merenkulkulaitos

Merenkulkulaitos, rendered in Finnish as the Maritime Administration, was a Finnish state agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of maritime traffic and shipping. Operating under the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it handled functions related to maritime safety, ship registration and documentation, and the enforcement of maritime law within Finnish waters and for Finnish-flag vessels. The agency worked to ensure compliance with international conventions, issued seafarer certificates, supervised vessel inspections, and contributed to port state control activities. It also maintained official records concerning ships, tonnage, and related regulatory matters, and cooperated with national and international authorities on maritime safety and security.

In 2019, Finland restructured its transport and communications governance by forming Traficom, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, through the merger of several agencies. As part of this reform, Merenkulkulaitos ceased to exist as an independent entity and its maritime regulatory responsibilities were transferred to Traficom. The change consolidated oversight of maritime safety, ship registration, and other related functions under a single agency.

The historical existence of Merenkulkulaitos reflects Finland’s long-standing institutional framework for managing maritime affairs. Today, Traficom continues the regulatory duties previously associated with the Maritime Administration, maintaining Finland’s compliance with international maritime standards and the safety of seafaring and shipping activities.