When Statsraad Lehmkuhl arrived in port, students came on board to present their work and hand over their messages directly to the captain. As the ship continued its journey, these drawings, films and reflections travelled from port to port, connecting young voices across countries and cultures along the One Ocean Expedition route.
When the expedition returned to Bergen in April 2026 after one year at sea, the student contributions were brought together in the Message in a Bottle exhibition.
H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon visiting the Message in a Bottle exhibition during One Ocean Week 2026 in Bergen.
The Message in a Bottle exhibition during One Ocean Week 2026 in Bergen.
H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon receiving the final student contribution from students at Storetveit School and Metis Upper Secondary School in Bergen.
Student contributions ranged from films and reports to artworks and creative presentations about the ocean and its future.
The exhibition also invited visitors to share their own messages about the future of the ocean.
One of the student contributions featured display boxes illustrating different ocean scenarios and challenges.
Message in a Bottle youth event for Bergen students on board Statsraad Lehmkuhl during One Ocean Week 2026.
Students from Storetveit School and Metis Upper Secondary School attended talks by, among others, the Icelandic author Andri Snær Magnason
Several of the students created films about ocean pollution and rising sea levels as their contributions to the Message in a Bottle project.
Statsraad Lehmkuhl collected student contributions from schools along the One Ocean Expedition route.
Participating schools include:
Blue School EBI Lagoa, Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Bridge School, Seattle
Crosstown Elementary, Vancouver
Drew School, San Francisco
Escola Ordem de Sant’Iago, Setúbal
Metis Upper Secondary School, Bergen
Primaria Agustín Olachea, La Paz
Primaria Jerónimo Ahumada, La Paz
Storetveit School, Bergen
Valhúsaskóli, Reykjavík
Åstveit School, Bergen
École de Kéribin, Brest
A part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science
The One Ocean Expedition is an official ambassador for the UN Decade of Ocean Science, working to inspire action and connect people through knowledge about the ocean. By bringing science to life, the expedition fosters a deeper understanding of the marine environment and our shared responsibility to protect it.
The educational framework was developed by Drew School in San Fransisco.
📥 Download the teaching materials here !
Special thanks to GC Rieber Foundations for supporting the Message in a Bottle project.