European Maritime Day 2016

Turku will host the most significant maritime conference in Europe together with the European Commission and the Finnish State between 18 and 19 May 2016. The event will be held in Logomo. The European Maritime Day Conference (EMD) is expected to bring approximately a thousand experts and decision makers who work with maritime matters from all around Europe to Turku. The theme in Turku will be Investing in competitive Blue Growth – smart and sustainable solutions.

The European Maritime Day Conference will be held in English, and there will be five thematic sessions:
1. Investing in blue growth
2. Improving ocean governance
3. Boosting skills development
4. Harnessing clean energy
5. Facilitating joint roadmaps

The conference offers operators in the maritime field a possibility to present their operations in the Networking Village as well as in the matchmaking event organized by the Enterprise Europe Network, both of which can be participated in through the open search. Conference guests will have a chance to find out about the maritime expertise of the Turku region by signing up for separately organized visits. 

The European Maritime Day programme will continue on weekend, May 20–22, with the public programme suitable for all ages. The weekend will start with a concert by the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra in Forum Marinum.

The aim of the annual Maritime Day is to emphasize the great importance of the maritime environment and the maritime economic activity for Europe. The European Maritime day, or EMD, has been held since 2008 always around May 20 based on the decision of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

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EUROPEAN MARITIME DAY’s (EMD) PUBLIC DAY ACTIVITIES IN TURKU 20–22 MAY 2016

The European Maritime Day will come ashore in Turku on the weekend of May 20–22 with a public programme suitable for all ages. Also, the River Harbour Festival will be celebrated as part of the EMD during the same weekend. The diverse selection of events includes the traditional Diver’s Day, several ship visits, and Axel the Ship Dog’s Activity Day.

The weekend will get started properly on Friday, May 20, as the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and Turku Music Festival in co-operation with the City of Turku organize a maritime benefit concert in front of the Suomen Joutsen ship at 18.00. The concert is organized for the benefit of the Protection Fund for the Archipelago Sea, and soloists include the brightest stars of Finnish opera: mezzo-soprano Monica Groop, bass Matti Salminen, and baritone Waltteri Torikka. The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Leif Segerstam. Admission to the concert is free of charge.

The charity concert is free of charge, but the aim is to collect as much funds for practical conservation work as possible. Private persons, businesses, and communities can support the conservation work by purchasing a plate carrying the buyers name on Stefan Lindfors’ Symbiosis sculpture. Each plate is permanently attached as a part of the large environmental art work which is located close to the concert venue. The profits from the plates are used for water pollution control initiatives in the Archipelago Sea area. Further information on the website of the Protection Fund for the Archipelago Sea.

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European Maritime Day and River Harbour Festival, 20-22 May 2016

Programme

Friday, May 20

Forum Marinum – Linnankatu 72
15.00–16.00 Cleaning of the bottom of Suomen Joutsen, Diving Group
15.00–17.00 Offshore patrol vessel Turva of the Finnish Border Guard open for public
16.00–17.30 Protection Fund for the Archipelago Sea panel discussion, Forum Marinum, Ruuma auditorium
18.00–19.00 Maritime benefit concert for the Protection Fund for the Archipelago Sea. Soloists comprise mezzo-soprano Monica Groop, bass Matti Salminen, and baritone Waltteri Torikka. The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Leif Segerstram.

Varvintori
15.00–15.30 Figure marching performance of the Navy Band

Vaakahuone Pavilion – Linnankatu 38
14:00–18:00 Afternoon dance with Seppo Mäkikalli Orchestra
19:00– Music and dancing straight from the 60s: Calling Elvis, Walker Group & The Renegades tribute

Steamship s/s Ukkopekka – The cruise starts from the front of Vaakahuone Pavilion
19.00–23.00 A nostalgic supper cruise on board of the Steamship s/s Ukkopekka to Loistokari island in the Archipelago. For enquiries and reservations please contact Ukkopekka sales at tel. +358 (0)2 515 3300. Price starting from 48€ including the cruise, supper, and live music.

Saturday, May 21

Forum Marinum – Linnankatu 72
9.00–11.40 Lectures covering the history of diving in Finland; Ruuma auditorium. Subjects will be the Finnish Navy, professional diving, and recreational diving. The lectures will be in English and last approximately 45 minutes. Feel free join in at any time.
10.00–12.00 Offshore patrol vessel Turva of the Finnish Border Guard open for public
11.00–19.00 The new exhibition of Forum Marinum, “Merestä ja kohtaloista – Tuulen vanavedessä“ will be opened for public on Saturday, May 21. The exhibition will be located in the Suomen Joutsen ship. It has two themes; Amerigo Vespucci, the training ship of the Italian navy, as well as photos of wrecked ships by Stefano Benazzo. The exhibition can be accessed with a Forum Marinum admission ticket.
12.15–13.00 Southwest Finland Emergency Services organizes a diving and surface rescue show close to the Suomen Joutsen ship. Southwest Finland Emergency Services is alarmed approx. 60–90 times per year because of persons who have fallen into River Aura.
14.00–16.00 Offshore patrol vessel Turva of the Finnish Border Guard open for public
13.00–16.00 Historical diving performances on the shore at Forum Marinum. The spectators will see old diving equipment in use as the divers demonstrate their use during the performance.
15.00 The Navy Band brass quintette gives a concert

Manilla, Jo-Jo Theatre – Itäinen Rantakatu 64
12.00–15.00 Pekka Töpöhännän kissakahvila (Peter-No-Tail’s cat cafe). In the cafe one can get a foretaste of this summer’s theatrical performance with music. Programme includes angling and face painting.

Vaakahuone Pavilion – Linnankatu 38
14:00–18:00 Afternoon dance with Seppo Mäkikalli Orchestra
19:00– Music and dancing straight from the 60s: The Spiders and Calling Elvis
21.30 Latin music by Bohemio Cuba Social

Steamship s/s Ukkopekka – The cruise starts from the front of Vaakahuone Pavilion
19.00–23.00 A nostalgic supper cruise on board of the Steamship s/s Ukkopekka to Loistokari island in the Archipelago. For enquiries and reservations please contact Ukkopekka sales at tel. +358 (0)2 515 3300. Price starting from 48€ including the cruise, supper, and live music.

Sunday, May 22

Forum Marinum – Linnankatu 72
11.00–14.00 Axel the Ship Dog’s Activity Day. There will be e.g. face painting, pony rides, yard games, crafts, pedal cars, track and field sports, etc. There are over 20 activity points in the area. The event is hosted by Kapteeni Kumiankka (Captain Rubber Duck).

Axel the Ship Dog’s Activity Day stage programme:
11.00 Samba Carioca’s colourful samba performance
11.20 Ville Viking Pop-up Show
11.30 Palomies ei pelota (The Fireman Is Not Scary) show
11.50 Ville Viking Pop-up Show
12.00 Mimi and Kuku on a Sea Adventure
12.50 Ville Viking Pop-up Show
13.00 Axel the Ship Dog’s concert for children: Turun konservatorion junioripuhaltajat and Pohjan nuoriso-orkesteri
13.40 Dance Theatre ERI presents: Mate in Finland

11.30 and 13.30 Axel the Ship Dog’s family tours in the renewed main exhibition of Forum Marinum. The guidance is free of charge, but an entry ticket must be purchased.

14.00–17.00 Turku Wind Instruments’ Festival concerts:
14.00 Turun konservatorio brass band and Turku YMCA’s Aura Brass Band
15.00 Turku Jazz Orchestra’s Big Band institute’s big band
16.00 Nousteprassi
17.00 Salo brass band

Bore ship (s/s Borea) – Linnankatu 72
15.00–16.00 Bore’s story tour. This tour shows you around the old steamship and takes you to the nostalgic atmosphere of the 60s. Drama, facts, and music. The tour will be hosted by Turku-guide and journalist Eeva Turpeinen and the “singing chief engineer” Pekka Rantanen. Price 10 €/5 €. Enquiries: tel. +358 (0)40 356 5696.

Vaakahuone Pavilion – Linnankatu 38
13.00–17.00 Archipelago dance at the riverfront: The Pelargonia rhythm orchestra
18.30– Latin music by CHIMI - finlatin

Venues:

• Forum Marinum, Suomen Joutsen, and the terrace of restaurant Daphne
  Address: Linnankatu 72
  http://www.forum-marinum.fi/en/

• Vaakahuone Pavilion
  Address: Linnankatu 56
  http://www.vaakahuone.fi/en

• Steamship s/s Ukkopekka
  Address: Linnankatu 38
  http://www.ukkopekka.fi/en