SSG No 10 - Shipgaz

Olof Widén of Cargoship Association.
of Cargoship Association. “For the first
time in years the Finnish merchant fleet
has started growing and the share of shipments
on Finnish vessels has increased.
Hopefully this is a permanent change”, he
adds.
Weakening Dutch expansion
Mr Widén thinks that the development
has so far been rather a result of the main
competitors facing more difficulties than
an improvement in the Finnish shipping
policy. During many years Finnish cargo
vessels have lost market shares mainly to
The Frida – bought.
The Passaden – sold.
Dutch vessels. Now mr Widén thinks that
the Dutch expansion may not continue as
strong as before.
“Our domestic crews are our strongest
asset at the moment in Finland. The situation
regarding the recruitment of new students
to the maritime schools is indeed not
good in Finland and on Åland, but much
better than in other European countries.
Although even more seafarers should be
trained, there will still be a relatively good
supply of Finnish workforce both for the
ships and the shipping offices also in the
future.”
SHIPPING AND SHIP MANAGEMENT
Today, cargo vessels are operated by small
and efficient crews. Running vessels with
small crews in a safe way is possible due to
highly trained and skilled personnel. Active
leadership in every routine task is not a part
of the working culture on Finnish or Åland
vessels. All crew members know what they
are supposed to do even if the mate or bosun
is not watching over them all the time. And
on the smaller vessels every member of the
crew participates in the physical work – even
the captain if needed.
“Manning is most competitive in Finland
when it comes to the number of
hands”, mr Widén states.
He thinks that mixed crews are therefore
not crucial on board Finnish cargo vessels;
instead, the reason for using mixed crews
will rather be a shortage of Finnish engineers
and able seamen.
“The relative significance of a mixed crew
is rather small on a vessel which is manned
by a total of six to nine persons. The situation
is, however, completely different on a
large ferry as there is so much work which
requires less-qualified personnel.”
Trump on hand
It is quite obvious that there would be
much more investments in new and
second-hand vessels if the Finnish owners
finally got the tonnage tax legislation
revised. Mr Widén thinks that a proposal
may be presented during the summer.
“The latent tax liability is the largest
SCANDINAVIAN SHIPPING GAZETTE • MAY 16, 2008 53