Meriaura

Meriaura Meriaura transports industrial bulk and demanding project cargoes, in Northern Europe.

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Circular economy and the Closed Loop System” What began with biodiesel made fr...
31/08/2026

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Circular economy and the Closed Loop System”

What began with biodiesel made from fish processing waste eventually developed into a closed-loop system in Uusikaupunki, bringing together a biogas plant, an oil plant, a land-based fish farm and a greenhouse. The aim was to connect shipping, bioenergy and the circular economy in one ecosystem, where side streams from one operation could be used as raw material for another.

It was an ambitious concept — one of the most fearless and unconventional in Meriaura’s history. The system consisted of VG-EcoFuel, which collected used vegetable oils and other recycled oils from restaurants and the food industry; Biolinja, a biogas plant that processed biodegradable side streams into biogas and recycled nutrients; Sybimar, a land-based fish farm where water was circulated through a purification system; and a greenhouse that used water from the fish farm for irrigation.

The biogas plant supplied energy to the other operations and received processing waste from both the oil plant and the fish farm. The oil plant, in turn, used oily fish waste from the fish farm, and the fuel it produced was used by Meriaura’s vessels. The original plan also included using CO₂ from the biogas plant’s chimney in the greenhouse, but this proved too difficult to implement.

Sometimes bold ideas succeed, and sometimes they do not. In this case, the full closed-loop system did not quite work as planned. As Jussi put it, however, “we were able to farm fish on land with less financial loss than our competitors”.

Today, the oil plant and biogas plant continue to operate successfully, forming a partial closed-loop system in which logistics, bioenergy and nutrient recycling remain part of the same value chain.

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Biofuel – own production” Biofuel experiments gained new momentum in cooperati...
24/08/2026

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Biofuel – own production”

Biofuel experiments gained new momentum in cooperation with Rovina Oy’s Rami Salminen in the mid-2000s. At the time, Rovina was producing biodiesel from fish processing residues. The cooperation deepened and eventually led to an extensive closed-loop system, which will be discussed in more detail in the next post.

The expansion from shipping into the circular economy had begun. First came a biogas plant in Uusikaupunki in 2013, followed by an oil plant that started operations in 2016. The oil plant processing recycled oils was first operated by VG-Shipping but eventually separated into its own company, VG-EcoFuel. The plant had production lines for both fish oil and used cooking oil, but after various trials, used cooking oil was ultimately selected as the raw material for biofuel. The self-produced fuel was first tested under a trial permit on M/V Meri and later, once the EcoCoasters had been completed, on Eeva VG and Mirva VG. Not all the trials were without problems, but valuable lessons were learned from them.

In 2020, a development project supported by Business Finland was launched to systematically improve recycled oil production. As a result, a reliable process and consistent fuel quality were achieved. VG-EcoFuel’s biofuel is made of recycled oils, which means the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of the fuel are extremely low, up to approximately 98 % lower than those of fossil fuels.

The number of vessels using biofuel in Meriaura’s fleet has steadily increased over the years, and two more will be added in the coming years with the newbuildings.

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Biofuel – the first experiment” Meriaura’s first biofuel experiment took place...
17/08/2026

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Biofuel – the first experiment”

Meriaura’s first biofuel experiment took place as early as 1992 — a story that deserves a post of its own. The Soviet Union had just collapsed, and a major environmental meeting was approaching in St. Petersburg. Meriaura’s partner Greenpeace planned to attend and then continue to Lake Ladoga to take water samples. Jussi convinced Greenpeace that the tugboat Aura was the right vessel for the mission, especially as it could be converted into an exceptionally environmentally friendly mode of transport.

At the time, Raisio Group had started producing biodiesel from rapeseed oil for a mobile hazardous waste collection truck, Ympäristöauto Yrjö, operating in the Turku region. Jussi and his friends arranged for the same biodiesel to be used in Aura and equipped the tugboat with a solar panel, a small wind turbine and a battery. The project moved remarkably fast: from an idea in March to implementation in July.

As a colourful detail, the crew included not only Jussi and the usual Meriaura people, but also activists — several of whom later became well-known names in Finnish cultural life. On the way to St. Petersburg, the group also took part in several demonstrations.

The experiment was partly successful: the biofuel worked well in the main engine, but not in the auxiliary engine. Thanks to the solar panel, wind turbine and battery, Aura was self-sufficient in electricity while in port in St. Petersburg. This proved useful when the vessel was detained for several weeks by local authorities over allegedly unsatisfactory research permits.

The first experiment later provided valuable lessons, when biofuel was further tested on Meriaura’s vessels.

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “M/V Aura’s Conversion”M/V Aura operated as a deck cargo carrier until May 2012...
10/08/2026

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “M/V Aura’s Conversion”

M/V Aura operated as a deck cargo carrier until May 2012, when Meriaura secured a long-term contract with Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke GmbH (NSW) for the vessel’s use. To meet the demanding requirements of offshore renewable energy logistics, Aura was converted into a cable laying vessel at Rauma Shipyard. The conversion included a full DP2 propulsion system, accommodation for cable-laying and client personnel, a heave-compensated crane, of the beam section in the central working area from 18m to 25m. In addition, the vessel’s power generation capacity was increased, and an A-Frame with a launch and recovery system was installed to support the SeaREX heavy-duty cable trencher.

Aura continued cable laying operations for offshore wind farms until February 2016, when Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke GmbH (NSW) terminated the contract. Meriaura then decided to convert the vessel back into a multipurpose open-deck heavy cargo carrier to support its sister vessel, Meri. The modifications were completed in spring 2016.

In summer 2025, Aura briefly returned to cable-laying duties for a two-week project for Seaworks Kabel AS in Iceland. The work included installing three submarine cables at two near-shore sites, as well as mobilisation and demobilisation in Northern Europe.

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “2nd open deck carrier”By the early 2010s, it became clear that Meriaura needed...
03/08/2026

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “2nd open deck carrier”

By the early 2010s, it became clear that Meriaura needed a second open deck carrier. At the same time, between 2011 and 2014, the STX Turku Shipyard faced a severe existential crisis due to financial downturn and the difficulties of the South Korean parent company, STX Europe. The yard suffered major order cancellations, leading to localized economic uncertainty in Southwest Finland. The Turku facility was left with a critical lack of orders.

Meriaura Group company Gaiamare Ltd and STX Finland Oy signed a contract to build M/V Meri, an innovative and versatile multipurpose deck cargo vessel. Designed for demanding project cargo such as offshore wind farm structures, the ice-class 1A vessel can also be used for oil spill response. Meri also marked the beginning of Meriaura’s systematic use of recycled bio-oil, as its main engines were designed to run on bio-oil.

M/V Meri was built at Turku shipyard and delivered in spring 2012. At the same time, also a passanger/Ro-Ro cargo ship Viking Grace was built at the shipyard. Both projects were granted environmental investment support by the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications. The construction of these two vessels played an important role in sustaining the shipyard's operations during the difficult years.

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “First Newbuilding”The early 2000s were years of steady growth and development....
27/07/2026

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “First Newbuilding”

The early 2000s were years of steady growth and development. As the company expanded, it became possible to aim higher and pursue goals that had once seemed out of reach. The Turku Shipyard’s need for an alternative to tug-and-pontoon block transport gave rise to the idea of a deck cargo vessel.

In 2008 the company’s first newbuilding ”Aura” was completed. It was a big achievement for Meriaura, in many ways. Not only was it the first newbuilding for the company but it was also the first in-house designed concept, done with a small group of Meriaura people while also managing the normal business at the same time.

Aura’s concept brought Jussi and the company an innovation award. “Aura” as the first newbuilding was also a big risk to the company but the risk paid off and Aura earned its place in the fleet as a special project cargo vessel.

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Ship Management and Crewing Services”Crewing is a cornerstone of successful sh...
20/07/2026

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Ship Management and Crewing Services”

Crewing is a cornerstone of successful ship management. Over the years, Meriaura has been responsible for managing and crewing a wide range of different kinds of vessels.

For nearly two decades, the Finnish research vessel Aranda was under our management. The assignment began with VG-Shipping in 2007 and continued under Meriaura until 2026.

VG-Shipping also crewed Meritaito’s (now part of Arctia) hydrographic survey vessels, and later the split barges of Wasa Dredging, a company specializing in underwater drilling and dredging. For a while VG-Shipping also crewed Sampo, an icebreaker converted into a tourist attraction in Kemi.

Today, Meriaura focuses on crewing its own fleet and the cargo vessels of its partner shipping companies.

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Serving the Shipbuilding industry”The acquisition of Pernotrans in 2001 marked...
13/07/2026

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Serving the Shipbuilding industry”

The acquisition of Pernotrans in 2001 marked an important step in Meriaura’s development towards a stronger and more diversified group structure.

Expanding into land transportation supported the company’s maritime heavy lift operations and strengthened cooperation with the engineering industry. Pernotrans also handled the loading of Wärtsilä engines and power plant deliveries on the Aura River until 2004, when the operations were transferred to Trieste.

Pernotrans remained part of the Meriaura Group until 2015. During those years, the company played an important role in supporting Meriaura’s project cargo operations and logistics services for the shipbuilding industries.

Even today, maritime transportation for the shipbuilding industry in Northern Europe remains an important part of Meriaura’s service offering and is something we are famous for.

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Growing fleet”Over the years, the Meriaura fleet has included a wide variety o...
06/07/2026

Meriaura 1986 – 2026 Anniversary Series: “Growing fleet”

Over the years, the Meriaura fleet has included a wide variety of vessels — among them Eeva, Mirva (without VG-ending) and Nina in the 2000s, together with many other ships that became part of the company’s history.

In addition to owned vessels, the fleet was complemented with time-chartered tonnage. One of the long-serving chartered ships was the German M/S Thule, remembered by many as a familiar sight in Northern European trade.

Little by little, the fleet continued to grow. From only a handful of vessels, Meriaura gradually developed a larger and more versatile fleet, reflecting the company’s steady expansion and long-term commitment to shipping.

These photographs offer a glimpse into the company’s maritime history and the ships that worked to build Meriaura over the years.

Meriaura 1986 - 2026 Anniversary Series: "Turn of the century"Meriaura’s and VG-Shipping’s operations began to expand. N...
29/06/2026

Meriaura 1986 - 2026 Anniversary Series: "Turn of the century"

Meriaura’s and VG-Shipping’s operations began to expand. New partners and shipowners joined, and the company started chartering vessels such as M/S Sabina from Helmer Lundström. Maria VG was acquired. M/V Pamela was later sold to a partner, Vidar Shipping, and VG-Shipping bought a larger ship, M/V Susanna.

At this stage, the fleet consisted of 4–5 vessels, both owned and chartered. At the time, Meriaura started operating a proper office with 4-5 people on the team. A small-scale shipping company could not afford to make any ill-advised decisions, which lead to a sustainable and efficient way of operating.

Osoite

EerikinKatu 26
Turku
20100

Aukioloajat

Maanantai 09:00 - 17:00
Tiistai 09:00 - 17:00
Keskiviikko 09:00 - 17:00
Torstai 09:00 - 17:00
Perjantai 09:00 - 17:00

Nettisivu

Hälytykset

Tiedä ensimmäisenä ja anna meille oikeus lähettää sinulle sähköpostitse uutisia ja promootioita Meriaura :ltä. Sähköpostiosoitettasi ei käytetä muihin tarkoituksiin, ja voit perua milloin tahansa.

Oikopolut

Jaa

Kategoria