Together through the special year
A year ago, we could not have imagined how exceptional this year was going to be because of the corona pandemic. On the dry cargo market, we experienced an unprecedented market collapse from Easter onwards, and at the same time we had to learn how to work and run the operations remotely. The conditions were challenging, and we had to thoroughly think about how to deal with this both on land and at sea, economically and safely.
It all came down to the importance of doing things together, both among customers and employees. After the harsh spring and summer, we got to enjoy a market spike and good “spot fixings” on the dry cargo market. However, instead of such market fluctuations, we believe that a more stable market and long-term cooperation are more important than quick gains. Customer orientation, which includes solution-seeking and high-quality service, is one of the core values of our company. Another value that became even more important this year is honesty, both to customers and employees. We believe in open dialogue, especially when things are not going according to plan. Innovativeness and quick response, as well as hard work combined with a constantly evolving corporate culture that respects our values guaranteed many successes this year. Quoting Leidenschaft's Panu Luukka: "Values start from emotion, they are something that should be carried in the heart.”
Behind the success of a company is always a clear vision and strategy defined by the top management, but especially motivated and committed personnel. With these in mind, our board decided to launch a project for organizational work community development for our staff (of which you can read later in this newsletter). The project organized by JuJu Works began this fall and will continue also in 2021. The purpose of the project is to further sharpen the work of the management, support the work of superiors, and guarantee motivation and well-being of our personnel, who work with our customers towards mutual successes.
Interviews conducted as part of the work community development project highlighted our emplyees’ appreciation for our family business, and how it is present in a positive way in the daily life of our company. For the owner family this meant a lot. We want to nurture this also in the future.
On behalf of the entire staff of Meriaura Group, I would like to thank You for the past year, good cooperation, and wish You a
Peaceful Christmas Time and a Healthy New Year!
Riinu Walls,
Sales Director, bulk
Member of the Board of Meriaura Group
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Meriaura Group continues the management of R/V ’Aranda’
VG-Shipping Oy, part of Meriaura Group, and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) have renewed the agreement for the management of marine research vessel ’Aranda’. VG-Shipping won the public tender in autumn 2020 for both price and quality. The renewed contract covers the years 2021–2023 with two option years, and includes the crewing, operating and technical management of ’Aranda’.
“We are pleased to be able to continue the good and long-term cooperation with SYKE. Marine research and marine protection are important to Meriaura Group, and our values and vision strongly support this work. We see a lot of opportunities in developing environmental protection and carbon-free navigation in cooperation with Finnish environmental research professionals,” says Ville Koskinen, Manging Director of VG-Shipping.
Aranda has been under VG-Shipping’s management since 2007. VG-Shipping has acted as a technical expert in Aranda's renovation in 2017–2018, as well as in the fuel cell experiments conducted in summer 2020.
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Meriaura project greetings 2020
It is obvious that no one could have predicted the prevailing circumstances when we welcomed the new decade almost exactly a year ago. Still, a crisis is perhaps not the word to describe the year 2020 in terms of shipping markets. Instead, “extraordinary”, “bizarre” and “turbulent” could reflect the different phases of the past 12 months, and it can be argued that these same adjectives will be in use also next year. Yet, there are positive signals and genuine hope that once us Finns celebrate the midsummer in 6 months’ time again, we have reached a new ‘normal’ in our daily lives – Whatever “business as usual” may mean to us then, can only to be discovered over time but in my opinion, year 2021 will hold more opportunities than threats for us working in the special project segment.
We have a strong and versatile customer pool, and close co-operation with certain industry players has lasted almost three decades already. These long-lasting partnerships, along with more recently established customer relationships have been our rock over time, and naturally the ultimate key in maintaining healthy business model throughout this specific year. Several heavy industry segments have experienced drawbacks and even partial shifts of the entire business concepts in 2020, and we have tried to adapt and be part of these changing processes together with our customers, laying also a solid base for future co-operation in this new world order. Agile, yet reliable shipping service providers with problem-solving mindset are eventually the ones that will be able to operate successfully in the ever-changing world, let there be COVID-19 or any other sudden and terrifying force that shakes the markets in ways which leaves barely any room for predictability or optimized operational planning, not to even mention the increased financial instability which is never welcomed in our capital-intensive industry.
Nevertheless, Meriaura’s year with special projects has been, if not easy so interesting at least, including so many rewarding moments and smooth transportations, which have again carried us through the short moments of despair and disbelief towards the world we have been trying to live in the past months.
In 2020, our open deck carriers continued to fulfil the transportation needs of different industries. See the stunning photos of different cargos and read Jessica's full blog text here
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Towards more innovation and higher quality service through participatory development
Ever since the establishment of Meriaura the company has continuously strived for being an innovative, problem-solving and environmentally friendly forerunner in its field. The family business background together with a deep understanding of our customers’ needs and a working environment where employees help and support one another as well as receive support from the company in their professional growth are important values for us as a company. As the corporation grows and the operations get more complicated, we run the risk of losing sight of the people and everyday work behind the processes. This fall, in order to safeguard the existing good while continuously striving for improvement, we have decided to launch a project for organizational development:
“Competitiveness through participatory organizational development – making use of personnel know-how by leading the operational culture.”
We have partnered up with Juju Works Oy for the project which also received additional funding from The Finnish Work Environment Fund with the intention that the gained knowledge and experience from participatory organizational development can also be used to advance the Finnish working life at large.
Active participation of our employees from the very beginning is at the core of the project. The idea is to give the employees an opportunity to improve their own and their team’s working conditions, methods, and processes. The project includes joint workshops for mapping out the strengths and challenges our personnel faces and for finding new ways to overcome obstacles that may hinder development. To further build the culture of continuous improvement, the project will be complemented by Lean workshops as well as coaching for top management. By utilizing the Lean philosophy, we will ensure that all our processes serve and create value to our customers the best possible way.
In order to strengthen the psychological safety of our teams and thus support us in reaching our potential as a company, we are using workshops and coaching to further increase the competence of our managers, as well as the co-operative skills of our teams. To make sure the project is fully integrated into the everyday life of the company, we are also organizing campaigns and weekly challenges around the discussed themes. In the spring 2021 the project will expand to include our crew members. Talented, creative, happy and committed employees are our most important and valued resource, and this development project is one of the ways Meriaura seeks to invest in the well-being and expertise of staff.
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Meriaura Group's Christmas donation to the John Nurminen Foundation
Meriaura Group has donated its annual Christmas charity donation to the John Nurminen Foundation for protection of the Baltic Sea. The state of the Baltic Sea is critical and concrete protection measures are needed to improve the state of the sea. "This year we have done significant work for the Baltic Sea through the Gypsum project and our fleet's zero waste program, so donating our Christmas gift funds for the John Nurminen Foundation seemed natural," says Elina Mälkiä, Communications Manager at Meriaura Group.
Founded in 1992, the mission of the John Nurminen Foundation is to save the Baltic Sea and its heritage to future generations. The Foundation has been awarded for its work as a conveyor of culture and producer of marine content. The goal of the Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea projects is to improve the condition of the Baltic Sea with concrete measures that reduce the load and environmental risks faced by the sea. The work is guided by measurable results and impact. https://johnnurmisensaatio.fi/en/
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Meriaura Group will stop using bottled water on its vessels to reduce waste
Meriaura Group intends to stop the use of bottled water on its vessels as part of the company's zero waste fleet-program. During autumn 2020 company has installed drinking water dispensers on its dry cargo vessels. At sea, drinking water is very commonly purchased bottled, partly out of habit, but also for hygiene reasons, as ships’ tank water does not always meet hygiene requirements. Vessels operating in the tramp market constantly visit various ports around the Baltic and North Seas, and the quality of tank water also varies depending on where the vessel’s tanks are filled. Plastic bottles are a significant single source of plastic waste generated on ships. Thanks to the activated carbon filter system and drinking water dispensers installed on Meriaura Group's vessels, the crew will be able to drink tank water in the future, and the purchase of bottled drinking water can be completely abandoned.
“Unitor’s drinking water dispensers installed on our ships keep the drinking water cool, and water quality is tested regularly. We hope that all shipping companies will follow the example, that would reduce a significant amount of plastic waste generated onboard,” says Ville Koskinen, Managing Director of VG-Shipping Oy. “Over the past year the protection of the Baltic Sea has played a significant role in our group of companies: with our own waste reduction program on our fleet, and also the gypsum project where Meriaura performs the practical implementation,” Koskinen continues.
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Introducing our staff:
Accountant Krista Katainen, 37
Tell shortly of your study and work background?
I studied accounting and business law in Helsinki School of Economics. Before Meriaura I worked for an accounting agency. Now I have been part of Meriaura’s accounting team for five and a half years.
Describe your work at Meriaura?
My work varies from daily tasks of Meriaura’s ledgers to preparing financial statements of smaller companies related to Meriaura Group. I also help other departments with invoicing because international or VAT-exempt transactions in shipping business aren’t always simple.
What do you like the most in your work?
I like my job the most when I see accounting help operations. On the other hand I really enjoy certain independence in my work.
What you don’t like?
Sometimes handling papers (especially tiny cash receipts) can be frustrating. Luckily, this part of my job has decreased quite a lot now that Covid-driven remote work has shifted us towards paperless office.
You have recently become KLT-qualified accountant, can you tell something about that
KLT-qualification comes from Finnish words ”bookkeeping and accounting exam”. The exam is held every year in October and passing it requires wide knowledge of bookkeeping, tax and entreprise laws plus cost accounting. I’m very glad I passed it on my first try and can now call myself KLT-accountant.
How has corona pandemic affected your life?
Since March, we have been working partly from home. This was a welcomed change from my perspective because my partner moved to England in July. Thanks to distance work I have been able to spend time in London and work remotely from there. This has helped to cope with the distance.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to run, cycle, swim and orienteer. Every autumn I also become a knitting enthusiast who is not able to leave a yarn shop without buying a few soft, colourful skeins. I’m currently quite busy with finishing all knitted Christmas presents I’ve started.
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Video: Alandia – VG-Shipping – sustainability in loss prevention
Safety is not just systems or commands. It is shared values and active interaction between people. Our marine insurer Alandia sees sustainability as one of the key factors in loss prevention. That’s why they want to promote companies like VG-Shipping, that has strong standards for environmental and crew sustainability.
At Meriaura Group we value the long term relationship with Alandia, that includes close and personal level collaboration.
Watch the video here
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