Maritime safety award 2023 given to Master Mariner Matti Aaltonen. Aaltonen has had a distinguished career in official duties that promote maritime safety.

Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne presented the Sea Sunday maritime safety award to Master Mariner Matti Aaltonen in Helsinki on Monday, 11 September 2023. Aaltonen has had a long career as a public servant. He worked in expert, supervisory and managerial roles until retiring from the position of Chief Specialist at the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom in 2023.

Aaltonen’s career has included, e.g., expert work in pilotage and development of pilotage activities as well as starting up and continuing the development of the Finnish Vessel Traffic Services. Aaltonen’s last duties focused on developing and maintaining the preparedness of Finland and the traffic administration agencies in terms of the official obligations related to maritime security of supply and service reliability.

The award recipient was introduced by Juha-Matti Korsi, Senior Adviser at Traficom: “Matti Aaltonen’s expertise and knowhow have always been highly valued. It is great that he is being recognised with this prestigious maritime safety award. Close co-operation in national and international forums is important for the promotion of maritime safety, and Aaltonen has carried out this work successfully. The award is a joint acknowledgment from actors in the maritime sector and a show of gratitude for this valuable work.”

“Maritime safety is a part of national safety and security of supply”

Master Mariner Matti Aaltonen has represented Finland, Finnish seafaring and seafarers in several international forums all over the world. He has been involved in the development of common national and international decrees and requirements to promote maritime safety. People know Matti Aaltonen as an inspiring, friendly, knowledgeable and easy-to-approach expert in maritime safety and preparedness in particular, in Finland and abroad.

“I am grateful for this acknowledgement I have received. As a former seafarer and public servant, I feel that it is recognition of the work I have done together with all the maritime traffic parties. Maritime safety is an integral part of seafaring. It ensures the safe movement of people, goods and services and the uninterrupted and environmentally-friendly operation of maritime transports in all circumstances. It is an integral part of national safety and security of supply”, Aaltonen commented on the acknowledgement.

A joint acknowledgement from the maritime sector

The Sea Sunday maritime safety award is a recognition that was established by the Finnish authorities and maritime organisations in 1997. The chair organisation of the award committee is The Finnish Seamen’s Mission. The award trophy is a 36-cm bronze cast of Emil Cedercreutz’s sculpture Ruorimies (The Helmsman).