Often referred to as “Mr. OCX”, Ole Christian has been the driving force behind the Open Class 3D Exchange (OCX) format. What started as a research initiative a decade ago has now become an industry-wide reality, accelerating the digital shift in shipbuilding. 

This collaborative effort is transforming how the maritime industry approaches design approval, replacing traditional 2D documentation with model-based, digital workflows. 

I'm honoured to receive the COMPIT Award this year for my contributions to the Open Class 3D Exchange (OCX) initiative. This recognition is not mine alone — it's the result of a shared vision and a collective effort that is firmly anchored with the OCX Consortium, says Ole Christian Astrup.  

The COMPIT Award is a distinguished honour given during the biennial international conference ‘Conference on Computer Applications and Information Technology in the Maritime Industries’ (COMPIT), which brings together researchers, technologists and industry professionals working on digitalisation and IT applications in the maritime sector.

The award recognises outstanding contributions, whether in academic research, innovative software tools, digital workflows or new approaches to ship and offshore design and operation, that push the boundaries of how computing & information technology are applied in shipping, shipbuilding and the marine industry.