At the end of 2023, under the leadership of the Estonian maritime sector and with the support of the Ministry of Climate, the non-profit association Estonian Maritime Cluster was established with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of companies in the maritime sector and taking advantage of the growth opportunities opened by the global green transition. The Maritime Cluster elected Andres Uusoja from HHLA TK Estonia as its chairman of the board.
According to Kaupo Läänerand, the Deputy Secretary General for Maritime and Water Affairs at the Ministry of Climate, the creation of the cluster has been discussed and planned for a long time, as until now there has been no organisation uniting all sectors of the maritime economy in Estonia. In addition, the creation of a maritime cluster is viewed as an important priority in the current maritime economy strategy and in the analyses dealing with the competitiveness of the field.
The board of the Estonian Maritime Cluster, which met for the first time in February 2024, elected Andres Uusoja, the sales manager and board member of HHLA TK Estonia, its chairman of the board.
According to Uusoja, the purpose of the cluster is to jointly contribute to the enhancement of the international competitiveness of maritime companies, to offer marketing support, and to promote innovation, research, and development in the sector, in cooperation with the state and the private sector.
“By acting together through the cluster, we want to contribute to the growth of Estonia’s export through marine activity, and to help make Estonia globally known as a maritime country,” said Andres Uusoja.
Estonia’s maritime sector includes 1,700 companies and accounts for nearly 5% of the GDP. According to the deputy secretary general of the Ministry of Climate, we can expect future growth in the new areas of economic activity related to the sea and the coast, i.e. the blue economy, as well as utilisation of the potential of the green transition.
“The maritime cluster plays an important role in the implementation of climate and economic policies in the maritime sector. Experience has shown that only by acting together can we remain competitive and be able to capture a larger share of the global market,” stressed Kaupo Läänerand.
As of spring 2024, the cluster has nearly 30 members, including AS Tallinna Sadam, AS Saarte Liinid, Tallinn University of Technology, HHLA TK Estonia AS, Wiima Logistics OÜ, DFDS A/S Eesti filiaal, Baltic Workboats AS, SRC Group AS, AS LTH-Baas, OÜ ESC and Tallinn Shipyard OÜ.
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