eThesis - School of Business electronic theses

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Objectives of the Study

The purpose of the study is to estimate the Finnish industry requirements for shipping activities in 2025. Megatrends and industry trends are used to estimate the industry development.

Academic background and methodology

The study focuses on the future foresight literature and industry specific visions. Industry development and transportation requirements are analyzed on the basis of megatrends and industry trends. The thesis focuses on the development of metal and mining industry, chemical industry, forest industry, technological industry and the commerce sector. In addition to the literature review, industry sector development and transportation requirements are discussed in the steering group of "LAIVA 2025" project.

Findings and conclusions

Energy-efficiency and versatility of vessels are crucial for future shipping. Tightening environmental legislation and increasing fuel costs drive companies to improve energy-efficiency. Furthermore, the Finnish industry is expecting to find competitive advantage in small volume niche products instead of mass products which increases the need for agile transportation channels. Versatility of vessels is also highlighted due to shorter technological and economic trends. The shorter the trends, the more often the sea cargo will change. Future vessels need to adapt to changing transportation requirements easily.

It is also found out in the study that technical vessel design issues are important when designing flexible transportation but equally important are issues related to transportation companies' business models. Business models that support flexible manufacturing and high customer service level are the ones likely to succeed. Sea transportation should be seen as an extension to the manufacturing.