TIMELINE 1971 –

The Finnish Patent and Registration Office confirms the association’s new name as Meriliitto – Sjöfartsförbundet ry.

The Finnish Maritime Association is asked by The Sail Training Association to launch the arrangements for the arrival, stay in port and departure of the ships participating in the 1972 Tall Ships Race.

The deed of foundation for the Sail Training Foundation – Segelfartygsstiftelsen – is signed. The foundation’s principal task is to acquire a training sailing ship. It has 43 founding organisations. The council of the Finnish Maritime Association appoints the foundation’s board of trustees, and the Association’s executive director serves as the foundation’s agent. The foundation must wait a long time before gaining access to a suitable vessel. In 1983 sailing takes place aboard the borrowed vessel Skopbank of Finland, and finally in 1984 the foundation gets to sea with its own gaff schooner Loki. Today the Finnish Sail Training Foundation sails Finnish and international waters with the schooner Helena.

https://staf.fi/

The Finnish Maritime Association celebrates its 50th anniversary, with both the anniversary meeting and dinner held at Restaurant Palace.

Strict cost-cutting prevents youth sailings, but young people are instead offered an excursion to the aquarium-planetarium in Tampere and, in spring, to the Helsinki Boat Show.

Together with the Finnish Lifeboat Institution and public authorities, the Finnish Maritime Association organises the Meripelastus -80 symposium aboard Finnjet. Topics over the three-day event include voluntary work in sea rescue, search operations and other aspects of maritime emergencies and rescue services. In Travemünde, participants are introduced to the new sea rescue cruiser of the Federal Republic of Germany and its operations.

The name of the delegation is changed to the Association Council.

The exhibition Sea Finland is held in Greenwich, England. The Finnish Maritime Association assists the organisers by helping to design the Finnish merchant shipping section.

The Finnish Maritime Association turns 60. The day is celebrated with an anniversary meeting aboard Silvia Regina, followed by the opening of an exhibition at Suomenlinna.

The seasonal model ship exhibition Ships 1926–1986 opens at the Armfelt Museum in Suomenlinna. The exhibition is organised around five themes: merchant shipping, maritime administration, the navy, shipbuilding and ports. Around 15,000 visitors attend.

The Finnish Maritime Association awards the first Maritime Achievement – Honorary Award. The distinction is granted for achievements that increase public knowledge and appreciation of maritime culture.

See more about the Maritime Achievement – Honorary Award

Press Seminar -87 is held aboard Sally Albatross.

A members’ event where Director Rolf Saxberg gives a presentation on “Transport and forwarding – sectors in the grip of change”.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises a maritime seminar aboard Sally Albatross for Parliament’s Transport Committee.

A lecture event where M.Sc. (Eng.) Maire Kaartama and Marketing Director Heikki Pesola speak on “Links – Finland’s transport alternatives to Europe now and in the future”.

A maritime seminar is held aboard Sally Albatross, organised jointly by the Finnish Maritime Association and the Foundation for the Support of Maritime Education and Research. The target group consists of civil servants from ministries and agencies connected with maritime affairs.

An evening devoted to Suomen Joutsen. During the event, discussion focuses on the fate of the training ship and where it should be placed, which in the Finnish Maritime Association’s view ought to be Helsinki.

A maritime seminar is held for the Parliamentary Transport Committee aboard Sally Clipper.

A lecture event aboard the icebreaker Sisu. Aatos Erkko, Chairman of the Board of Sanoma Oy, introduces the work of the ship museum committee. The discussion is especially lively when considering the future location of Suomen Joutsen.

A lecture event is held at the General Headquarters central pavilion on the theme “The Baltic Sea’s security-political and international situation”.

The first luncheon meeting organised by the Finnish Maritime Association is held, using as its model an event arranged at General Headquarters the year before. The format proves successful, and meetings begin to be organised annually. You can see the topics and speakers below:

Navigator begins publishing the Maritime Yearbook together with the Finnish Maritime Association.

The Federation Council is dissolved.

The Finnish Maritime Association celebrates its 70th anniversary with an evening event at the Katajanokka Casino.

A ship model exhibition is held at Stockmann’s Argos Hall. Over 70 models are displayed, and approximately 20,000 visitors attend during the month-long exhibition. Inspired by the event, the Association launches the compilation of a national register of ship models in Finland.

The first Maritime Safety Award, named Sea Sunday, is presented. It recognises outstanding contributions to maritime safety and may be awarded to individuals or organisations. The prize is a bronze miniature of Emil Cedercreutz’s Helmsman sculpture. The initiative is launched by the Finnish Seamen’s Mission, with the Finnish Maritime Association among the supporting organisations.

View all award recipients

Model Expo at Helsinki Ice Hall.

Members visit the Finnish Sailing Ship Foundation by sailing aboard the schooner Helena.

Member excursion to Turku, including visits to the naval mine collection in Pansio, the future of Suomen Joutsen, and the Maritime Centre Forum Marinum.

Member excursion to Suomenlinna, including visits to the visitor centre and the galley dock.

Visit to the Lost Ships exhibition at Kaapelitehdas.

The Finnish Maritime Association turns 75, and the anniversary is celebrated with a 75th anniversary seminar at Fortum Oyj’s head office. The keynote speech is given by Minister of Transport and Communications Olli-Pekka Heinonen, followed by a festive lunch. At the event, the Association’s 75-year history, written by Visa Auvinen, is published.

Visit to the marine research vessel Aranda.

Visit to Kvaerner Masa-Yards’ Helsinki shipyard and the nearly completed cruise ship Carnival Legend.

An afternoon excursion for members to Lohja to visit Meriturva’s new maritime safety training centre.

Member excursion to the Sköldvik refinery, including visits to the refinery, the DAT Tempera tanker and a pusher tug.

Visit to Meriturva’s ship-handling simulator in Otaniemi.

Visit to the exhibition “Masters of Maritime Art: Marine Paintings from Four Centuries”.

After a long break, the Finnish Maritime Association organises a Maritime Evening. This kind of lecture activity had been one of the Association’s core activities in its early years, but over time the Maritime Evenings had fallen into oblivion. It is now time to restart them. The Maritime Evenings are organised together with the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District and the Finnish Society for Maritime History. The practice varies somewhat: in different periods, the evenings were organised in cooperation with either both partners or only one of them.

22 January 2004        Maritime Evening, where Colonel Olavi Simola gives a lecture entitled “In the Wake of a Great Ocean Sailor”.

10 January 2005       General Staff Commander Aarni Lehti lectures at a Maritime Evening on Russian warship construction in the Baltic region before the First World War.

2 February 2006           Maritime Evening featuring Commander Pekka Tuomisalo’s presentation “Schooner Helena in the Wake of Suomen Joutsen”.

15 January 2007        Maritime Evening, where Professor Antti Saariaho lectures on the production and use of Liberty and Victory class ships during the Second World War.

23 January 2008        Maritime Evening, where Juha Nurminen and Erik Båsk of the John Nurminen Foundation present the new publication “Meritie – The History of Navigation”.

13 January 2009        Maritime Evening, where Commodore Markku Hassinen gives a lecture entitled “European Coast Guard Cooperation”.

25 January 2010        Maritime Evening opened by Juha Vuolle, Deputy Commander of the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District, who presents upcoming vessel acquisition plans. The main speaker is Sea Captain Seppo Laurell, who discusses Finnish lighthouses through his new book “Light at Sea”.

25 January 2011        Maritime Evening, where Commander Tom Hanén lectures on coast guard districts in war and peace, and art historian Tuija Peltomaa presents her book on Adolf Bock.

10 January 2012        Maritime Evening opened by Lieutenant Commander Marko Aheristo, who presents the offshore patrol vessel under construction at Rauma shipyard. Carl-Gustav Wallden lectures under the title “Palva, a Ship of Harsh Fate”.

30 January 2013        The tenth Maritime Evening, where Commander Ismo Siikaluoma lectures on the international cooperation priorities of the Border Guard’s maritime activities, and Professor Emeritus Anto Leikola lectures on “From Elephant to Nautilus – Explorations in the History of Animal Illustration”. 

21 January 2014        Maritime Evening presenting maritime guard dog operations. The presentation includes the maritime guard dogs Väijy and Navy, assisted by their handler. In addition, non-fiction author Raoul Johnsson discusses the Crimean War in the Baltic based on his new book.

15 January 2015        Maritime Evening, where Lieutenant Commander Mikko Simola lectures on border security in the maritime operating environment and Docent Mikko Huhtamies speaks on “Nordic Atlantis: Incredible Ideas in the Baltic Sea”.

12 January 2016        Maritime Evening at the Border Guard’s heritage room in Katajanokka. Commander Ismo Siikaluoma discusses the role of maritime border guards in handling refugee flows in Finland and the Mediterranean. Sea Captain Matti Westerlund shares his experiences of sailing through the Northwest Passage on the route Dutch Harbor–Nuuk–Rauma.

12 January 2017        The theme of the Maritime Evening is Commodore Tom Hanén’s lecture on the Finnish Border Guard as part of the new European Border and Coast Guard. In addition to the lecture, participants are introduced to the patrol vessel Turva.

29 January 2019        At the Maritime Evening held at the Suomenlinna Officers’ Club, pool secretary Juha Savisaari presents the activities of the Water and Air Transport Pools of the National Emergency Supply Organisation, and Professor Lauri Ojala presents the newly completed government report examining maritime security of supply and Finnish business life up to 2030.

29 January 2025        The theme of the Maritime Evening is ice research in Africa and Jukka Tuhkuri’s new book “The Power of Ice – The Story of the Sinking and Discovery of Endurance”.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises an expert seminar for Parliament’s Transport and Communications Committee aboard M/S Silja Opera.

Excursion to the Kuivasaari fortress island.

Visit to the Gulf of Finland Vessel Traffic Centre and the command centre of the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District.

Member excursion to Turku, including visits to Forum Marinum, the Sydväst Maritime/Fortum simulator, and Kvaerner Masa-Yards’ shipyard and the Color Fantasy cruise ship under construction.

A member excursion to Turku, where participants visit Forum Marinum, the Sydväst Maritime/Fortum simulator, and the Kvaerner Masa-Yards shipyard and the Color Fantasy cruise ship under construction there.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises an expert seminar for Parliament’s Transport and Communications Committee aboard M/S Silja Opera.

A visit to the John Nurminen Foundation’s “Grey Ships” exhibition.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises an expert seminar for Parliament’s Transport and Communications Committee. The journey is carried out as a combination of air and sea travel, and the seminar is held aboard a ship on the Stockholm–Turku route.

A visit to learn about the activities of the Finnish Institute of Marine Research.

The Finnish Maritime Association introduces its standard; standard number one is presented to the Finnish Navy. The standard is designed by Lieutenant Commander and graphic designer Tapani Talari.

A member excursion to Turku, where participants visit the Jukka Nurminen photo exhibition at Forum Marinum, the Archipelago Sea Naval Command, and the Aker Finnyards shipyard and the Freedom of the Seas cruise ship under construction there.

The Finnish Maritime Association celebrates its 80-year journey aboard M/S Silja Symphony with an anniversary meeting and a cruise to Stockholm.

A visit to Aker Arctic’s technology centre facilities and ice model testing basin.

A visit to VTT’s maritime research activities in Otaniemi.

A member excursion to Kotka, where participants visit the port crane simulator of South Kymenlaakso Vocational College, receive a presentation on Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences’ maritime education programmes, and visit the Port of Mussalo.

The first steps are taken towards possibly establishing a maritime line at Turku Finnish Co-educational Upper Secondary School. The Finnish Maritime Association announces its willingness to participate in developing and implementing the programme. Cooperation begins, and the Finnish Maritime Association encourages and supports students on the maritime line, for example by awarding prizes to them. The school launches a maritime line in which students can study, alongside their upper secondary school subjects, special studies supporting maritime fields, such as mathematical and scientific subjects and maritime studies. 

You can watch the Merilinja presentation video here

The Finnish Maritime Association and the Association of Teachers of Finnish organise the Sea and Us writing competition in cooperation with Science Centre Heureka.

You can read the writings here

A member excursion to Rauma, where the places visited include the maritime education of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, the operations of the Port of Rauma, the Aker Yards shipyard and the Superspeed 2 vessel under construction there, as well as Rauma Maritime Museum.

A day trip to Kotka, including visits to the exhibition at Maritime Centre Vellamo and behind the scenes of the museum.

A visit to the new Vuosaari Harbour.

A member excursion to Turku, where participants visit the Finnish Navy Headquarters in Heikkilä and the STX Europe shipyard in Perno, where the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship is under construction.

The Finnish Maritime Association creates a model ship exhibition for the Sea Tec 10 trade fair held at the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre, under the theme “Scale models of ro-ro vessels that served Finnish sea transport across six decades”.

A member excursion to the Upinniemi garrison.

A member excursion to Rauma, with visits including the STX Finland shipyard and the Spirit of France being built there, as well as Rolls-Royce Rauma and the Port of Rauma.

A visit to the multipurpose vessel Louhi.

A visit to the harbour icebreaker Turso.

A member trip to Turku, where participants visit Maritime Centre Forum Marinum’s new exhibition “Following the Herring – Finnish ocean fishing 1929–1976”, as well as the Archipelago Sea Naval Command and the mine countermeasures vessel Katanpää.

A visit to ABB Marine & Cranes and their Azipod propulsion system.

A member excursion to Turku. The destinations include Wärtsilä’s Land and Sea Academy, Aboa Mare’s recently opened maritime education institute with its simulators at Auriga Center, Archipelago VTS, and the command centre of the West Finland Coast Guard District.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications’ Maritime Transport Strategy 2012–2022 is completed. The Finnish Maritime Association takes responsibility for organising interactive discussion forums within the maritime cluster. The first discussion event is held on 23 April.

A visit to learn about Meritaito Oy’s operations and facilities.

A visit to the patrol vessel Turva at Katajanokka.

A visit to Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Oy’s Hietalahti shipyard and the icebreaker under construction there.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises an information briefing for Members of Parliament on the Finnish maritime cluster. The event is aimed at Parliament’s Transport Committee, Finance Committee, Transport Subcommittee and Parliamentary Maritime Group. In the presentations, participants are informed about the current state of the Finnish maritime cluster, the significance of cooperation between the maritime industry and the public sector, the state and future of Finnish merchant shipping, changes in Finnish ports, and the education situation in the maritime cluster and its key challenges.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises an afternoon presentation and promotion event on the EU’s Blue Growth strategy at the Marina Congress Center in Katajanokka.

You can learn more about the project through this link

A brochure is completed for the Finnish Maritime Association.

View the brochure here

The Brahea Centre and the Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku complete the maritime cluster study launched on the initiative of the Finnish Maritime Association.

The report can be read here

The Finnish Maritime Association becomes the largest single shareholder of Laivastolehti Osakeyhtiö, publisher of Navigator magazine, with a shareholding of 42.8%.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises a discussion forum related to the Maritime Transport Strategy, with the topic of change in ports. The keynote speaker at the event is Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner, who emphasises the importance of digitalisation at sea and free market competition in all transport sectors. UPM’s logistics director describes the position of remote Finland for the export industry. The managing director of the Finnish Port Association and the managing director of the Port of Helsinki speak about the challenging future prospects in ports as freight volumes remain unchanged. The shipowner perspective is brought to the event by the chairmen of the boards of Hans Langh Oy and Containerships Oy, as well as the managing director of ESL Shipping Oy. The Finnish Transport Agency’s winter traffic director and Arctia Shipping’s communications director give presentations on winter traffic. A special adviser from the City of Helsinki presents the MERET digitalisation project for shipping.

An anniversary seminar is held at Helsinki City Hall in honour of the Finnish Maritime Association’s 90th anniversary. The keynote address is given by Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner, and the City of Helsinki’s greeting is delivered by Mayor Jussi Pajunen. In his opening remarks, the chair of the Finnish Maritime Association briefly reviews the association’s history, noting that the association was born as a result of the sinking of torpedo boat S2 and the drowning of 53 naval servicemen. The association was founded on 24 April 1926 to promote the Naval Act, through which the Navy would receive new basic equipment. Indirectly, this also helped create a foundation for our present-day shipbuilding industry during the years of economic depression. After the wars, the association supported the rebuilding of our merchant fleet and launched youth activities, including by establishing the Finnish Sail Training Association. Today, the role of the Finnish Maritime Association is to serve as a maritime cooperation forum, highlight the significance of shipping and other maritime activities, increase interest in maritime sectors, and raise their appreciation and awareness.

The Sea Sunday Maritime Safety Award is presented to the offshore patrol vessel Merikarhu.

A day trip to Turku, with visits to Alfons Håkans, Deltamarin and Meriaura, to Aboa Mare’s training simulators at Auriga Center, and to the West Finland VTS and Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.

The Finnish Maritime Association and the Association of Teachers of Finnish had launched the Suomi ja meri writing competition the previous year. The patron of the competition is the spouse of the President of the Republic, Mrs Jenni Haukio. A total of 333 entries are submitted to the competition. The winner of the upper secondary school category receives as a prize the opportunity to participate aboard the Finnish Sail Training Association’s S/Y Vahine on a leg of the Rendez-vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta from Boston to Prince Edward Island in Canada. The winner of the lower secondary school category receives as a prize the opportunity to participate aboard S/Y Helena on a Tall Ships Race leg from Klaipeda to Szczecin. The winners are awarded in Kotka at Maritime Centre Vellamo. At the same time, a Finland 100-themed model ship exhibition, “Small Ships, Great Stories”, is opened.

You can read about the competition here

The Finnish Maritime Association organises a discussion forum related to the Maritime Transport Strategy, opened by Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä. During the morning, participants learn about the maritime cluster study prepared by the University of Turku and coordinated by the Finnish Maritime Association, while the afternoon discussions focus on security of supply and maritime environmental issues.

A maritime seminar for Members of Parliament.

A day trip to Kotka, including visits to the Port of Mussalo and Maritime Centre Vellamo, and participation in the 20th anniversary seminar and reception of Merimuseon tuki ry.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises a discussion forum related to the Maritime Transport Strategy, with the theme “Finnish winter navigation today and tomorrow”.

Navigator magazine begins to appear as a monthly online magazine instead of as a printed magazine.

Members visit the patrol vessel Turva.

Members visit the marine research vessel Aranda.

Members visit Aalto University’s renewed ice tank.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises a discussion forum related to the Maritime Transport Strategy; the theme is combating climate change and the competitiveness and challenges of our shipping. The topic of the opening address by Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka is maritime transport and our foreign trade in the face of Finland’s climate targets. In addition, presentations are heard on maritime transport logistics, the competitiveness of our foreign trade, goals towards carbon-neutral maritime transport, different fuels, and IMO’s deliberations on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.

An excursion to the Hanko Peninsula, where participants visit the Port of Hanko, Tvärminne Zoological Station and Koverhar Harbour.

A Blue Economy-themed webinar presenting Finland’s Maritime Spatial Plan 2030, the presence of offshore wind power in Finland, and the Itämeri.fi marine information portal.

A member cruise Turku–Stockholm–Turku, during which participants visit the new Viking Glory. The visit has been postponed by two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to touring the ship, participants hear the results of the study “Finnish shipping and its competitiveness” prepared by the Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku.

Members visit DA-Group in Forssa and the “Underwater Warfare Exhibition” produced by Forum Marinum.

Members visit Tallink Silja’s new MyStar vessel. In connection with the visit, participants are presented with the City of Helsinki’s plans for future passenger traffic arrangements.

Members visit Helsinki Shipyard and the S/H Diana under construction there, a five-star expedition cruise ship.

A member excursion to Hamina, where participants visit Hamina’s new terminals and their business ideas. During the day, participants receive up-to-date information on the new LNG terminal, SYT Tecoil, Fintoil, XAMK’s new oil spill response research basin, and the Port of Mussalo.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises a discussion event on the security of supply in shipping under the title “Finland is like an island – should we be concerned?” The event includes presentations on the maritime security of supply report prepared by the University of Turku, a contribution from the National Emergency Supply Agency on the report and national comprehensive preparedness, the perspective of the Finnish Shipowners’ Association, and the perspective of the Finnish Shipbrokers’ Association on the theme regarding foreign vessels. The Finnish Navy also gives a contribution at the event.

A member cruise Naantali–Långnäs–Naantali aboard Finnlines’ new M/S Finnsirius and M/S Finnswan. During the journey, participants hear contributions from the Port of Naantali, Naantali’s renewable energy and new fuels plant project, and Rauma Marine Constructions Oy’s Green Corridor project.

Read more about the project here

The Finnish Maritime Association begins cooperation with the YoungShip Helsinki community. The Finnish Maritime Association assists with the arrangements for the international ShipCon conference.

You can read more about YoungShip activities here

The Finnish Maritime Association is asked to provide a statement for the preparation of legislation concerning wind power projects in our exclusive economic zone. In its statement, the association stresses the importance of highlighting the involvement of Finnish operators in the tendering criteria. The sector can offer new maritime business expertise.

The Finnish Maritime Association launches the association’s strategic planning, especially with regard to digital channels. The association has traditionally operated in the old way. Now it considers how to renew itself while a respected centennial milestone looms ahead. The world has changed a great deal during this time, and sometimes keeping up with it in the organisational field requires a small update.

The Finnish Maritime Association receives a current briefing on the ICE Pact project.

Read more about the project here

and here

A morning coffee event introducing the new maritime directors of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, Traficom and the Ministry of Transport and Communications, as well as the agencies’ objectives in the maritime sector.

A visit to the Finnish Border Guard and Fintraffic’s Helsinki VTS vessel traffic service centre. Participants are introduced to the operations of the Finnish Border Guard, newbuilds and the activities of the VTS centre.

A visit to Alfons Håkans’ new TundRA 2600 Ice Class IA A SD tug.

Fifty years have passed since the icebreaker Urho was handed over to the National Board of Navigation.

A visit to Tallinn University of Technology’s Estonian Maritime Academy, the BLRT shipyards, TalTech’s innovation centre, BLRT Grupp’s shipyard, the Maritime Museum and the icebreaker Tarmo. The Estonian Maritime Cluster has just been established in Estonia and presents itself to the visitors. Likewise, the director general of the Estonian state fleet presents the state-owned shipping company’s activities to the members of the Finnish Maritime Association.

One hundred years since the wreck of torpedo boat S-2.

The Finnish Maritime Association organises a discussion forum related to the Maritime Transport Strategy, with the theme “The future makers of the maritime sector”.