The strength of PA Ship & Safe in the midst of other regional cooperation fora is the strong ability to support transnational cooperation by focusing on project-based policy dialogue. Through cross border cooperation and by using the Baltic Sea as a test bed for policy makers, the industry and academia can find innovative solutions to the real problems facing us all.

All the countries united by the EUSBSR have a connection to the Baltic Sea. Baltic Sea - an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean – is a key object that brings all BSR countries together. No wonder that Baltic Sea is important to all of us. One of the EUSBSR objectives is to “Save the sea”.

What do you think when you think about the Baltic Sea? Its beautiful landscape and unique archipelago? Pollution and environmental problems? Maybe its coastline is the place you call home?

Cooperation provides huge possibilities, says Head of People Operations Maarit Lappalainen when she tells why Carinafour is active in EU projects. Currently the company is taking part in ECOPRODIGI that pilots digital solutions to increase eco-efficiency in the maritime sector.

In September, four new flagships were approved in the National Coordinators' meeting. The actions of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region are implemented by means of Flagships. Flagships demonstrate the progress of the Strategy, and may serve as pilot examples for desired action in a given field.

We interviewed the projects and asked what the status means to them.

Representatives from EUSBSR met with Norwegian maritime actors to show strategic and financial possibilities as well as concrete projects for Norwegian actors that want to become involved in Baltic Sea Region cooperation. The future of shipping, its technologies and competences - were also discussed and presented.

On 8th November 2017, in the Maritime Culture Centre in Gdańsk, Poland, an international seminar entitled “How Can Maritime Business Benefit from the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region?” was held. It was organized as part of “Let’s Communicate!” and “Smart Blue Regions” projects by “Pomorskie in the EU” Association, PA Ship and PA Safe. During the seminar, experts and companies from the maritime industry met to discuss current and potential maritime projects (covering the fields of shipping industry cooperation, logistics, port industry, shipping and occupational safety, biotechnological innovations, etc.)

Politicians, public authorities, industry stakeholders and maritime Flagship Projects agree that there is a need to focus on cross-sectorial cooperation, education and training as well as enforcement of regulations in order to turn the Baltic Sea Region into a leading region for clean and safe shipping.