Logistics and seafaring
In the logistics and seafaring focus area, activities are aimed at developing new services and processes for logistics and transport. Xamk has strong expertise not only in port and railway logistics, transport systems and supply chains, but also in terms of the environmental effects and safety of logistics. Seafaring research focuses on risk management and maritime safety and emergency response. The seafaring RDI team is involved in long-term cooperation in oil spill response training of the authorities. Annually, the team cooperates with nearly 150 companies in research and development projects as well as in joint development projects of companies and students.
Spearheads of competence
Railway logistics
The goal of railway logistics research is to identify development targets with the purpose of improving the efficiency of logistics and decreasing the adverse environmental effects caused by transportation. This can be achieved by increasing the market share of railway transportation, since it is often a more environmentally friendly option compared to road transportation. Development work is mainly carried out as part of national and international research and education projects.
Railway logistics and related activities (for example Kouvola rail/road terminal), together with their development, are one of the main interests of the City of Kouvola. Kouvola is the only inland terminal of the TEN-T core network in Finland (the EU has defined nine core transportation corridors and Kouvola is included in one of them), while the Port of HaminaKotka is one of the four TEN-T core network ports in Finland. These two locations are connected to each other both through railway and road connections. One important example of international cooperation and expertise is the cargo railway link between Finland and China, launched in 2017.
Sustainable port logistics
From Finland’s perspective, ports are vitally important for foreign trade. A significant share of Finland’s logistic performance and competitiveness is based on seamless national and international supply chains that are supported by efficient information exchange and electronic operating models. Furthermore, logistic operations are becoming increasingly digitalized, and environmental questions, including climate change, will have a significant influence on ports and the whole logistics industry. This opens up new needs and opportunities in the field.
In port logistics, the research and development work is mainly based on the needs identified in cooperation with companies operating in the field. It deals with questions such as how to integrate new innovations, intelligent data management solutions, low-carbon and other technologies into cargo handling, improved traffic flow, cost-effectiveness, safety and security and network cooperation between port area operators.
Future intelligent transport systems
The core of international cooperation in the field of transport systems is safety on land, at sea and in the air. In this respect, operators in Kymenlaakso region have strong expertise. The need to improve transport safety, risk identification and efficient accident prevention creates demand for intelligent transport innovations.
Transport systems research focuses on regionally significant development activities aimed at both external national and international connections to and from Kymenlaakso region, and at developing the region’s internal transport systems. Xamk offers a development platform for transport sector research that promotes cooperation, strategic partnerships and network building with businesses, the research community and the public sector.
Contact:
Research Director
Ville Henttu
Tel. +358 44 702 8522
ville.henttu@xamk.fi
Maritime safety and emergency management
The core of Xamk’s seafaring research is safety management, maritime emergency response and distress operations, and maritime search and rescue. In addition, the safety of the marine environment is an essential part of maritime safety. In order to reduce the environmental effects of maritime transportation, the maritime RDI team seeks solutions to issues such as emission abatement technologies and controlling the problems related to invasive species. In addition to incident management, the research team develops anticipatory and preventive safety work in cooperation with maritime education.
Oil spill prevention and response
In terms of preparedness for environmental damage, Xamk is a frontrunner in oil spill prevention and response activities. We research and develop oil spill prevention and train authorities for oil spill response operations at sea. We are involved in creating operating models especially for the coordination of large-scale and long-term prevention and response operations. In the research and development work, we make use of simulation models and the oil spill response testing and training environment.