Employees are our most important resource

Color Line is a diverse workplace with employees in four countries and a broad spectrum of professional disciplines—from technical and maritime positions to service, operations and administration. We believe that the people in our organisation are the driving force behind sustainable development. That is why we invest in competence development, well-being, diversity and leadership. Our values – We care. We build trust. We lead the way. – form the foundation of this work.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Color Line’s workforce represents a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, cultures, ages and professional competencies. This diversity strengthens our organisation by bringing new perspectives, better solutions and a more inclusive working environment. We actively work to ensure genuine equality and acknowledge that shipping has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. For this reason, we have set concrete targets to increase the proportion of women, particularly in technical and senior maritime positions.

Through long-term development plans and targeted recruitment, we aim to improve gender balance and strengthen female representation at all levels. We conduct annual SHE Index surveys and follow up with concrete actions—both at sea and on shore. This work goes beyond gender balance; it is about securing a broader recruitment base, a better working environment and stronger professional communities.

Competence development and career opportunities

Developing employees and leaders is essential for both operations and innovation. Color Line works systematically on competence development at all levels, offering tailored training and development programmes to prepare the organisation for future demands and opportunities.

As one of Norway’s largest maritime employers, we also have a particular responsibility to support recruitment to the industry. We were named Maritime Apprenticeship Company of the Year in 2019 and have welcomed apprentices on board since 1996—more than 1,000 to date. Color Line also operates a dedicated cadet programme during the summer months, ensuring that students gain both practical experience and sea time between academic terms. In addition, we offer young people short placements on board to provide insight into the maritime industry. We support education at both vocational college and university level and are proud to be a training company that offers young people a clear career pathway at sea.

We also set clear expectations for our leaders. Our leadership principles—inspirator, role model and driving force—form the basis for leadership at Color Line. We have implemented dedicated leadership training programmes focusing on sustainability, inclusion and responsible people management. Leaders are measured on both engagement and adherence to these principles.

Building culture and community together

A strong culture fosters well-being, belonging and results. Color Line is an organisation in transition, and we recognise that increased digitalisation and new ways of working require a more conscious approach to culture-building. Where we previously relied on physical meeting places between sea and shore, we now actively create new arenas for cohesion and motivation—both professionally and socially.

Internal communication is a key tool in this effort. We seek to involve and engage our employees in what we do—particularly in the area of sustainability. When employees understand our direction and goals and recognise their own contribution, ownership and engagement increase. We therefore share ongoing updates on organisational developments and encourage feedback.

We also recognise that well-being and social belonging extend beyond work alone. Events and initiatives that build relationships across disciplines and roles help strengthen our internal community. A strong corporate culture does not happen by itself—it is something we build together, every day.