The Finnish Maritime Administration is responsible for the safety of ships, the security of ships and port facilities, and the safety of boating and yachting in Finland. The department in charge of these duties is the Maritime Safety Department. The department consists of the Maritime Inspections Division, the Technical Division, the Seamen’s Division, the Boating Division and four regional inspection divisions.

The Maritime Inspections Division

The Maritime Inspections Division is in charge of the inspection and survey of ships and the port State control of ships sailing under foreign flags. The division conducts initial surveys of ships engaged on international voyages, approves ship and port facility security assessments and plans and inspects related security arrangements in collaboration with the Technical Division and the regional inspection divisions. It also approves the operational, technical and crew accommodation arrangements of ships and participates in the development of cargo safety.

The Technical Division

The Technical Division is in charge of tonnage measurement and ice class matters. The division is responsible for the inspection of machinery and electrical installations and the fire safety of ships, the protection of the marine environment and the transport of dangerous goods.

Regional inspection divisions

The four regional inspection divisions are in charge of flag State and port State control and deal with maritime cases and accidents at sea in their respective regions. They maintain a register of surveys and inspections and issue international certificates for pleasure craft and operators of pleasure craft.