Arctic Passion Seminar 2025
The 18th Arctic Passion Seminar was held on 6 March 2025 in Helsinki.
A record number of attendees — over 130 Arctic stakeholders, specialists, and other professionals from around the world — gathered in Aker Arctic’s annual customer event to discuss diverse topics related to shipping, shipbuilding, and other activities in the freezing seas.
The opening speech given by Petri Peltonen, Under-Secretary of State from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, was followed by keynote by Sohan Dasgupta, Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security, ICE Pact National Coordinator, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
This year’s guest speakers included Senior Ministerial Adviser Reko-Antti Suojanen from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, Assistant Deputy Minister Siobhán Harty from Public Services and Procurement Canada, Chief Communications Officer Paul Barrett from Chantier Davie Canada Inc, Chief Operating Officer Jari Anttila from Seaspan Shipyards, CEO Mika Nieminen from Rauma Marine Constructions, Senior Adviser Heinrich Miller from Alfred Wegener Institute, Director General Andres Laasma from the Estonian State Fleet, Captain Etienne Garcia from SAS Compagnie Du Ponant, and Senior Inspector Ville Häyrynen from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency. The final presentation of the day was given by the Finnish professional explorer Patrick “Pata” Degerman.
In addition, presentations were given by Aker Arctic’s CEO Mika Hovilainen, Head of Ship Performance Maximilian Vocke, and Naval Architect Ville Valtonen.
One of the highlights of the Arctic Passion Seminar is the ice model test in Aker Arctic’s ice laboratory. This year we demonstrated our latest medium-sized icebreaker design that is capable of operating in all first-year sea ice conditions. The guests could observe the self-propelled model breaking thick level ice from above as well as from below through the glass bottom of our ice tank.
The latest issue of our company newsletter, Arctic Passion News #26, was published for the seminar.
We would like to thank the guest speakers and other participants as well as our own personnel for this year’s interesting and topical Arctic Passion Seminar — and Ira Hammerman for hosting the event!
