Finnish Maritime Cluster Yearbook 2020 -2021

Editorial
The Finnish maritime
cluster knows collaboration
Tiina Tuurnala
CEO, Finnish Shipowners'
Association
Elina Andersson
Secretary General,
Finnish Marine
Industries
In cooperation:
Annaleena Mäkilä
CEO, Finnish
Port Association
Juha Mutru
CEO, Finnish Port
Operators Association
Finland’s maritime cluster is one of the country’s most significant
business sectors with annual revenues of EUR 14 billion. The sector
employs 50,000 people all over the country. The maritime cluster encompasses
about 3,000 companies from various sectors, all of which
are connected by their maritime expertise. Our diversity differentiates
us from many other countries. Among our number are passenger and cargo
ship owners, specialist ship owners, marine industries ranging from leading
marine equipment manufacturers, turn-key suppliers, designers, software and
system providers, not forgetting the shipyards, as well as the ports that handle
almost 90 per cent of Finland’s foreign trade. Passenger traffic is also an important
category. The Port of Helsinki is the busiest passenger port in Europe.
The past year of 2020 has been difficult for many actors in the maritime
cluster, as effects of the covid-19 pandemic have impacted the maritime sector
heavily. The yearly Breaking Waves conference, that usually gathers key industry
players from all over Europe to Helsinki, was organized virtually in 2020 due
to the circumstances. Speakers and audience at Breaking Waves highlighted the
increased need for collaboration and further cooperation between stakeholders,
in order to navigate through the crisis. They also stated, that decarbonization
efforts and developing digital operations are more important than ever.
Finland’s unique strength has always been the exceptionally openminded collaboration
between entities. This strength is now even more crucial than ever
for future success post covid-19. It helps us to move forward, and it also enables
experimentation and creating new innovations.
For example, maritime cluster companies in Finland have teamed up with AI
developers to develop machine learning solutions that improve the situational
awareness at ports and vessels by analyzing freight and logistics chains. There is
strong high-technology development in Finland. The Finnish maritime cluster
is a pioneer in environmental innovation, and it is at the global spearhead of the
development and deployment of low emission technologies that enhance energy
efficiency. Liquefied natural gas (LNG), wind, electricity and biofuels manufactured
from waste are already in use – they have long since graduated from the
planning phase. At the heart of Finland’s expertise are the most energy-efficient
cruise vessels and the greenest and quietest ferries in the world. Finland also
has very strong Arctic expertise. Finnish shipbuilding, as well as seafaring expertise
is unique, and the icy winter and difficult navigation conditions require
seafarers and entities in the maritime industry to have special skills.
Finnish vessels act as references and testing platforms for innovations in
the marine industry and, once testing is complete, they can be launched on
world markets. The competitive shipowning sector underpins the growth of the
maritime cluster as a whole. The industries are intrinsically linked – ports and
port operators do well when ship owners and the marine industry are buoyant.
In turn, these industries require good ports and fairways, functional logistics
chains and good mutual collaboration.
Maritime operations are going through a major transformation, due to digitalization
and automation. Climate change is also challenging the maritime cluster
to identify solutions for low-emission maritime traffic. The global pandemic
will add its own challenge in addition to these megatrends. This publication
highlights the world-class Finnish expertise and innovations that will address
the challenges and eventually lead the way to recovery.
Tiina Tuurnala, Annaleena Mäkilä, Elina Andersson, Juha Mutru
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