Translation

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC AT THE CHRISTENING OF A MULTI-PURPOSE ICEBREAKER IN RAUMA ON 24.4.1998

All is well here in Rauma. I have today witnessed two important events, which inspire faith in a better and more secure future, that jobs will be preserved and that the Rauma region will enjoy all-round development. The arrangement of both functions on the same day is a good example of effective local cooperation and of efforts being pooled for the benefit of all involved. Cooperation of this kind is needed.

 

The Botnica and the two other multi-purpose icebreakers built here in Rauma, the Fennica and the Nordica, are equipped to assist Baltic shipping in all conceivable ice conditions. During the ice-free season, the vessels are in service in the North Sea oilfields, performing difficult tasks in weather conditions that are sometimes very exacting. They lay cables, handle heavy anchors and serve as supply and support ships for drilling platforms. Year-round usability is nowadays a prerequisite for acquiring an icebreaker.

 

More multi-purpose icebreakers may soon be needed. Finland has made the development of the Northern Dimension one of the main areas of emphasis in her EU policy. Within the framework of the Northern Dimension, international cooperation to exploit the energy resources of Russia will increase in the Barents Sea as well as in the oil and gas fields off Northern Siberia.

 

The development of the northern sea route offers even more challenging prospects for the use of our expertise in relation to technology for coping with Arctic conditions. For several years now, Finnish tankers have been plying the northern sea lane known as the North-East Passage. Trial navigation in the region is currently in progress within the framework of a project funded by the EU Commission. In addition to companies and research institutes from Finland, Germany and Russia, this programme also includes participants from four other countries. The intention is to increase, on an environmentally sustainable basis, merchant shipping in Russia’s northern territorial waters and even to open a new sea route between Europe and Asia.

 

The Botnica is an efficient and beautiful vessel. She features the latest possible technology, which has been created with skill and keeping the users’ needs in mind. The Rauma shipyard has entered a new dynamic phase as part of the international Aker Yards shipbuilding concern. The shipyard’s top-level skills and decades of experience, investment and development will now be put to better use. The workers can have confidence in the permanence of their jobs and plan their lives on a sure foundation. All of this is reflected also in the wellbeing of the environment.

 

I congratulate the Finnish Maritime Administration, the shipyard and the Norwegian cooperation partners on their excellent work and wish this outstanding cooperation success.