About us

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Investing in the future

DSD is a family-owned investment company based in Stavanger. We invest in technology-driven and socially beneficial businesses — and build them together with ambitious partners. Backed by a solid capital base and active ownership, we create companies that are set to lead in their industries.

The group is wholly owned by Folke Hermansen AS, with Yuhong Jin Hermansen as principal owner and Chair of the Board. From headquarters in Stavanger, a multidisciplinary team works closely with more than 30 portfolio companies and over 6,200 employees.

In 2025, we celebrate 170 years of development. Our 2030 strategy is anchored by six platforms: Tide, DSD Shipping, DSD Explore, DSD Travel Tech, DSD Geospatial, and DSD Future Platforms.

Since 1855, we have stood strong through changing times, driving development alongside the communities we serve.

Today, we remain true to our industrial DNA: we strengthen and develop companies that shape tomorrow’s solutions — and we are always moving forward.

That’s what we do.

That’s DSD.

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DSD is led by CEO Anita Krohn (left) and Chairperson and majority owner Yuhong Jin Hermansen (right).

Our investment team

At DSD, our culture and history are defined by a forward-looking vision and a deep connection to the world around us. We invest in people who are ready to push boundaries, create world-leading technology, and give back to the community. We don’t follow trends — we set them. For 170 years, we’ve led the way. And we’re just getting started.


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Anita Krohn became CEO of DSD in May 2024. She has strong expertise in strategy, sustainability, and innovation. She served on DSD’s board for three years before becoming CEO and works with the European Innovation Council (EIC). Anita has been CEO of Hewlett-Packard Norway and Innovation Norway, and led a government group focused on innovation and growth in the green sector through 2035.

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Martin Økland is Deputy Group CEO and is a vital part of the investment team where DSD seeks to find opportunities within our various business areas.

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Kjartan Melberg is Investment Director with extensive and diverse experience across multiple industries.

Kenneth Asbjornsen DSD Group Finance Officer

Kenneth Asbjørnsen is the Group Finance Officer and brings extensive experience in finance and economics from consultancy and the oil and gas industry.

1855

DSD is founded on 12 February 1855 in order to build the paddle steamer “Ryfylke” and operate it on the first commercial passenger services in the Ryfylke region.
Om DSD

1879

DSD expands into the international market by winning a three-year contract for the summer mail route between Kristiansand in Norway and Fredrikshavn in mainland Denmark.
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1919

DSD joins the Hurtigruten coastal ferry service, giving Stavanger a weekly connection to the route between Bergen and Kirkenes.
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1960

Norway’s first hydrofoil Vingtor starts operating on Norway’s first fast ferry service between Stavanger, Haugesund and Bergen. Travelling at 35 knots, Vingtor covers the distance in just four hours.
Om DSD 3

1989

DSD enters the international shipping market through DSD Shipping AS. It soon signs a contract to buy five tankers.
Om DSD 4

2004

Nor-Cargo is sold to Posten Norge AS. Nor-Cargo shipping is renamed Nor Lines AS. Shortly afterwards, Nor Lines establishes a nationwide network of land freight services.
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2009

The world’s first passenger ferries powered by natural gas (LNG) enter service on the major commuter route Nesoddtangen-Aker Brygge in Oslo.
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2011

Nor Lines becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of DSD.

DSD acquires all of the shares in Tide Sjø AS, and changes the name of the company to Norled AS.

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2015

Norled puts the world’s first battery-powered zero-emission ferry, Ampere, into operation on the Lavik-Oppdal route in Sogn.

Nor Lines takes delivery of two award-winning fully LNG-powered cargo ships.

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2017

DSD acquires all of the shares in Tide ASA.

The Nor Lines business is sold to Samskip.

DSD Shipping signs a contract to buy a further four tankers.

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2019

Norled is sold to CapMan Infra and CBRE Caledon Capital Management.

Go Fjords is launched by DSD, marking a new initiative aimed at the international tourism market.

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2020

The company changes name from Det Stavangerske Dampskibsselskab AS to DSD AS (“DSD”).
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2021

With the investment in the company TIdewave, DSD enters into the health care sector.

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2022

DSD is further investing in the tourism and travel technology sector. DSD is acquiring Keolis Norge and taking ownership stakes in Fish4Pets, Mobitech, and Minuendo. The latest Aframax is sold.

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2023

DSD Explore acquires the events company Z Event. DSD takes an ownership stake in Resani. The ownership stake in Ferdia is transferred from Tide to DSD.

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2024

Anita Krohn becomes the new CEO. The MR vessel Stavanger Pioneer is sold. DSD takes a majority position in Field Geospatial. Investments are made in the companies Dotnet Mentor and Anue.

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2025

DSD celebrates 170 years of exsistens. Announces its' new direction and strategy towards 2030.

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Awards and milestones

At DSD, we transform ambitious ideas into groundbreaking results. That’s how we are creating world-leading, green, sustainable technology.


  1. Year: 2017
    Award:
    • The hybrid ferry MS Folgefonn becomes the first ferry in the world to use wireless charging.
  2. Year: 2015
    Award:
    • The world’s greenest cargo ships, the LNG-powered Kvitbjørn and Kvitnos, are christened and enter service.
    • The world’s first battery-powered zero-emission ferry, Ampere, enters service.
  3. Year: 2014
    Award:
    • Ship of the Year
    • The Thor Heyerdahl Award
    • Næringslivets Klimapris, an annual award given to Norwegian business for climate-friendly innovation
  4. Year: 2013
    Award:
    • Green Ship Award
    • Norwegian Logistics and Freight Association's environmental award
    • The Rogaland county reserach and innovation prize

Management

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    Portrait image of Anita Krohn

    Anita Krohn

    Konsernleder

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    Portrait image of Martin Økland

    Martin Økland

    Deputy CEO

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    Portrait image of Kjartan Melberg

    Kjartan Melberg

    Chief Investment Officer

  • Kenneth Asbjornsen DSD Group Finance Officer

    Portrait image of Kenneth Asbjørnsen

    Kenneth Asbjørnsen

    Group Finance Officer

Board of directors

  • SH Yuhong Jin Hermansen krediteres Trine N Wichmann

    Portrait image of Yuhong J. Hermansen

    Yuhong J. Hermansen

    Yuhong Jin Hermansen is the chairman of the board and majority owner of DSD. Hermansen has over 25 years of combined work experience in shipping, finance, investment, and management. Hermansen is, among other positions, a board member of the Stavanger Chamber of Commerce, and has previously served as chairman of the board at Tide, as well as a board member of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise's central board and of Skagen Fondene.

  • SH Bjorn Anders Dale krediteres Trine N Wichmann

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    Bjørn A. Dahle

    Bjørn Anders Dahle is deputy chairman of the board of DSD, and has been part of the board of the group since 2013. Dahle has over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas sector as owner and managing director of Mento AS. He also holds various board positions and leads a unit in the Stavanger Chamber of Commerce responsible for Sola municipality. Additionally, he has experience in the tourism and event industry.

  • SH Lena Nymo Helli krediteres Trine N Wichmann

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    Lena Nymo Helli

    Lena Nymo Helli has been a board member of DSD since 2021. Nymo Helli is the managing director at Norway Health Tech, where she focuses on health-related startup companies. She has extensive experience in both national and international pharmaceutical industries. She serves as the chairman of the board for Norway's northernmost healthcare institution and has previously worked as a Venture Partner at the acquisition fund Hadean Ventures. Nymo Helli is also a board member and co-founder of the health data company NordicRWE.

  • SH Rune Jensen styremedlem DSD

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    Rune Jensen

    Rune Jensen has been a board member of DSD since the spring of 2024. He has extensive experience from senior management and board positions in Norway and abroad, including in energy, finance, information technology and the publishing industry. In 1999 he was responsible for business development at DSD, and in the period 2000 – 2006 he led DSD's investment in information technology, including the IPO of Allianse in 2005 and the sale to Ergo Group in 2006. For the past 18 years, Jensen has worked within Private Equity where he has contributed to acquisitions, value developments and sales of a number of portfolio companies.

Contact us

We are headquarted in Stavanger, Norway, and below are our contact details:

DSD AS
Børehaugen 1
4006 Stavanger

Phone: +47 51 84 56 00
Email: mail@dsd.no