has built his career at the intersection of offshore wind energy, critical infrastructure security, and defence. With a background as an officer in the Royal Danish Navy, he developed expertise in leadership, strategic planning, and operations management. His naval career included roles in special forces operations, maritime security, and intelligence—experience that laid the groundwork for his transition into the renewable energy sector.

After leaving active military service, Tue assumed project management roles in offshore wind development. He played a central role in the construction of large-scale offshore wind farms, including the Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm, where he oversaw the construction phase and coordinated operations with stakeholders. He later contributed to the development of the Deutsche Bucht Offshore Wind Farm, ensuring its technical and logistical readiness for financial close.

His work extended beyond project execution to leadership positions in consultancy and engineering firms. As Director of Offshore Wind Engineering at Worley and Director of Offshore Installation at K2 Management (now Rambøll), he led teams responsible for installation logistics, risk assessment, and operational execution across multiple offshore projects. His ability to navigate the regulatory and technical complexities of wind energy established him as a trusted advisor in the field.

More recently, Tue founded Heimdal Critical Infrastructure, providing strategic consultancy services focused on offshore wind development and security. His expertise in integrating defence considerations into energy infrastructure planning has been recognized through advisory roles with organizations such as WindEurope and the European Defence Agency.

Tue remains an active Reservist with the Joint Arctic Command in Greenland and hold the rank of Commander (Reserves), serving as liaison officer to the UK and US. He has continued his military education and involvement in strategic defence planning, completing the Advanced Command and Staff Course (Reserves) at the UK Defence Academy in 2023, where he also serves as the first international Directing Staff. He remains actively engaged in discussions on offshore wind policy, project execution, and the security of critical infrastructure.

Based north of Copenhagen, Denmark, Tue enjoys running, mountain biking, hiking, and sailing. He is also an avid reader of history and contemporary literature.

Wolfgang Knopf is a Master Mariner and Senior Nautical Advisor at Germany's Havariekommando.

The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME) is Germany's only organization for accident management and the coordination of complex disaster situations in the North and Baltic Seas. It was founded in 2003 as a joint institution of the federal government and the five coastal states to improve response times to disasters at sea.

In day-to-day operations, the Havariekommando is Germany's center of excellence for maritime emergency preparedness. In the event of complex disasters, an emergency response team is convened to coordinate the actions of all federal and coastal state emergency services. Since its founding, the Havariekommando has successfully handled 90 complex disaster situations. Each year, conducts approximately 100 exercises and training sessions with its partner organizations. Around 50 employees work for the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, and its headquarters are in Cuxhaven.