Helsinki University Of Technology News

Maritime software, services and data analysis provider NAPA announced the appointment of Mikko Kuosa as Chief Executive Officer. Kuosa assumes the position from Ilmo Kuutti, who served as CEO of NAPA Group for three years. Kuutti continues as an Advisor and a member of the NAPA Board of Directors.Mikko Kuosa, who joined NAPA in 1999, holds a master’s degree in Naval Architecture from Helsinki University of Technology, Finland. Since joining, Kuosa has taken on various leadership positions at NAPA.

“The future is already here – it’s just not very evenly distributed,” is an observation from William Gibson, the luminary science fiction author, that sums up many of the problems with widespread adoption of technological solutions. This is certainly true of shipping. As we saw at Nor-Shipping this year, it is now expected for most businesses to have a data-driven element, and enthuse about how they are ‘embracing digital.’ But how much of this buzz around digital solutions results in better decision making on the ground?

Janne Luukkonen has taken over the position of Director of Project Management at MV WERFTEN as of August 1, 2017. He is a member of the senior management, responsible for all shipbuilding projects, and reports to CEO Jarmo Laakso. Luukkonen was previously a member of the Meyer Werft management team in Turku, Finland. Now as director, he is responsible for the project management of MV WERFTEN’s newbuilding program. “Tomorrow we will deliver the first vessel under the flag of MV WERFTEN: Crystal Bach, the world’s most luxurious river ship. Crystal Mahler is to follow next month.

Software solution provider for ship design and operation NAPA Group (Napa Ltd.) has appointed Ilmo Kuutti as its new President. Kuutti assumes the position from Juha Heikinheimo, who served as President of NAPA Group for five and a half years. Kuutti holds a master’s degree in naval architecture from Helsinki University of Technology, Finland. He started his career in shipyards, where he undertook various roles throughout the 1980s. Since joining NAPA in 1991, he has been taken on various leadership positions…

London Offshore Consultants (LOC), a leading global marine and engineering consultancy for the shipping and offshore energy industry, has boosted its presence in Singapore with two new appointments – Mark Board as Marine Consultant, and Dan Niklas Ahlgren as Naval Architect. Mark joined LOC Singapore as Marine Consultant in September 2016. He brings with him experience in bulk carriers, roll on–roll off vessels, FSO’s and container ships. He also has an extensive experience at all ranks on board oil tankers, spending the bulk of his 23 years at sea in Aframax carriers, and sailed as Master in product tankers. Since then, he has spent 18 years in shore management, and has led investigations on collisions, groundings, and worked closely with port authorities in oil spill response.

Real-time reporting and data analysis are key tools to understanding and improving complex operating environments of today’s companies where the overall effects of any individual action can be very difficult to identify without a proper tool set at hand. Identifying and continuously improving best practices are also best served by the same process which then allows shipowners and operators to see what’s happening underneath all the noise — to find what otherwise would be lost in the variance of the data.

After the acquisition of 66.4% of the shares by Finnish Industry Investment Ltd (fully owned by the State of Finland) Aker Arctic Technology Inc.’s extraordinary shareholders’ meeting today appointed the new Board of Directors for the company. Ole Johansson was nominated Chairman and Juha Marjosola Vice-Chairman of the Board. The board members are Ole Johansson, Juha Koskela (ABB Oy), Antti Kummu (Finnish Industry Investment), Valborg Lundegaard (Aker Engineering & Technology A/S) and Juha Marjosola (Finnish Industry Investment). Ole Johansson, BSc (Econ.) served as the President&CEO of Wärtsilä Corporation from 2000 to 2011. He is the Chairman of eQ Oyj and member of the Board of Svenska Handelsbanken AB.

Napa Ltd is continuing its research into the physics of a flooding vessel; this effort is part of Ship Flooding, a national research project on progressive flooding and damage stability of ships being conducted in Finland. The other partners are the Finnish Naval Research Institute, Technical Research Center of Finland (VTT), Helsinki University of Technology (TKK) and STX Finland Cruise Ltd. The project is funded in part by Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation).

Carl-Gustaf (Calle) Rotkirch, a 32-year maritime industry veteran, has been named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Grand Bahama Shipyard, Ltd., effective August 1, 2008. In this capacity, Rotkirch will oversee all operations of the shipyard, which is one of the largest cruise ship repair facilities in the world; Grand Bahama Shipyard services more than 100 cruise ships, cargo vessels, tankers, and naval vessels annually. Managing Director David Dalgleish will continue his day to day operation of the yard while reporting directly to Rotkirch.

Professor Matti Kleimola, 54, Lic.Tech. has been appointed Group Vice President, Technology and a member of Wärtsilä NSD´s Board of Management effective July 15. He is currently professor of internal combustion engine technology at Helsinki University of Technology, where he previously held the chair of machine design. Mr Daniel Paro BSc (Eng.), who has headed Research & Development for many years, will take responsibility from a technology standpoint for the launch of Wärtsilä NSD´s new-generation smokeless engines. Pekka Ilvonen, 46, MSc (Eng.) MBA has been appointed Group Vice President, Power Plants and a member of the Board of Management of Wärtsilä NSD Group effective August 1, 2000.

KCI Konecranes' Board of Directors appointed Pekka Lundmark as President and CEO of KCI Konecranes. Stig Gustavson has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors and Björn Saven, KCI Konecranes' Chairman since 1994, has been appointed vice Chairman of the Board. "KCI Konecranes' strategic direction will not change," Lundmark says. Lundmark was born in 1963 and has a Master of Engineering degree from Helsinki University of Technology. Having held various management positions within Nokia he was CEO of Hackman Group between 2002-2004. Mr. Lundmark joined KCI Konecranes in August 2004 as Group Executive Vice President. As Chairman of the Board, Stig Gustavson will continue to play an important part in KCI Konecranes. He also remains a substantial long-term shareholder.