Finland up for re-election to IMO Council – Finnish maritime teaching and research feature prominently

The Assembly of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will elect a new Council for the forthcoming two-year term in November-December. Finland is seeking re-election to the Council. The Ministry of Transport and Communications has invited Finnish maritime education institutions to serve as advisers to the Finnish delegation at the Assembly. Finnish maritime education is a sought-after export to various parts of the world. 

The IMO Assembly will to convene in London from 24 November to 3 December 2025. With all Member States represented, the Assembly is the supreme governing body of the IMO. The functions of the biennial Assembly include approving the IMO work programme and budget, and electing 40 Member States to the IMO Council that serves as the supreme governing body of the Organisation between Assemblies.

Key themes for Finland at these Assemblies include efficiency and transparency of administration, respect of Committee decisions, and the adoption of important Resolutions. The 34th IMO Assembly will convene in November-December to elect a new Council for the two-year term of 2026–2027. Finland is a candidate to continue serving on the Council in category C.

One of the key themes of Finland's candidacy is maritime education and giving voice to maritime educators in policymaking. Both in Finland and the wider world, there is a pressing need for new seafarers who combine traditional maritime competence with a broad variety of new skills. The seafarers of the future face emerging challenges, such as digitalisation, cyber threats, and safety regulations governing the use of new marine fuels and propulsion systems. With women still substantially under-represented in maritime professions globally, Finland has also highlighted gender equality in the shipping industry.

“Finland and Finnish expertise are precisely what the global maritime sector needs at this time. With concrete examples, we are also seeking to show Member States at the IMO that we can provide not only the finest technological solutions, but also stellar professionals to build the future of the maritime industry," stresses Lulu Ranne, Minister of Transport and Communications.

Finnish maritime education institutions send representatives to London

Finnish maritime expertise attracts global interest. Finland is an acknowledged leader in education, with several Member States at the IMO already asking about opportunities to work with Finland in the field of maritime education.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has also invited educational institutions in the field to accompany the Finnish delegation to the IMO Assembly. Finland will thereby not only deliver on its Council candidacy commitment to hear industry educators in policymaking, but will also export maritime education by giving educational institution representatives an opportunity to meet IMO Assembly delegates from other countries that are interested in Finnish expertise.

The Finnish presence in London will accordingly include Chief Researcher at Satakunta University of Applied Sciences Prof. Minna Keinänen-Toivola, Head of Maritime and Logistics Training at the Joint Authority of Education of Kotka-Hamina Region (Ekami) Captain Anssi Avelin, Rector Heikki Saastamoinen and Director of Education Olli-Pekka Brunila of South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), Coordinator for Maritime Training Programmes Ellinor Lindblom of Åland University of Applied Sciences, and Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Seafaring Patric Granholm of Novia University of Applied Sciences. Granholm will also represent Aboa Mare Maritime Academy and Training Centre, which arranges continuing and supplementary training courses for professional seafarers and public authorities.

“Satakunta University of Applied Sciences has first-rate experience of maritime teaching and research operations in partnership with such countries as Namibia and Cape Verde. We are looking forward to fruitful encounters and new initiatives from the IMO Assembly," Keinänen-Toivola explains.

"Ekami is already engaged in international cooperation with educational institutions, and in educational exports to the East African region. I will be delighted to present our expertise to interested parties at the IMO," Avelin says. 

"Xamk has already been collaborating closely with public authorities in various countries for several years. We are looking forward to this opportunity to showcase our expertise and make new valuable contacts at the IMO Assembly," Saastamoinen reports.

"Sharing our expertise and promoting a sustainable shipping industry are an integral part of our mission," Lindblom explains.

“Novia University of Applied Sciences and Aboa Mare Ltd are powerful operators in international maritime education and research. We anticipate interesting and fruitful discussions at the IMO Assembly that will further increase and strengthen our international contacts,” Granholm says.

What’s next?

The IMO Assembly will meet in London from 21 November to 3 December 2025.

Inquiries:

Eero Hokkanen, Ministerial Adviser, Alternate Permanent Representative of Finland to the IMO, tel. +358 50 476 0401, [email protected]

Correction 6.11. at 10.08: The date for the Assembly and titles of some of the representatives have been corrected.

Correction 7.11. at 14:46: Information on the participation of the representative of Novia and Aboa Mare was added alongside his quote.