Maritime industry

The vision is for the Finnish maritime cluster to be the world’s most creative, flexible and adaptable network of maritime operations.

The maritime industry includes shipbuilding yards, repair and offshore shipyards, and component and comprehensive suppliers in the marine technology sector. In addition, the maritime industry includes engineering companies, as well as programming, system and equipment suppliers. In terms of maritime spatial planning, shipyards are the most important aspects. Major shipyards are located in Helsinki, Turku, Pori, Rauma, Salo, Kokkola and Uusikaupunki.

International goals and agreements

The international goals of the maritime industry include increasing innovation in the European shipbuilding and marine equipment industry, reducing the environmental impacts of ships and creating new business opportunities based on environmental and safety regulations.

The international standards of shipbuilding are prepared by the Ships and Marine Technology Committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The committee’s scope of operation covers the structures and equipment used in shipbuilding and ship operation, the environmental aspects of maritime transport, and all other maritime industry aspects falling under the requirements of the International Maritime Organization. There are currently more than 200 completed standards.

The Directive on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances (Seveso-III Directive) may have direct regional impacts on maritime spatial planning.

National goals and agreements

The goal of Finland’s maritime policy is for Finland to secure growth opportunities and a competitive operating environment for the Maritime cluster so that the cluster can produce competitive innovative solutions, services and products for the global market.

According to Finland’s strategy for the Baltic Sea region, Finland actively works to ensure that the Baltic Sea region is a provider of model solutions for a safe and clean maritime industry, in addition to being networked, innovative and competitive and leading the way in using new technology.

The aim is to strengthen the competitiveness of the maritime industry and invest in maritime research, as well as enabling the construction of ships suitable for winter navigation and the determination of an energy efficiency index. In improving competitiveness, it is important to continuously develop the companies included in the supplier network and promote their international operations, as well as supporting the development of innovation activities and digitalisation. The goal is for the Baltic Sea to lead the way in autonomous maritime transport by promoting cooperation between the Baltic Sea countries. It is also important to ensure that the international regulatory environment creates a globally consistent operating environment, in addition to enabling the Finnish maritime industry to compete in the global market.

According to the 2017–2025 Strategic Research Agenda of the Finnish maritime cluster, the vision is for the Finnish maritime cluster to be the world’s most creative, flexible and adaptable network of maritime operations in 2025. Development efforts will be targeted at the following in particular: reducing emissions from maritime transport, making use of digitalisation and increasing the efficiency of production networks.

Sources

Directive 2012/18/EU on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances

2017–2025 Strategic Research Agenda 2017 of the Finnish Maritime Cluster

Finland’s Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, Prime Minister’s Office 2017

Finland’s Maritime Policy, Prime Minister’s Office 2019

Government Resolution on Finland’s maritime policy guidelines: From the Baltic Sea to the oceans. Publications of the Prime Minister’s Office 4/2019