15
and figured that it wasn’t impossible, especially
compared to the cruise ship newbuildings of
that time. We made them a proposal and, in the
end, to show that we were serious, we came
with a big group of specialists for the sales
negotiations at the yard.”
The contract, which stated that Deltamarin
would take care of half the design of the ship,
was the biggest design subcontract for that
shipyard at the time. It was significant for
Deltamarin as well. In Kanerva’s words, the
deal very much saved Deltamarin in 1993.
Beyond Spain, the Mediterranean and Asia
were growing markets for Deltamarin. The
Turun Sanomat newspaper wrote in 1993
that, globally, there were 1,000 shipbuilding
deals signed that year. Deltamarin got its
share of this development: the Mediterranean
ferry business was developing rapidly, and
shipowners were ordering new ferries
rather than sailing on old ships. Deltamarin
developed new innovative concepts for
Strintzis Line of Greece, today Blue Star Ferries.
In the interview with the Turun Sanomat,
Kanerva was quoted as saying, “The whole
culture in the Mediterranean is changing.
They need fast ferries for transportation in
addition to cruise ships. Greece is a good
example. Two shipowners have ordered six
vessels in total: Minoan Lines building at Fosen
in Norway and Superfast Ferries building in
Finland and Germany. We were in a position
to provide design packages for all of them.”
“Getting a deal has more to do with knowhow
than price,” he added. “The designer has
to offer new, improved design solutions in
feasible ship configurations with low running
costs and high earning capability, instead of
just drawings.”
As a whole, Deltamarin was relying
increasingly on export. Finnish design
companies and suppliers were becoming less
and less reliant on Finnish shipyards. That
specific year, 80% of Deltamarin’s orders were
from outside the Nordic countries.
“I have never lost faith in shipbuilding and
shipping. It’s the only commercially viable
transport system in a globalised world. There
is always work available if not nearby, then
abroad,” said Kanerva in the interview. In fact,
Deltamarin was looking to hire more people.
Nevertheless, reminiscing about those
times now, Kanerva says, “It was difficult in
Finland, of course. We have an apt saying
in this country: when you bow to some,
you moon at others! Around the time of the
Soviet trade, somebody said that the Finnish
shipbuilders have only one thing in common,
and that is envy. That still showed in the
1990s. When we were going through a rough
time, we turned to the Finnish shipbuilding