Career stories – MERIMA

Project Controller Kaisa Mäntynen

Janika Elo — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:43:17 +0000

Merima crew member

From internship to award-winning career: my decade-long journey at Merima

Kaisa joined Merima in January 2015 as an intern while studying for her Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA), working in the finance department. Little did she know that those eight weeks would shape the next decade of her career, full of challenges, opportunities, and growth.

Kaisa’s journey at Merima perfectly showcases the diverse career paths the company offers. Starting as an intern in the finance department, she transitioned through roles in project coordination, on-site project work in Japan and Germany, and eventually into her current position as a Project Controller. Her ability to adapt, learn, and excel across various roles highlights Merima’s commitment to fostering growth and exploring new challenges.

A passionate advocate for the company, Kaisa motivates and encourages her colleagues, always focusing on collaboration and improvement. It’s no surprise that her dedication and impact earned her the title of Employee of the Year 2023.

Name

Kaisa Mäntynen

Job title

Project Controller

Member of merima crew

Since 2015

Location

Helsinki

“Merima’s management team has consistently supported my development, often identifying new challenges for me before I even realized I needed them. Whether it’s offering training opportunities or encouraging me to explore different roles (even abroad), they’ve ensured I get new challenges so that my career is always evolving.”

Once her internship came to an end, Merima offered Kaisa the opportunity to join full-time as a Project Coordinator. A few months later, she was given the chance to support a project on-site in Japan for a couple of weeks, handling invoices and processing working visas. Those two weeks turned into 18 months.

During her time in Nagasaki, Kaisa completed two major projects with Mitsubishi. “Even though the working culture was vastly different, the support from my colleagues made it easier to navigate. I even picked up a bit of Japanese – though I’ve forgotten most of it now!

From Japan, Kaisa moved to Germany, where she started getting deeply involved in the project teams, managing purchasing, working directly with suppliers, spending more time on-site, and joining sea trials on the vessels Merima built. “Those two years in Papenburg were intense – we worked quite long days, but it was incredibly rewarding. It felt like we were part of something tangible and exciting, and the team was amazing!”

Kaisa is currently a Project Controller at Merima, focusing on overseeing project financials, including cost tracking, margin analysis, and regular reviews with project teams. She also handles all sales invoicing and uses her on-site experience to guide and support teams, ensuring collaboration between finance and project execution.

Culture and support: The Merima Way

Speaking of why Kaisa has spent a decade of her career at Merima, she adds: “One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Merima is the culture. There’s no strict hierarchy—if you need something, you can reach out to anyone, even the CEO.”

“We also focus heavily on collaboration. Finance teams at other companies might stay in the background, but at Merima, we actively work with project teams to find ways to make their lives easier. This approach led to a special moment last year when I was voted Employee of the Year. It’s rare for someone with a background in finance to win that award, but it felt great to know that my colleagues valued the support I provide.”

“If you’re considering a career at Merima, my advice is simple: Do it! You’ll have the support you need to succeed, work with fantastic colleagues, and tackle exciting, challenging projects. You’ll also have opportunities to grow—both professionally and personally.”

Outside of work, Kaisa is passionate about sports and enjoys spending time with her family. She played basketball for 14 years and recently started CrossFit.

Project Manager Ömer Cagiran

Janika Elo — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:47:14 +0000

Merima crew member

Overcoming new challenges with the support of your colleagues

Ömer was born and raised in Turkey and has studied Mechanical Engineering. After which, he worked for two years as a Product Launch Engineer. From there, he applied for a ship design training course offered by Meyer Turku, in co-operation and selected by Merima. After completing his training, Ömer was offered the position of Warranty Engineer at Merima, staying in that role for over two years. Here he worked with several Project Managers, quickly learning what it takes to manage the large and complex projects Merima handles every year. “We’re lucky at Merima because there are so many people with different personalities and expertise that it was a privilege to learn from them,” says Ömer.

It wasn’t long before he became a Project Manager, responsible for the Lanai deck, for his first ship – Carnival Cruise Lines new flagship, Carnival Celebration. In his role, Ömer tries to make the project effortless for the customer, matching Merima’s expertise and the company’s vision for the best outcomes.

Currently, Ömer is managing the Sun & Sports deck and kids area, amounting to approximately 5,000 m2, on TUI’s Mein Schiff 7. The steel-to-steel project will be delivered in April 2024.

Name

Ömer Cagiran

Job title

Project Manager

Member of merima crew

Since 2019

Location

Turku

“Thanks to the team and other managers, I get help when I need it. That’s one thing that makes me excited to work here – they won’t let you down. The company has so much expertise that you will find a way to overcome your problems.”

As a Project Manager, Ömer encounters challenges daily. As the link between the shipyard, the customer and the internal project team, Ömer needs to ensure that the cooperation is as seamless as possible. His job is to ensure and oversee that the process flows without any bottlenecks. But changing circumstances means he needs to change the game plan when needed, requiring strong resilience and adaptability.

“I try to visit the site once a day, so I know how my team is doing – and I try to anticipate their daily challenges. I think there’s a big difference between seeing and hearing the challenges. And they might not see their own challenges, but when I come, I can see things they’re unaware of,” he says.

For Ömer, Merima’s constant learning and development culture motivates him and inspires him to hone his skills.

“Merima thinks about the long-term and they care about helping you become the best version of yourself. Merima understands that personal growth and development don’t happen quickly and are willing to invest their money and time in you.”

“With their help and support, I’ve gone from a Warranty Engineer to handling projects worth millions of euros. It makes me think the company values me, which motivates me to deliver more for the company,” says Ömer.

Ömer enjoys the work-life balance in Finland, and having easy access to nature, fishing, and spending time in the forest are some of his favorite activities.

Project Manager Antti Launonen

Janika Elo — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 05:11:28 +0000

Merima crew member

Embracing exciting challenges through personally fulfilling projects

Project Manager Antti Launonen has been with Merima since 2019. Fresh out of university with a degree in Industrial and Production Management, Antti spent some time working for a Finnish shipyard before joining Merima as a Project Engineer. From there, he displayed his flair for leadership and strong industry knowledge to become a Project Manager for his second project – Tallink’s MyStar.

Name

Antti Launonen

Job title

Project Manager

Member of merima crew

Since 2019

Location

Turku

“Merima has an abundance of leaders, career development opportunities, and internal courses that push me to grow, strengthen my skills and go to the next level.”

Antti joined the company just before the COVID-19 pandemic started, meaning that the company was in a remote setting for much of his first year. Despite this, he could still easily receive his colleagues’ support when needed – not just from his own project team but also from his supervisors and the whole Merima management team.

This enabled him to very quickly develop the skills necessary to become a Project Manager, managing the cabin and crew areas in one of the biggest ever steel-to-steel turnkey contracts carried out by Merima.

“I’m most proud of the cabin areas on MyStar. It was a pretty new thing for us at that point – we’d never done them to this scope before, so I’m really pleased and proud that we managed to create 200 cabin modules that looked amazing, which the customer was really happy with,” says Antti.

As a Project Manager of large, complex projects, Antti faces demanding challenges on a daily basis. These require him to push his boundaries and develop quick, innovative, and smart solutions for the customer that meet their high-quality expectations and keep the project on schedule.

As an employee-centered company, Merima offers various benefits to its employees, and Antti loves to mountain bike with his company bike on the weekends. “You really get the feeling that you’re appreciated at Merima, which drives you to do your work to the best possible standard and makes the challenging projects 100% worth it!” he continues.

Account Manager Iiro Hokkila

admin — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 14:13:21 +0000

Merima crew member

A passion that has grown while working

Iiro’s career at Merima started in 2015 as a summer employee when, through a few twists and turns, the opportunity unexpectedly arose to take on a logistics management role in Merima’s first project in Japan. Iiro, who has a degree in business and finance, had little previous knowledge of the shipbuilding industry, but he was attracted to extensive and challenging projects. After his summer job, the opportunity to do an internship in logistics management presented itself. During the internship, Iiro was able to closely follow the work of a project manager and admire how large projects were carefully and professionally managed. “That’s where I got the spark to become a project manager,” says Iiro.

Name

Iiro Hokkila

Job title

Account manager

Member of merima crew

Since 2015

Location

Helsinki

“Throughout my career we have had open discussions about my interests and needs in my work and it has been great to have Merima’s active support in my professional development and career building”

After graduating from his studies, Iiro returned to Merima for another logistics-focused job, this time in Papenburg, Germany. From Germany, Iiro moved to the Turku Procurement Department, where he was responsible for exterior projects in Turku, and while working there, as Iiro was able to observe the work of Michele Dáquino, a long-standing ship expert, the dream of becoming a project manager only grew stronger. From purchaser to project manager, Iiro’s role gradually expanded, and he was project manager on both Carnival projects.

The international environment, customers and project-based work have felt natural to Iiro. The work has been varied and the projects are always completely unique, each with its own challenges. In 2021, Iiro moved to his current role as Account Manager in his hometown Helsinki. “It feels good to be home for a change,” he laughs.

Merima’s passion for developing the industry is also engaging for employees

Merima’s continuous development enables agile operating models and efficient allocation of resources to the right places. Iiro appreciates Merima’s continuous renewal and reaction to changing markets and growing industry demands. The desire to stay up to date is also reflected in the employees.

In the role of Account Manager, Iiro is responsible for various aspects of sales, such as quoting, marketing, creating and implementing sales strategy, and he actively engages in the customer interface. In the future, Iiro will focus on the finalization and implementation of the sales strategy

Project Purchaser Tytti Nieminen

admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 10:33:59 +0000

Merima crew member

The best thing about Merima is teamwork, development and continuous learning, as well as a good team

Tytti started working at Merima in 2019, when she was in the final stages of her studies in business administration. She had previous experience of working in the purchasing department of a shipping industry company and when she joined Merima, Tytti was able to advance her career in the direction she wanted – professional development and taking responsibility for larger projects.

Name

Tytti Nieminen

Job title

Project Purchaser

Member of merima crew

Since 2019

Location

Turku

“I get to work in a great project team where we solve problems and obstacles together.”

As a purchaser, Tytti works in a core team of four people, with a back-office team behind it. “I have mainly worked on theatre projects in Turku, but I have also had the opportunity to visit other projects as a substitute, which is also interesting because every project is different,” Tytti says. As a purchaser, she is responsible for the financial management of the projects together with the project manager. The purchaser is responsible for all project procurement, materials, installation and other subcontracting work.

Tytti has been able to expand her role by being part of the Merima Logistics 2023 project, where a small team is developing the functionality and efficiency of Merima’s internal and inter-site logistics.

In close teamwork, you never feel alone

Working in a team has been particularly rewarding for Tytti: “I get to work in a great project team where we solve problems and obstacles together.” Tytti has found Merima’s One Team Model approach particularly effective, where team members work more closely together and are involved on an equal footing. The hierarchy is less rigid, and work flows smoothly as it is done together aiming for common goals. Team interaction is also where team members learn best about their own work, the industry and shipbuilding. However, everyone has their own responsibilities and is accountable for their own work and results.

Although project-based work is sometimes hectic and busy, Tytti finds her work and its challenges motivating. In the future, Tytti hopes to develop herself and discover her own potential through her work. “In the future, I will be a top procurement professional, as Harri Suutari from Merima would say.”

Production Planner Janne Repo

admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 10:03:57 +0000

Merima crew member

Motivated by a variety of tasks and the opportunity of building a career

Janne Repo, a long-standing professional, started his career at Merima in 2000. In the early part of his career, he was responsible for tool stock and property maintenance in Merima’s tool warehouse and organizing the delivery of goods from the warehouse to the shipyards in Turku and Rauma. His role as a procurement and maintenance officer was broad and varied. Over the first decade, his role evolved as the business expanded to include a second property.

Name

Janne Repo

Job title

Production Planner

Member of merima crew

Since 2000

Location

Helsinki

“Seeing the result of your work is always a thrill and time and time again the final products are amazing”

From procurement and maintenance, Janne moved on to production as a purchaser, where he was in charge of procurement for various projects. As his skills and know-how have grown, his role has evolved and continues to evolve, with the support of his employer. “Each day is different and there is plenty to do,” says Janne.

Janne has been in his current position since 2016 and is in charge of all ongoing in-house production projects. As part of several teams, Janne works with management, foremen, project managers and procurement to ensure that the necessary materials and resources are available for each project. Teamwork has developed and strengthened considerably over the years and is still being developed.

Continuous development keeps the work interesting

Janne’s favourite part of his job has always been the variety of projects and overcoming challenges. Progress in the field has been rapid and each project has its own joys and challenges. However, each project ends with a sense of accomplishment when the customer’s vision has been turned into a reality.