seatec - Finnish marine technology review 1/2010 | Page 4

PUBLISHER PubliCo Oy Pälkäneentie 19 A FI-00510 Helsinki Finland Phone [phone] Fax [phone] [email protected] www.publico.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Mirkka Lindroos editorial seatec 1/2010 COST-EFFECTIVENESS INCREASED IN GLOBAL MARITIME BUSINESS Understanding the customers’ needs is the key question in the shipbuilding industry. Shipbuilding companies in cruise business build facilities for wonderful experiences for the passengers and effective cargo handling. Those facilities make customers’ business successful. STX Europe is a leading designer and builder of passenger and car ferries. Nobody can directly say that there is something wrong with the business understanding or operation. Of the 20 largest ferries in the world, twelve were built by STX Europe. The most recent vessels built in Finland are known all over the world for their particularly high quality. PROJECT MANAGER But the general situation in shipbuilding has not improved during the year Risto Valkeapää 2009 and no new orders have been secured. The employment situation at the CONTRIBUTORS Turku yard is further worsening, the operational level is reduced and the impact to Sami J. Anteroinen Frederik Naumann the employment is inevitable. At STX Finland’s Rauma shipyard, the situation is better. The production of GRAPHIC DESIGN two car and passenger ferries for the British company P&O Ferries for the Dover – A5 Plate Media Oy Calais route offers work. The first ferry, which is due to be completed in November 2010, is under con- COVER PHOTO Royal Caribbean International struction in the dry dock. The second vessel in the series will be identical to its sister ferry. Both projects are right on schedule. AD SALES Paul Charpentier Phone [phone] Fax [phone] [email protected] Risto Valkeapää Phone [phone] Fax [phone] [email protected] The order of a research vessel for the South African Department of Environmental Affairs will employ the Rauma shipyard even after the P&O Ferries order has been completed. STX Finland won the building project of this new expedition ship in hard competition. The expertise of Finnish shipyards as builders of demanding Arctic and Antarctic vessels is well known in South Africa. In this situation, the need to significantly improve the competitiveness and cost-effectiveness has increased. The percent-wise drop of the market prices has PRINTED BY PunaMusta Oy, February 2010 been recorded in double digits. Improving the cost-effectiveness and streamlining the operations are prerequisites for the future of the shipyards. Good news are coming from the offshore sector. STX Europe has entered into new contracts with Island Offshore for the building of two Platform Supply Vessels. The vessels will be built at STX Europe in Brevik, and are based on the same PubliCo is a member of the European Association of Directory and Database Publishers (EADP), ensuring quality and reliability for advertisers and users. All rights reserved. This publication may not be used in whole or in part to prepare or compile other directories or mailing lists without the written permission of the publisher. Measures have been taken in the preparation of this publication to assist the publisher protect its copyright. Any unauthorized use of the data herein will result in immediate legal proceeding. 2 seatec 1/2010 design as Island Commander and Island Chieftain delivered from STX Europe earlier this year. STX Europe has been awarded contracts also with Siem Offshore for design and building of two Platform Supply Vessels. The vessels are designed by STX Europe in Ålesund and will be built at STX Europe in Brazil. *** As a conclusion, I have to say that marine business has turned more complicated. But that is life: there are good days, difficult days and even bad days. But always after bad times there will be better business, because we have learned something new. RISTO VALKEAPÄÄ