Toivo Ilvonen News

On 25 February 2014, approximately nine months after the keel laying of TUI Cruises’ first newbuilding Mein Schiff 3, TUI Cruises and STX Finland celebrated the keel laying of Mein Schiff 4 in the Turku shipyard. Following the old shipbuilding tradition, the lucky coins were placed under the keel block of the ship. In the lucky coin ceremony, held on the bottom of the drydock, the shipowner was represented by Richard J. Vogel, CEO of TUI Cruises, CFO Frank Kuhlmann, Chief Engineer of Mein Schiff 3 Kostas Kallinikos and the designated Captain of Mein Schiff 3 Kjell Holm.

STX Finland Oy’s Rauma Shipyard sees the naming & delivery of the new ferry to Suomen Lauttaliikenne Oy (Finferries). The godmother of the next generation road ferry, Professor Elina Pirjatanniemi, named the ship “Stella” in the presence of invited guests, the representatives of Suomen Lauttaliikenne, STX Finland, and the classification society Bureau Veritas. The environmentally friendly double-ended ferry, NB 1380, entered production in December 2011 at the STX Finland’s Rauma Shipyard.

Start of production of the new Finnish Border Guard offshore patrol vessel at STX Rauma Shipyard. STX Finland Oy’s Rauma Shipyard started the production of next generation offshore patrol vessel to be built for the Finnish Border Guard. The start of production at the Rauma Shipyard was carried out following traditions. Chief of the Finnish Border Guard, Lieutenant General Jaakko Kaukanen pressed the launch button. The event held in the steel construction hall was witnessed by the representatives of the Finnish Border Guard, the Finnish Environment Institute, STX Finland and the classification society Germanisher Lloyd, and members of the press.

The NB 1378, RV Mirabilis, equipped with DPS, is a  62.4 metres long and 14.3 metres wide versatile vessel. The tasks of the ship will include monitoring of fish stock, as well as sorting, processing, freezing and storage of fish, as well as collecting biological samples from the seabed and water quality research and analysis. Other tasks envisaged are the control of fishing off the African coast, and meteorologica research. RV Mirablis is provided with accommodation for 44 crew members and research personnel. “We are very satisfied to deliver the RV Mirabilis to the customer on schedule and as agreed. Cooperation both at the national level and between the project groups has been extremely good and close through the whole process," says Toivo Ilvonen, Director of STX Rauma Shipyard.

The keel-laying of the Double Ended Ferry to be built for Suomen Lauttaliikenne Oy (Finferries) was performed at STX Rauma Shipyard on Friday, 20 April 2012. The environmentally friendly next-generation ferry will be delivered to the customer at the end of 2012. The vessel will enter traffic on the Korpo – Houtskär route at the beginning of 2013. The keel-laying ceremony following old tradition performed at the STX Rauma Shipyard was witnessed by representatives of Suomen Lauttaliikenne (Finferries), STX Finland and the classification society Bureau Veritas. Particular attention has been given to the efficiency and safety of the ferry by, for example, minimising the docking time with help of wide bow and stern ramps.

On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, the STX Finland Rauma Shipyard delivered a polar supply and research vessel to the South African government's Department of Environmental Affairs. Newbuilding 1369, S.A. Agulhas II is a multipurpose vessel which, among other tasks, operates as a supply, research and passenger vessel, as well as an icebreaker. Representatives from the client, the South African Government's Department of Environmental Affairs, as well as the Embassy of South-Africa in Finland, The South African Maritime Authority, classification society Det Norske Veritas and STX Finland and the press were there to witness the flag-changing ceremony. The ice-strengthened vessel is approximately 134 metres long and has accommodation for a crew of 45 and some 100 researchers or passengers.

STX Finland's Rauma Shipyard celebrated the launch of the special purpose vessel ordered by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of the Republic of Namibia. Representatives of the owner, classification society Bureau Veritas and STX Finland were present. Newbuilding No. 1378, RV Mirabilis, measures 62 meters in length and, upon completion, will operate as a research vessel, gathering information on fish stocks and their living environment. The versatile and modern research vessel meets the latest standardized performance criteria. Particular attention has been paid to the vessel's serviceability and low maintenance costs. The vessel provides accommodation for 44 crew members and research personnel.

STX Finland announced a number of management changes, citing the challenging market situation. The primary target set for STX Finland is profitable operation. In 2011 this target was achieved, and now the focus is strongly on how similar development could also be secured over the years to come. By consolidating sales and marketing into a corporate level activity, STX Finland strengthen and increase the efficiency of its strategic targets which main focuses are diversification, differentiation and customer relationship management. - Timo Suistio has been appointed EVP, CMO of STX Finland. He is tasked with enhancing the functioning capacity of sales and marketing and boosting the order book of the shipyards to ensure long-term operation of the company.

The Allure of the Seas, the second Oasis class vessel under construction at STX Finland's Turku Shipyard, was launched on 20 November, 2009. The Allure of the Seas is the second in a series of the world's largest cruisers built at Turku Shipyard. The first vessel in this series, the Oasis of the Seas, was handed over to the owners, a U.S. shipping company Royal Caribbean, at the end of October. These are revolutionary vessels of a totally new type, whose striking design and bold innovations will radically change the cruising business.