Aboa Mare

Happy Midsummer from Aboa Mare! 🥳

We wish all our customers, students, partners, and colleagues a joyful Midsummer and a wonderful start to the summer season.

While many are setting sail for a well-deserved holiday, our office remains open throughout the summer, and our team is here to help:
✉️ Training: [email protected]
✉️ Sales: [email protected]
✉️ General: [email protected]

Wherever the summer takes you, we wish you fair winds, calm seas, and plenty of sunshine! 🌞

Simulator Manager Thomas Lundberg, Training Director Thomas Friis and ICT Specialist for Maritime Simulations Anass Benzaouia, recently attended the Wärtsilä Simulation User Conference at SIMAC - Svendborg International Maritime Academy.

During the conference, Thomas Lundberg and Thomas Friis also held a presentation on the topic “Decarbonization Training”, sharing expertise on how simulation-based training can support the maritime industry in the transition towards more sustainable operations.

It was a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, discuss future training needs, and connect with colleagues and partners across the maritime simulation community.

During the summer, we renewed the furniture in our classrooms to create even better learning environments. We warmly welcome our students and course participants back this autumn to our updated facilities! ✨

EXHIBITOR INTRODUCTION – Maritime Fair 2026

⚓ Exhibitor: Godby Shipping
📍 Stand: 50
📆 29-30 October 2026

One of the exhibitors you can meet at the Maritime Fair 2026 is Godby Shipping Ab!

Godby Shipping is a privately owned shipping company located in Åland Island. Our aim is to offer high class tailor made sea transportation for the forest industry and liner operators. We operate a modern and competitive fleet with eight roro-vessels under Finnish and NIS flag. In total, the company employs about 200 persons.

In February 2026 we ordered two Stream Roro 1700 vessels with options for two more at CIMC Raffles in China. The project is important for us to continue to provide our customers with high quality tailor-made transport solutions, renew our fleet and meet both present and future environmental demands.

👉 Read more about Godby Shipping: https://www.godbyshipping.fi/

🌊 Visit our website for more information about the fair: https://aboamare.fi/maritime-fair-2026

See you at the Maritime Fair at Aboa Mare in Turku, Finland!

We recently had the pleasure of hosting visiting engineering teachers from the Blas de Lezo Maritime School in Pasaia, Spain, for a job shadowing visit at Aboa Mare. ⚙️

During their stay, Pedro Herreros and Iñigo Iribar explored our engine room simulators, observed student exercises, and exchanged insights on teaching methods and shared industry challenges. It was a valuable opportunity to learn from one another and strengthen collaboration between maritime educators across Europe.

Our visitors highlighted the high quality of both our training equipment and, above all, the dedication and openness of our staff and students.

“A massive thank you to Bertel Henriksson, who went above and beyond for us. He poured so much dedication into our visit and made us feel right at home, like absolute family. We are leaving totally in love with the Finnish mindset and the genuine hospitality of its people. Tack for everything! You’ve been amazing.”, says Pedro Herreros after the visit.

“We have been able to observe the types of exercises required of students in the engine room simulators, and the autonomous way in which they learn under the excellent supervision of the teacher. The quality of the technical equipment is very high; we have been able to verify this ourselves, as we have been given the opportunity to practice on most of the simulation devices. Bertel Henriksson offered us his full support and shared his knowledge with us in an incredibly kind and generous manner. Other members of Axxell, like Kim Karlsson, were also willing to share their insights, and finally, the students were very polite and tolerated our presence with great kindness. It has been a true pleasure to visit you”, Iñigo Iribar adds.

We truly appreciate the exchange of ideas and look forward to continued collaboration with our colleagues in Spain. 🤝

With only four months to go until Maritime Fair 2026 at Aboa Mare (29-30 October), more than 60 % of the exhibition stands are already booked - and the lineup is growing every week.

From shipping companies and authorities to maritime students and seafarers, Maritime Fair 2026 is where the maritime industry comes together to showcase solutions, connect with key decision-makers, and build valuable connections.

💫 Here are some of the companies you'll meet at Maritime Fair 2026:

Aboa Mare ∣ Advenica ∣ Alandia Försäkring Abp ∣ Alandica Shipping Academy ∣ AT-MARINE OY ∣ Axxell ∣ Bore Ltd ∣ C Teleport B.V. ∣ Consilium Marine Oy ∣ Eckerö Line ∣ Epomare Oy ∣ Finnlines Oyj ∣ Fintraffic Meriliikenteenohjaus Oy ∣ Godby Shipping Ab ∣ Hagedorn Products & Systems GmbH ∣ Helmacab Oy ∣ Kongsberg Maritime Finland Oy ∣ Langh Ship Oy Ab ∣ Lockton Marine ∣ Marpro Group ∣ MEPA (Finnish Seamen’s Service) ∣ Mercy Ships Sverige ∣ Merenkulun turvallisuuskoulutuskeskus ∣ Meriaura Oy ∣ Merimieseläkekassa ∣ Merityönvälitys/Sjömansförmedling ∣ Navtor ∣ OSM Ship Management Finland ∣ Oy HL-Metal Ab ∣ Port of Turku Ltd ∣ Prima Shipping ∣ Promarine Oy ∣ Rauma Cata Oy ∣ Rederi Ab Nathalie ∣ Signwell Oy ∣ Suomen Konepäällystöliitto – Finlands Maskinbefälsförbund ∣ Telemar Oy Ab ∣ Westermo Data Communications Ab ∣ Yrkeshögskolan Novia

💡 Looking to showcase your company and meet the right audience? Book your stand here 👉 https://aboamare.fi/maritime-fair-2026

Alongside the exhibition, a two-day seminar programme will bring together current topics and inspring speakers from across the maritime industry. The full programme will be announced soon.

We look forward to seeing you at Aboa Mare in October!

📆 Date: 29-30 October 2026
⏰ Opening Hours: Thu 9 AM - 5 PM, Fri 9 AM - 3 PM
🎟️ Free entrance on both days
📍 Location: Aboa Mare, Turku, Finland

Idag firade Axxell alla som tagit examen under läsåret 2025–2026 🌹

Aboa Mare vill rikta ett varmt grattis till alla som tagit examen inom sjöfart! Under året har 13 nya styrmän, 3 maskinmästare, 18 vaktmän samt ett tjugotal skeppare i inrikestrafik och lika många maskinskötare fått sitt betyg via Axxell.

Vi önskar er all lycka och framgång i er fortsatta karriär! ☀️🌊

📸: Nina Ahtola / Axxell

Two days showed what our industry is really about! ⚓This week, we brought the maritime cluster together in Helsinki for the annual Basic Course in Marine Technology – and once again, it proved how much we can learn when we meet across roles, organisations and disciplines.

During these two days, we moved from design and shipbuilding all the way to operations, sustainability and the user’s perspective. But more importantly – we connected the people behind it all.

🎤 A warm thank you to our speakers:
Jari Yli Tolppa (Elomatic)
Arttu Stenberg (Helsinki Shipyard)
Elina Andersson (Finnish Marine Industries / Meriteollisuus ry)
Ville Laaksonen (Rauma Marine Constructions)
Magnus Winberg (Aboa Mare)
Petri Hakulinen (Bluetech Finland)
Jussi Lindström (DNV)
Harry Yli Uotila (Aboa Mare)
Antti Simula (Turku Repair Yard)
Pekka Ruponen (NAPA)
Lauri Tiainen (Wärtsilä)
Atte Piiroinen (ABB Marine & Ports)
Heikki Tanner (Valmet Automation)
Juho Virtanen (Meyer Turku)
Carolus Ramsay (Finnish Shipowners’ Association)
Esko Pettay (Meriaura)
Annika Sandberg (Deltamarin)
Jami Toivonen (Langh Ship)

You didn’t just present – you helped build understanding across the entire maritime value chain.

🤝 And to all participants: thank you for your openness, your questions, and the great discussions throughout the course. That’s where real learning happens.

The course is designed by the In Service Training Committee of Finnish Marine Industries and organised in cooperation with Aboa Mare – ensuring strong relevance and a close connection to the needs of the industry.

🙏 Special thanks also to the committee’s Chair, Jari Yli Tolppa, for guiding the course over these two days – and to Elina Andersson for your valuable support in making this course possible.

This is exactly why we do this – to strengthen competence, create connections, and bring the maritime cluster closer together.

Already looking forward to the next one 🚢

EXHIBITOR INTRODUCTION – Maritime Fair 2026

⚓ Exhibitor: Seafarers’ Pension Fund (MEK)
📍 Stand: 7
📆 29-30 October 2026

One of the exhibitors you can meet at the Maritime Fair 2026 is Seafarers’ Pension Fund (MEK)!

Seafarers' Pension Fund (MEK) is an earnings-related pension provider responsible for the statutory pension cover of seafarers. The Fund grants and pays out MEL pensions based on employment. Its operations are governed by the Seafarers’ Pensions Act.

Established in 1956, the Fund, which turns now 70, is the oldest statutory earnings-related pension provider in the private sector. The financing of future pensions is secured through long-term, responsible and profitable investment activities.

The roots of the Fund date back to the Seamen’s House established in 1748 and its successor, the Seafarers’ Pension Institution (1880–1936). Today the Fund is strong both financially and operationally.

👉 Read more about Seafarer’s Pension Fund: www.merimieselakekassa.fi

🌊 Visit our website for more information about the fair: https://aboamare.fi/maritime-fair-2026

See you at the Maritime Fair at Aboa Mare in Turku, Finland!

Meet us at the Maritime Day in Mariehamn 20-21 May! ⚓️

Connect with Leif-Christian Östergård, Thomas Friis, Petteri Niittymäki, Carina Virkama, Maarit Valsi, Emilie Pärnänen, Thomas Finne and Jonas Långström. Looking forward to inspiring conversations, networking, and seeing both familiar and new faces!

📍 You can find Aboa Mare’s exhibition stand on the 2nd floor in the M section to discuss maritime education and training possibilities.

Read more about the event: https://www.sjofart.ax/maritime-day-aland-2026/