The purpose of the AORF is to discuss and evaluate safety-related threats and opportunities, in order to promote a high level of safety in petroleum activities in the Arctic.
The forum had its official kick-off meeting in April/May 2015 in Washington D.C., USA. The first ordinary meeting took place during the Arctic Safety Summit in Tromsø, Norway in October 2015, and further meetings will be held twice a year.
Norway has been a driving force behind the cooperation, notably through an initiative taken in connection with the Arctic Safety conference in Stavanger in October 2013, in Tromsø i 2015 and i Stavanger in 2018.