Alandica Shipping Academy (ASA) provides maritime education and training in

Åland Åland ( , ; ) is an Federacy, autonomous and Demilitarized zone, demilitarised region of Finland. Receiving its autonomy by a 1920 decision of the League of Nations, it is the smallest region of Finland by both area () and population (30,54 ...

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

. It commenced operations in 2020. ASA offers basic and refresher courses for

seafarer A sailor, seaman, mariner, or seafarer is a person who works aboard a watercraft as part of its crew, and may work in any one of a number of different fields that are related to the operation and maintenance of a ship. While the term ''sailor'' ...

s, as well as training at the vocational high school and

college A college (Latin: ''collegium'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary sc ...

levels. Education takes place at Ålands yrkesgymnasium,

Åland University of Applied Sciences Åland ( , ; ) is an Federacy, autonomous and Demilitarized zone, demilitarised region of Finland. Receiving its autonomy by a 1920 decision of the League of Nations, it is the smallest region of Finland by both area () and population (30,54 ...

, and Alandica Shipping Academy's own facilities. ASA also uses the school ship M/S Michael Sars for training. ASA is a member of the IASST.

Education

STCW Courses

Alandica Shipping Academy's courses are certified by both the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (

Traficom The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (, ), shortened to TRAFICOM, is a Finnish Government, Finnish government agency dealing with transport and communication in Finland. The agency expected to employ 900 people across 15 branches in ...

) and the

Swedish Transport Agency The Swedish Transport Agency () is a Swedish government agency which is responsible for the regulation of rail, air, sea and road transport and its enforcement. It was formed on 1 January 2009, through a merger of several government agencies, i ...

. The courses meet the international standards of the

STCW Convention International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) sets minimum qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships and large yachts. STCW was adop ...

(International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers). ASA continues to offer STCW courses, a role previously held by its predecessor, Åland Maritime Safety Center, which began offering these courses in 1999. Key STCW courses include: * Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (Basic and Advanced) STCW A-VI 2.1 * Basic Safety Training STCW A-VI/1 * Advanced Fire Fighting STCW A-VI/3 * Fast Rescue Boats STCW A-VI/2.2

Vocational Education

ASA coordinates vocational maritime education with Ålands yrkesgymnasium (Åland Vocational High School). Programs offered include: * Repairman * Deck Officer * Watchkeeping Engineer * Electro-technical Rating

Degree Programs

ASA offers degree programs in maritime studies in cooperation with

. These include: * Electro-technical Engineering * Marine/Mechanical Engineering * Marine Technology (Navigation) * Business Administration (focus on shipping) * Hospitality Management

Background

In autumn 2019, the

Government of Åland The Government of Åland () is the executive authority of Åland, an autonomous region of Finland. It is led by the Premier of Åland (), who is elected by the Parliament of Åland (). Åland Premiers * Carl Björkman (politician), Carl Björ ...

decided to establish Alandica Shipping Academy (ASA). The aim was to foster collaboration among three key maritime educational institutions:

, Ålands yrkesgymnasium, and the former Åland Maritime Safety Center. This collaboration was intended to enhance marketing efforts and provide more customer-oriented education, in accordance with Åland law 2003:17.

Milestones in Maritime Education in the Åland Islands

1854 Navigation education in the Åland Islands commenced at Ålands folkhögskola (Åland Folk High School). 1868

Mariehamn Navigation School Mariehamn ( , ; ; ) is the capital of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finnish sovereignty. Mariehamn is the seat of the Government and Parliament of Åland, and 40% of the population of Åland live in the city. It is mostly surrounded by ...

() was founded. The school trained nautical officers for the

North Sea The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. A sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Se ...

and

Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by the countries of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and the North European Plain, North and Central European Plain regions. It is the ...

. 1874 Education of

Sea captain A sea captain, ship's captain, captain, master, or shipmaster, is a high-grade licensed mariner who holds ultimate command and responsibility of a merchant vessel. The captain is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the ship, inc ...

s began. 1935 Mechanical engineering education started at (Mariehamn Higher Navigation School). 1938 The

building, designed by architect

Lars Sonck Lars Eliel Sonck (10 August 1870 – 14 March 1956) was a Finnish architect. He was a prominent figure in early 20th-century Finnish architecture, known for his role in developing the National Romantic and later Nordic Classicism movements in ...

, was completed. 1944 became (Åland Institute of Marine Technology). 1961 Ålands sjömansskola (; Eng: ''Åland's Seaman's School''), now part of Ålands yrkesgymnasium, was founded. 1997 Åland Maritime Safety Center was founded. 2003 {{Lang, sv, Ålands sjöfartsläroverk became part of

. 2005 The M/S Michael Sars became a school ship, owned by the

and operated by the Åland Maritime Safety Center. 2020 Alandica Shipping Academy was founded. The Åland Maritime Safety Center was incorporated into Alandica Shipping Academy, which now also coordinates maritime education offerings from

and Ålands yrkesgymnasium.

Pictures

File:Entrance to Alandica Shipping Academy training pool, 2021.jpg, Alandica Shipping Academy training pool File:Högskolan på Åland entre.jpg, Åland University of Applied Sciences, a partner institution File:Neptunigatan 6, Mariehamn flygfoto.jpg, Maritime programs at Ålands yrkesgymnasium, a partner institution File:MS Michael Sars at Alandica Shipping Academy in the harbour area, 2021.jpg, M/S Michael Sars, ASA's school ship File:STCW-course at Alandica Shipping Academy, Fast Rescue Boat.jpg, STCW Course: Fast Rescue Boat File:Team building event, Alandica Shipping Academy training pool, 2021 01.jpg, Team building event at Alandica Shipping Academy's training pool File:Fast Rescue Boats course at Alandica Shipping Academy harbour, 2021.jpg, STCW Course: Fast Rescue Boats at Alandica Shipping Academy's harbour

External links

Official website asa.ax

References

Maritime education Organisations based in Åland Educational institutions established in 2020 2020 establishments in Finland