Jan Meyer, the CEO of Meyer Turku shipyard: We are here to stay!

The CEO of Meyer Turku shipyard, Jan Meyer, enters his office with a helmet on his head and with a jacket identical to the ones worn by the hundreds of workers at the shipyard. A more formal shirt and jacket are revealed from underneath the work jacket. The situation says something essential about Meyer’s attitude towards his work and the shipyard: everyone works together.

Turku shipyard was hanging on the verge of bankruptcy, but after the German shipbuilder family Meyer bought it from Korean STX last year, the order book started to fill up fast. Now there are seven ships either being built or on order in Turku and with the current volume of orders there will be work until 2020.
- I must say that we did not expect a start quite this brisk, says CEO Jan Meyer.

Restoring trust was a success

Meyer stresses the importance of trust in the field of shipbuilding. There are only a handful of shipyards that build internationally high-class cruise ships so the circles are small. The most important task for the new owner in the initial phase is to restore the trust of the customers and sponsors.

For Meyer Turku that moment was in last May when Mein Schiff 4, a passenger ship nearly 300 meters long, was transferred from the shipyard. It was the first ship that was finished in Turku after Meyer became the owner. The day of transfer was important for the future of the shipyard, but also for Meyer personally.
- It was a signal that we can keep our promises. We deliver the ship at the given time while meeting the quality requirements.

The success of the shipyard is significant for the entire Southwest Finland region. At the same time the expectations for the shipyard as a creator of jobs and well-being have risen. Meyer is aware of the responsibility.
- On the other hand we must remember that we drive forward as a huge team in which the subcontractors play a vital part.

Meyer thinks that one of the key strengths of the Turku shipyard is the wide co-operation network with subcontractors.
- Since we work in a narrow special field, we see our subcontractors again and again. This creates a solid co-operation relationship that one does not necessarily come across within other fields of industry.

Meyer also commends the co-operation with the City of Turku. He especially highlights the Blue Industry Park initiative which aims at helping subcontractor companies to better operate in the area.

CEO Jan Meyer, photo by Jussi Vierimaa

A family of shipbuilders

There are two kinds of shipyards left in Europe: owned by a state, or owned by a family. The Meyer Turku shipyard is one of the latter.
- We are a family business, we are shipbuilders. This is why running shipyards is personal to us and we genuinely care about what happens in our shipyards.

The Turku shipyard was not substantially modernized or developed in the hands of its previous owners. The bill from the past should be paid quickly if the shipyard is to stay competitive also after 2020.

Meyer does not want to open the curtain of secrecy too much to talk about the future, but the signs of change are in the air.
- We are talking about a fairly large investment plan. We cannot yet reveal details, because the financing arrangements are not finished, but I believe that we will make the first decisions during this year.

The CEO underlines the perseverance needed in the financial planning in the field. Building a ship is a long process, and a cruise ship in particular is a complicated product. The time from the requisition of a ship to its transfer is approximately three years.
- Shipyards looking for quick profits have fallen one after another. We aspire to be competitive so in future, and this is why our focus is always further than at the present. We have come to Turku to stay.

Text: Hannu Waher
Photos: Jussi Vierimaa