Company in Brief
Meyer Turku builds some of the world’s largest and most advanced cruise ships and is currently constructing two multifunctional offshore patrol vessels for the Finnish Border Guard.
Project-Based Storage Needs
In September–October, we had a somewhat unusual project where we made extensive modifications to the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship, originally completed in 2020. The changes focused on public and cabin areas to ensure the vessel meets current accessibility requirements.
availability played a crucial role in the fast-paced schedule.
Scalable warehouse usage and the ability to receive goods on behalf of the customer as a service were key factors in choosing a partner.
Our collaboration with Turku Free Zone Company has been ongoing for a very long time—I don’t even know how long, but at least as long as I’ve been at Meyer.
We were already familiar with Turku Free Zone Company and its people from previous operations, but this project was new and unfamiliar to everyone. Together, we quickly found a working model and suitable space, and the work could start almost immediately.
Flexibility and good communication impressed me right from the start of the project.
Solution in Practice
Turku Free Zone Company received the project materials, recorded them in Meyer’s portal, and loaded them onto outbound trucks.
We also received daily notifications of incoming materials.
Results and Benefits
In this project, it was essential to keep newbuild operations and dry dock material management separate at the Turku shipyard, as they would have interfered with each other.
Turku Free Zone Company provided space and logistics personnel as a service, and the project was completed just as well as if it had been done in our own facilities—without the risk of materials getting mixed up.
We got access to the space quickly, although there was a slight delay in material arrivals, which caused a temporary peak load. However, the situation was handled excellently.
A tangible benefit of the collaboration was that not a single piece of material was lost.
We already have ideas for additional services: If I were to do a similar project again, I would outsource even more incoming material inspections and labeling/marking tasks to the warehouse—this work was partly done in France this time due to time constraints.
Experience of Collaboration
Working with Turku Free Zone Company is well-established and smooth. Change requests are handled quickly and with a positive attitude.
The best part of Turku Free Zone Company’s service is its skilled staff, who are already familiar with shipyard products and their special characteristics, as well as project-based operations that often involve changes.
The best part of Turku Free Zone Company’s service is its skilled staff, who are already familiar with shipyard products and their special characteristics, as well as project-based operations that often involve changes.
“The scalable use of the warehouse and the successful receipt of goods as a service on behalf of the customer was a significant factor in the choice of partner.”
– Janne Laakso (right), Meyer Turku
Looking Ahead
Janne Laakso sees the collaboration continuing and evolving: As a transit storage and consolidation point, Turku Free Zone Company’s location is excellent, and the facilities are well-suited to the shipyard’s changing needs.
We need to think together about what else we could develop and do in partnership in the future.
I recommend Turku Free Zone Company’s services to anyone with storage needs but without their own equipment or personnel—or anyone operating in a project environment with significant workload fluctuations.
