University Of Helsinki News

Within the framework of the international project Reeh, Tyumen State University in cooperation with the University of Helsinki are planning to create a unique Arctic observation stations. Arctic station of the two universities will be part of a global network of observation points, thanks to which will be able to record all occurring changes in the environment. This was stated by Professor University of Helsinki, a renowned scholar in the field of Earth Sciences Markku Kulmala at the meeting with the governor of the Tyumen region Vladimir Yakushev and guidance of a Russian university, the official portal of the government authorities of the Tyumen region. Scientists believe in the success of a joint operation with the Tyumen researchers.

A single oil spill can release 30,000 tonnes of oil into the ocean if two vessels collide. In grounding the high weight can lead to oil disaster, in the Baltic Sea up to 120,000 tonnes. This estimate does not include the new giant tankers, says a press release from Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki). The Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea is the riskiest of waterways in the world's oceans due to the high frequency of crossing vessels between Helsinki and Tallinn. Oil tanker traffic to Russia in particular has continued to increase despite a bleak financial outlook. The Gulf of Finland is famously difficult for maritime traffic as it is shallow and narrow and requires navigation around the many islands along the Finnish coast.

The 27th International “What if?” Workshop has brought data farming experts together at the National Defence University in Helsinki, Finland. Data farming is a way to conduct operational analysis through modeling and simulation, high performance computing to build scenarios, and then explore new options for decision makers. The methodology permits planners and decision makers to ask the “what if?” questions to determine the probabilities of various outcomes. The workshop is being attended by representatives from Germany, Sweden, Canada, Turkey, the U.S. and Finland.

Last February, five Maritime Engineering bachelor students of the Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands) finished their Minor on Arctic Engineering. In cooperation with Damen Shipyards Group and other partners this project has now resulted, amongst others, in a new Arctic vessel: the Damen AMTSV (Arctic Modular Towing Supply Vessel). The 100-meter double acting supply ship is capable of operating in the Barents Sea year round and in the Baffin Bay and Beaufort Sea for 8 months. The AMTSV has the ability to sail through 1.6 meters of level ice at three knots.