The Ministry of Transport and Communications (LVM) is responsible within the Government for matters related to maritime affairs. Its remit includes shipping and other waterborne transport, marine research, and ports insofar as they do not fall under the responsibility of another ministry.
Maritime affairs are handled by the Transport Policy Department, which includes a dedicated Maritime Unit. This unit deals with matters concerning the business policy of shipping and other waterborne transport, the safety of maritime and other waterborne traffic, legal liability issues related to maritime transport, and the prevention of water pollution caused by vessels. It also addresses other environmental issues related to shipping and waterborne transport, excluding regulations concerning the transport of dangerous goods as general cargo by sea and inland waterways.
A key responsibility of the Ministry in the maritime sector is the implementation of maritime policy measures. The European Commission’s guidelines on state aid to maritime transport define the acceptable forms of support for the sector, and Finland’s support system must comply with these guidelines.
In the field of maritime policy, a comprehensive study on the maritime cluster was completed in June 2003. A study on the maritime strategy was completed in December 2002.
Agencies under the Ministry include, among others, the Finnish Maritime Administration, the Finnish Institute of Marine Research, the state shipping enterprise FINSTASHIP, the pilotage organisation FINNPILOT, and the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
More information: www.mintc.fi