Meriturva was established by a decree of March 1997 under the auspices of the Finnish National Board of Education. This merged the fire training unit (established in 1976) and the ship simulator unit (established in 1984) previously operating at the Helsinki Maritime College, as well as a new rescue training unit established at the time, which was completed in Lohja in 2002. Today, our activities are based on the 2017 laws and regulations on vocational training, the training mandate of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the rules of procedure of the Maritime Safety Agency.
The ship simulator unit and its activities were transferred to Yrkeshögsskolan Novia (Aboa Mare) from the beginning of 2010. This move removed duplication in maritime training, with Meriturva now focusing on its core competence, safety training.
Meriturva consists of two units providing maritime training services. Each year we train more than 4,000 people who work or work on the water. The activities of Meriturva are guided by a Board of Directors, which includes our main maritime stakeholders. Our training meets the requirements of the international STCW Convention, the requirements of the Finnish and EU authorities and the International Maritime Organisation's IMO Requirements. Also, the Quality Management System of Maritime Safety complies with the STCW Convention and has been developed to meet the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard. Since 2018, Meriturva has also trained wind turbine personnel in accordance with GWO standards.
Since 1976, Meriturva's fire training unit in Upinniemi, Kirkkonummi, has trained the majority of Finnish seafarers. The training includes fire-fighting, smoke diving and rescuing ships from tanks. The unit has numerous fire simulators, including a tilting cabin simulator, where you can experience how it becomes more difficult to operate when the ship is tilting. In 2010, a modern gas-fuelled training facility was commissioned, including a car deck fire simulator and engine room, which is unique in the world. New modern teaching facilities were completed in Upinniemi in autumn 2013. The training ground was renovated in 2020 and at the same time the training facilities were also converted to gas-fuelled training equipment.
Lohja is home to the Maritime Rescue Training Unit of Meriturva. In the unit's large 27 m x 43 m x 4 m indoor pool, you can practice rescue all year round, using the latest evacuation systems and equipment, as well as a unique rescue helicopter simulator. The unit also provides rescue training from a helicopter that has crash-landed in the water using a specially designed simulator (HUET). For GWO training, the unit is equipped with a wide range of facilities and equipment. The training station, located in the Ojamo mining pond, provides year-round training in lifeboat operations.
For learning, simulations that mimic real-life conditions are the most effective. Combining this with sufficient theoretical knowledge and practical training with repetition can ensure learning. Customer focus and individual attention are important to us. We want everyone to feel that they have learned something important and useful after the training.
Maritime Safety provides a good research platform for the development of maritime safety in cooperation with industry, research institutes, universities and colleges. We are happy to participate in projects in this field and offer our expertise to research. We are also involved in legislative and strategic projects to achieve safer shipping.
We are also constantly working with national and foreign educational institutions. Our active participation in the IASST, the national representative of Finland, provides an opportunity for international interaction.
Foreign seafarers, wind energy workers, aircrew and other maritime operators are also welcome to train in maritime security. Our teaching languages are Finnish, Swedish and English.
Through its contribution, Meriturva is helping to improve the safety of shipping and navigation - now and in the future.
