SeaFocus International

19/10/2026

Why Port of Helsinki’s Moment Is Now 🚢

How can Port of Helsinki seize the next wave of growth in Baltic cruising?

As part of the Intelligence Hunt interview series for the Port of Helsinki’s Strategic Turnaround Cruise Project, we spoke with Hans Chen Braas, Regional Director – Nordics and Baltics at CLIA | Cruise Lines International Association

Our conversation explores the recovery of the Baltic cruise market, the shift towards new itineraries, and Port of Helsinki’s potential to become a leading turnaround port in the Northern Baltic Sea.

With strong cruise demand and changing passenger itineraries, Port of Helsinki has a timely opportunity to strengthen its position as a cruise gateway, creating value for the city, local businesses and the wider region.

Thank you to Hans Chen Braas and CLIA | Cruise Lines International Association for sharing their insights.

Follow the Intelligence Hunt series as we explore the opportunities shaping the future of turnaround cruising.

Port of Helsinki CLIA | Cruise Lines International Association

Why the Baltic's next great turnaround port could already be here.

09/10/2026

🚢 Reimagining the Baltic Cruise Market 🚢

As part of the Intelligence Hunt project with Port of Helsinki, we are exploring what it takes to strengthen Helsinki’s position as a turnaround cruise port in the Northern Baltic Sea.

Our latest interview in the Intelligence Hunt Interview Series features Simone Tommaso Maraschi, Managing Director of Cruise Gate Hamburg and Chair of Cruise Europe.

The conversation looks at how the Baltic cruise landscape is changing, the emergence of new destinations and itineraries, the importance of diversification and season extension, and what these developments could mean for the future of Baltic cruising.

For the Port of Helsinki, the opportunity goes beyond the terminal itself. It is about becoming part of stronger, more connected itineraries and shaping the next generation of turnaround cruising in the Baltic.

Read the full interview to explore Simone Maraschi’s perspective on where the Baltic cruise market is heading.

Interview date: 21 August 2026

03/10/2026

⏰ A quick reminder for the weekend to students: Applications for Intelligence Hunt 2026 close on 7 October!

This year, selected finalist students will work on a real industry case around one fascinating question:

"What Economic Impact Does the Cruise Industry Bring to Finland?"

We are talking about the whole "food chain" from the cruise passenger choosing the destination, to shipyards delivering the ready cruise ships to the cruise line offering these cruises to the passenger. We want you to think BIG! And be innovative!

You don’t need to be a maritime expert to apply. We’re looking for curious students from different study backgrounds who can bring their own perspective, whether that’s in:

⚓ Maritime, shipping & ports
📊 Business, economics & strategy
🚢 Supply chain & logistics
⚙️ Engineering & analytics
📣 Marketing & communication
💡 Innovation, sustainability and beyond

If you have graduated 2026 but do not yet have a job, you are also able to apply.

The selected 15 students will work on the case during October and November and present their ideas at Power of Youth Navigate 2026 Edition in Turku on 25 November.

If you’ve been considering applying, now is a good time to do it.

And if you know someone who might enjoy this kind of challenge, feel free to tag them or send this post their way.

📅 Application deadline: 7 October 2026 23.59 PM EEST
📢 Finalists selected and informed about selection 10-11 October
🏁 Final presentations: 25 November 2026
📍 Navigate 2026, Logomo, Turku

Read more and apply www.seafocus.international

ALL students, also those not applying to the competition, can get free ticket to watch the show 25.11.

Navigate 2026 | Nordic Maritime Expo Registration mandatory: www.navigate.fi

We thank SeaFocus Intelligence Hunt concept partners: YoungShip Helsinki, Port of Helsinki, Inmarsat Maritime, Suomen Viljava Oy, LOGY Young Professionals, LOGOMO, and Navigate media partner MARPRO Group

28/09/2026

Intelligence Hunt gives students the chance to tackle real-world challenges from the maritime and supply chain industries — while working with industry professionals and building experience for your future career.

You could explore:
📊 Market research & data science
💡 Strategy & innovation
📣 Marketing & communication
🌱 Sustainability

No previous industry experience needed. We’re looking for students from all study backgrounds who are curious, motivated and ready to learn, challenge themselves and bring fresh ideas.

And if you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll get the chance to pitch your solution on stage at the Intelligence Hunt Finals — 25 November at Power of Youth Navigate 2026 Edition.

🏆 Winners will be awarded!

Got the curiosity? Bring the courage. Make your ideas count.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS NOW OPEN UNTIL 7.10.
The selection of finalists will be done 10th October.

Read more and apply for the Intelligence Hunt: https://seafocus.international/

26/08/2026

Celebrating PhD : Advancing AI-Enabled Maritime Safety Research

Read the article about our celebration of Dr Hollie Black, about her research and journey towards a PhD, this week achieved!

“The idea behind my research was that we already collect enormous amounts of valuable safety information, but we don't necessarily use all of it effectively. AI provides an opportunity to analyse that information at scale and help experts identify patterns that might otherwise be difficult to see" says Dr Hollie Black.

"Hollie's - Dr Black's example should inspire many to consider further education after a Master's Degree, which already is a major achievement. Since day one I have admired Hollie and her amazing stress tolerance, determination, and vision of her future career, for which this degree now is a good kick start or perhaps rather a great booster, I would say. I am extremely proud to know Dr Black", says Ulla Keino, CEO of SeaFocus.

Congratulations Hollie, Dr Black that is from now on!

Celebrating PhD Success: Advancing AI-Enabled Maritime Safety Research

14/08/2026

AN UNEXPECTED CAREER TURN

Linh Phung never planned to build a career in the maritime industry.

As a soon-to-graduate Master’s student in Marketing at Aalto University with a background in qualitative research, she was simply looking for something new, a different direction and a chance to develop her research skills.

That opportunity came through SeaFocus’ Intelligence Hunt programme and a project with the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). Linh applied to get to a team as a volunteer, and had a task to explore how political factors are shaping the future of maritime search and rescue (SAR) and presented her findings at the Power of Youth event in November 2025.

Inspired by the team work in the IMRF project she later on applied a junior consultant trainee role. In this capacity she got a chance to work on a data analysis for the Future of Maritime Safety Report assigned by Inmarsat Maritime Viasat Company. She studied how factors such as a vessel’s age and gross tonnage may be connected to distress calls. Both of the SeaFocus projects' Project Manager was Hollie Black.

This summer, she has also been working in a SeaFocus project for the Port of Helsinki, on Cruise Lines Turnaround Port Concept Development with Project Manager Shrishti Choudhary.

"Life can bring amazing opportunities when you are willing to look beyond your comfort zone. I am proud of you, Linh. You did it ! And now let us see where this path takes you.” says Ulla Keino, CEO of SeaFocus.

“Young talents should look beyond their comfort zones for opportunities. Linh did, and I am proud of her!” — Ulla Keino, CEO, SeaFocus International

31/07/2026

The Baltic cruise market is changing, and Port of Helsinki is positioning itself for the future 🚢

Our latest SeaFocus Intelligence Hunt interim report, prepared in collaboration with the Port of Helsinki, explores how the port is strengthening its position as an emerging turnaround hub in the Northern Baltic Sea.

The findings highlight Port of Helsinki's strong infrastructure, international connectivity, sustainability, investments, and growing appeal as a premium cruise destination. More importantly, they show that successful turnaround operations are built on far more than infrastructure alone.

This is just the beginning. As the project continues, we'll share further insights into market trends, cruise line perspectives and strategic opportunities.

Read the full article here:

Our latest SeaFocus Intelligence Hunt mid-term report, prepared in collaboration with the Port of Helsinki, suggests that success in the turnaround cruise market extends well beyond infrastructure. The findings indicate ...

28/07/2026

CAREER PROMOTION ANNOUNCEMENT🧑‍🎓

We are proud to introduce our new Junior Consultant Trainee John Olaybar.

As a Junior Consultant Trainee, he will work reporting to our Project Managers, Hollie Black and Shrishti Choudhary, working with the junior consultants and consultants, currently with Thu (Roxanne) Nguyen and Linh Phung, learning from our experts on strategic consulting assignments, gaining hands-on experience with real industry challenges and building his professional network, while contributing fresh perspectives to our clients.

His first project is our project with the Port of Helsinki on "The Future of Northern Baltic Turnaround Operations".

"My experience with SeaFocus was firstly as an observer in the Power of Youth events. Attending those events gave me front-row seat to understand how SeaFocus operates as a genuine bridge between talents, academic research and senior leadership. This experience empowers me as a young logistics and supply chain professional to tackle real industry challenges and aspire to hopefully one day become an industry leader myself", says John Olaybar.

"Our mission has always been to bridge the gap between academia and industry by giving ambitious students the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, learn from experienced professionals, get connected and expand their professional networks, and develop into the next generation of maritime leaders. I am so happy John got to know us, followed us, joined our events and sold himself to us as a great future resource to our projects" says Ulla Keino, CEO and Head of Management Consultancy of SeaFocus.

John's journey is a reflection of that mission. We are proud to have him on board and look forward to seeing him grow through the exciting opportunities and projects ongoing, andihn the ones that lie ahead.

Read the whole blog from: https://seafocus.international/news-and-blogs/f/from-student-voice-to-future-consultant

At SeaFocus, we believe the future of the maritime industry will be shaped by the next generation of talent. Through initiatives like Power of Youth, we don't just invite students to join the conversation, we create oppo...

26/06/2026

Enjoy the sea travel on a classic version of a RoPax with a high tech delegation from Canada end May by reading our CEO's 2nd blog of the Canadian Technology Accelerators | Accélerateurs technologiques canadiens programme on Maritime Safety and Security Germany-Finland.

What could be a better way to start a wonderful B2B week in May in Finland focusing on maritime safety, than starting a trip from Travemuende with Finnlines - Suomi M/S Finnlady to the Port of Helsinki Vuosaari Harbour Helsingin Satama

Author: Ulla Keino, CEO, President, SeaFocus, Head of PMO and Management Consulting This is my second blog of a series of eight blogs during the summer of the amazing Canadian Technology Accelerator Maritime Safety and Security Germany-Finland - of our part of the programme - The Finland part. The C

11/06/2026

⚓ Enjoy reading our CEO's first blog of the Canadian Technology Accelerators | Accélerateurs technologiques canadiens Programme Maritime Safety and Security Germany Finland - of the Finland part starting in this blog.

This first blog shows her gratitude to the lead of the Programme Enrico Nake from the Canadian Embassy in Germany, to our German colleagues at Vsquadrat consulting (Vsquadrat GmbH) Laura Eggers Wibke von Stürmer and to Hannes Weiland and to the Key note of the evening Pekka Snellman from the Finnish Defence Forces. With Seppo Vihersaari our work started in Oct/Nov 2025 and continues still, a big thanks for that.

She is here also appraising the first face to face gathering with the Canadian Cohort, who in the end of this first evening of joint activities headed to Finland with Finnlines: Cellula Robotics Ltd. with Konrad Mech, P.Eng., MBA, PMP, GSTS - Global Spatial Technology Solutions Rob Marshy, Open Ocean Robotics Julie Angus, Phantom Photonics Eric Jurgensen Geraci, TACTIQ Patrick Twomey, OnDeck AI (YC S25) Alexander Dungate, MarineLabs Christopher Moreno, Solace Power John Beresford.

Special thanks from us to also our delegates Ari-Pekka Saari Steveco Oy, Niclas Seligson, and to Hollie Black of your time and support.

This evening would not have been possible without Petra Mahnke's wonderful hosting.

The journey continues...

Next blog in the next weeks, of us on our journey to Helsinki on board M/S Finnlady from Travemünde. Very very soon a full photogallery of the whole week will be opened in the SeaFocus CTA pages. Stay tuned: SeaFocus International www.seafocus.international

Author: Ulla Keino, CEO, President, SeaFocus, Head of PMO and Management Consulting