Finnish firms help navigate shipping industry’s green transition

Finnish and Estonian stakeholders in the maritime space have signed a memorandum of understanding for creating a green shipping corridor across the Gulf of Finland.

Covering the routes between Helsinki and Tallinn and Vuosaari Harbour and Muuga Harbour, the corridor is an attempt to both accelerate the transition toward climate-neutral and sustainable maritime operations and increase the volume of cargo and passengers between the two countries. It will establish joint roadmaps with specific milestones for cities, ports and shipping companies to achieve their emission goals with the support of partners.

The project will also look to strengthen the competitiveness and vitality of the corridor by means of joint scientific studies, knowledge sharing and participation in relevant global initiatives.

Making the connection more sustainable is important and requires more than the steps mandated by, for example, legal instruments, according to Valdo Kalm, CEO of the Port of Tallinn.

“It is vital that all major players participate in this activity, so this is a day of great importance and a turning point for working together with all partners in favour of climate and nature,” he stated in October.

Ville Haapasaari, CEO of the Port of Helsinki, said he is convinced that the agreement will lead to the discovery of smart solutions for tackling the climate crisis and ensuring future growth and welfare in both Finland and Estonia.

The memorandum of agreement was signed by the cities and port authorities of Helsinki and Tallinn, the shipping companies Rederi AB Eckerö, Tallink Group and Viking Line, and the Estonian Ministry of Climate. It is supported by the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Finnish shipyard close to completing its first methanol-ready cruise ship

Meyer Turku in December announced the float-out of Mein Schiff 7, a methanol-ready cruise ship built at the shipyard in Turku, Southwest Finland, for TUI Cruises.

CEO Tim Meyer highlighted that the cruise ship is the first with a built-in capability to run on methanol, making it a “huge leap forward” in the shipbuilding company’s pursuit of industry leadership in the green transition.

The float-out was carried out by opening water valves to flood the 16-metre-deep dry dock, a process that was expected to take eight hours. The vessel was then floated to the outfitting pier over the first weekend of December.

Shipbuilders at the shipyard began working on the vessel in June 2022. Featuring 15 decks and 1 461 cabins with room for almost 2 900 passengers and 1 000 crew and a gross tonnage of 111 500, the ship is to enter into service later this year.

“We are delighted that the seventh ship of the Mein Schiff fleet has now water under its keel,” rejoiced  Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises. “The sister ship of Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 not only offers many wonderful innovations but also uses new low-emission fuels.”

Wärtsilä helps to raise the bar for shipbuilding in China

Wärtsilä in December revealed it has delivered a suite of solutions to Adora Magic City, the first ever cruise ship built in China.

The suite includes systems for automation, control, navigation and valve control, a smart motor control unit, and an engine and bridge control room console. The Finnish technology group also supplied the bow thruster system and dynamic trim system.

The cruise ship set sail on its maiden voyage from Shanghai, China, on 1 January.

Zhou Qi, project manager at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, said the shipbuilding project has set new standards for luxury cruise ships in China, a feat that was made possible by the “innovative products and continuous support” of the automation, navigation and control systems division at Wärtsilä, Wärtsilä ANCS.

Providing innovative automation and navigation capabilities to the cruise industry has always been a key focus for the division, added Thomas Heldarskard-Winnerskjold, director of automation and navigation at Wärtsilä ANCS.

“Adora Magic City not only represents a leap forward for China’s shipbuilding industry but also allows new opportunities for the cruising industry in China,” he said.

NIT awarded for carbon footprint calculator for ship interiors

Naval Interior Team (NIT) in November returned triumphant from the Cruise Ship Interiors Expo in London, having received the sustainability award for what is the first carbon footprint calculator designed specifically for ship interiors.

The calculator enables ship owners and shipbuilding companies to identify the factors that contribute the most to the carbon footprint and explore lower-emission alternatives, thereby helping them to reduce emissions. It also serves as a tool to connect industry stakeholders and foster collaboration on emission reductions, according to the group headquartered in Piikkiö, Finland.

CEO Sebastian Lagerlöf argued that the award is not merely an indication of the company’s success, but also of a shift in the industry’s mindset.

“I’m happy to see how the awareness of sustainability has risen remarkably in recent years,” he commented. “We all need to become green and more sustainable, and we are happy to help you do so.”

Founded in 2000, NIT is an international group of companies specialising in turnkey interior-design and construction solutions for all types of vessels. It has designed and built onboard spaces ranging from spas to restaurants and nightclubs for leading shipyards and shipowners for two decades.