Meriturva's history

A decree on Maritime Safety Training was passed in 1997, which marked a new era in maritime safety training in Finland and was a starting point for Meriturva today.

Two of Meriturva's units, the Fire Training Unit and the Ship Simulation Unit existed already in Helsinki School of navigation which was closed in 1988. The Survival Training Unit was built in Lohja in 2002. The Ship Simulation Unit was transferred to Novia University of Applied Sciences in 2010.

Meriturva operates under the authority of the National Board of Education.

Meriturva today

Meriturva today consists of two STCW audited units offering maritime safety training. Annually we train over 3700 persons working within the navigation, authorities, aviation or other fields in maritime branch.

The Fire Training unit located at Upinniemi Navy Base in Kirkkonummi has trained over 70 000 mariners since it was established in 1976. In the Fire training Unit there are several simulators for fire training, including a unique gas burning Car Deck simulator. This simulator impressively demonstrates the challenge for extinguishing the fire on the car-ferries and roro-vessels. Fire Training Unit trains mariners in several fire fighting skills, like smoke diving and rescuing people from tanks of a ship.

Meriturva Survival Training Unit is located in the city of Lohja. The large (27 m x 43 m) inside training pool is a superb place for survival training with its simulated weather conditions and a wide selection of modern survival and evacuation equipment. One of our specialities is a very rare winching rescue helicopter located indoors. Meriturva also offers courses in Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET).

The dangerous and problematic situations at sea can be produced realistically but safely in all training. The most realistic conditions help to gain the best routines, which can then be applied in real life situations. Our aim is that all students feel they have learned something valuable at Meriturva.

Research and the future at Meriturva

Meriturva provides an excellent base for research and development of maritime safety together with working life, research centres, colleges and universities. We are willing to take part and provide our expertise to use in various projects concerning maritime safety and training.

We are also active to cooperate with other training establishments in the international field of maritime safety. Also foreign mariners and helicopter crews are welcome to our training units. Meriturva strives for improving the international maritime safety with its own efforts – today and in the future.