Sustainable cooperation – Eckerö Line & Haaga-Helia

Haaga-Helia has engaged in long-lasting partnership with Eckerö Line through various forms of cooperation such as: events, student recruitment, thesis projects, and guest lectures. On the Sustainable Experience Economy course for hospitality management students, a guest lecture was held on 23 April 2026 by Kaisa Kartano, Head of Customer Experience and Product Development, at Eckerö Line. In her lecture, Kartano discussed, among other topics, Eckerö Group’s sustainability strategy, objectives, and year-round sustainability work.

– Our cooperation with Haaga-Helia falls under social responsibility. It is a great pleasure for us to be involved in students’ journeys in various ways and to offer lectures, project challenges, topics for theses, as well as internship and summer job opportunities, says Kartano.

A shipping-container-sized battery – Konttinen saves up to 500–600 thousand litres of fuel per year

In spring 2026, Eckerö Line invested in a battery solution installed on m/s Finlandia that reduces carbon dioxide emissions. As a result, the vessel is the first passenger ship on the Gulf of Finland to operate partly on electricity and partly on fuel – in other words, a hybrid vessel. This represents a significant investment in more sustainable maritime transport. According to the Eckerö Group’s view, the most effective way to reduce emissions from shipping is the gradual electrification of vessels.

The battery pack is installed in a fire-protected 24-foot shipping container on deck 9. The container is affectionately called Konttinen. A total of 96 battery modules will be installed in the container. The battery pack replaces one of the four diesel generators on m/s Finlandia. The targeted reduction in fuel consumption is approximately 3%, meaning that the ship will use around 500–600 tonnes less fuel annually. At the same time, the cruise ferry’s greenhouse gas emissions will be significantly reduced.

The battery system is in continuous use, and battery power is utilised during the voyage, in ship manoeuvering, and in ports. The batteries are charged with green shore power in both the ports of Helsinki and Tallinn.

Sustainability work has a direct impact on the student generation

Eckerö Group’s goal is to ensure connections between Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. Kartano explains that the Eckerö Group has carried out long-term strategic and planning work to develop green shipping corridors in the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. A green shipping corridor refers to a zero-emission or near-zero-emission route between two or more ports.

– We see that a green shipping corridor is achieved specifically through the electrification of vessels, so Konttinen is an important first step towards sustainable shipping, Kartano explains.

In the future, emission-free shipping will be a significant climate action that directly affects both current and future generations of students. For Eckerö Line, this is only the beginning of the journey towards its goals of sustainable and fully electrified shipping, but an important first step has now been taken.

Article image: Eckerö Line, Konttinen