Finnish Maritime Cluster

The Finnish Maritime Cluster is a cluster of companies in maritime industries in Finland. In 2001 the total turnover was estimated at 11.4 billion euros with 47,000 people employed in shipbuilding and related industries.

History

Small trading ships similar to Jacobstads Wapen were built in Finnish coastal towns in the 18th century. The first large scale shipyard was the galley dry dock at Sveaborg built in the mid 18th century, which serviced the ships that won one of the largest sea battles in history.

oviet trade

A major boost to Finnish shipbuilding was the war reparations paid to the Soviet Union after WW II. They forced a rapid industrialization of Finland and the creation of a large metal industry in addition to the traditional papermaking and forest industries.

Bilateral trade with the Soviet Union forced Finnish shipyards to build ships with a high percentage of total value of Finnish origin. All major components of the finished products needed to be produced domestically. The high percentage of domestic components continues even after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the lucrative trade deals. While ships built in other European shipyards are a collection of components from around Europe and around the world, cruise ships built in Finland can have over 90% of their total value in Finnish components and labor.

Major companies

* Aker Finnyards with shipyards in Turku, Helsinki and Rauma
* ABB, formerly Strömberg, producer of "Azipod" Azimuth thrusters
* Hollming Group, now part of Aker Finnyards; producer of "Aquamaster" (now Rolls Royce) Z-drive Azimuth thrusters
* Kone Corporation
** Cargotec (Split from KONE in 2005, formerly Navire Cargo Gear and MacGregor) provides cargo-handling solutions.
* Wärtsilä Diesel provides maritime diesel engines.
** Sanitec, a former subsidiary of Wärtsilä, provides closed loop sanitation systems.
*Steerprop, Rauma, Azimuth Propulsors

hips

Icebreakers

* MS Fennica and MS Nordica
* Nuclear powered icebreakers [http://www.akerfinnyards.com/icebreakers.cfm]
**NS "Taimyr" (1989)
**NS "Vaigach" (1990)
* MV Sampo (1961)

Submarines

* MIR (submersible)
* "Vesikko"

=Cruise liners=

* Genesis class (2009, 220,000 tons)
* Freedom Class (158,000 tons)
* Voyager class (142,000 tons)
* Spirit class (85,700 tons)
* Vision Class (81,500 tons)
* Fantasy class (70,390 tons)
* Royal Princess (44,348 tons, 1984)
* Song of Norway (1970)

=Cruiseferries=

* M/S Color Fantasy (2004)
* M/S Silja Symphony (1991)
* M/S Silja Serenade (1990)
* GTS Finnjet (1977)

Warships

* Ilmarinen (1931), first battleship with a diesel-electric drive
* Helsinki class missile boat
* Rauma class missile boat
* Hamina class missile boat
* Tuuli class hovercraft

External links

* [http://www.meriliitto.fi/?l=en&p=16 Finnish Maritime Society :: The Finnish Maritime Cluster Study]
* [http://mkk.utu.fi/english/liitteet/seacluster.pdf THE FINNISH MARITIME CLUSTER 2003]
* [http://www.akerfinnyards.com/ Aker Yards]
* [http://2002.hightechfinland.com/newmaterials-processes/sivu.php?id=kvaernermasayards Developing bigger and better cruise ships] at hightechfinland.com