Helsinki, 29 September 2025 – The inaugural MERI Cup – Maritime Enterprises Regatta for Itämeri, co-hosted by Bluetech Finland and NAPA, brought together maritime companies for a day of sailing and sector dialogue, raising over €5 000 for the John Nurminen Foundation in support of the Baltic Sea. 

Eight teams competed in J/70 class boats in sunny fall weather and excellent racing conditions on September 11th at Brändö Seglare in Helsinki.  The competition was close all day, with teams taking turns in the lead. In the end, NAPA won the final race and took home the first MERI Cup trophy. 

Attendees included representatives from Helsinki Shipyard, Aker Arctic, Meyer Turku, and Elomatic, as well as teams from Bluetech Finland and NAPA. Beyond the race, the MERI Cup served as a platform for industry dialogue and collaboration, reinforcing the event’s spirit of community and shared purpose.  After the race, we learned about the John Nurminen Foundation’s efforts to preserve and protect the Baltic Sea, highlighting the impact of their projects and how industry support makes a difference.

“The Baltic Sea cannot be saved alone; it requires effective collaboration between companies, governments, and Baltic Sea organizations. Individual choices also matter.

Thank you to the maritime industry companies for their donation, which enables the John Nurminen Foundation to continue its work in reducing nutrient emissions, preserving biodiversity, cutting maritime transport emissions, and strengthening people’s relationship with the sea. There is still hope”, says Erkki Salo, Director of Fundraising at the John Nurminen Foundation.

“Through the MERI Cup, our industry demonstrates its commitment to the sea on which our businesses depend. Next year, we look forward to even wider participation and greater fundraising ambition to support protection of the Baltic Sea, as the MERI Cup becomes a regular fixture in the maritime calendar,” says Sam Robin, Director, Energy Saving Solutions, Bluetech Finland. 

“At NAPA, sustainability is not just a principle; it’s embedded in everything we do. The MERI Cup provided us with an exciting opportunity to connect with peers and support the John Nurminen Foundation’s vital work. Events like this remind us that meaningful change starts with shared action, and that innovation and collaboration are key to building a more sustainable maritime future,” concludes Reino Külaots, Lead Technical Consultant, Design Solutions, NAPA.

Will you join us for the MERI Cup 2026?

Planning for the 2026 MERI Cup is underway. In case your company would like to join us and make waves for a good cause, please contact:
Bluetech Finland – sam.robin@bluetechfinland.com or NAPA – reino.kulaots@napa.fi 

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About Bluetech Finland Ltd 

Bluetech Finland Ltd is a Helsinki-based ship design and marine engineering company with a global presence, specializing in energy-efficient cargo, passenger and offshore vessel designs. Bluetech provides concept, basic and detail design across all disciplines, as well as advanced energy-saving solutions for commercial shipping. www.bluetechfinland.com

About NAPA   

NAPA is a leading provider of software and digital services for the global maritime industry, harnessing data science to enable safer, more sustainable and future-proof shipping. Founded in 1989 to provide smart solutions for ship design, NAPA is now the global reference in shipbuilding, with over 90% of new vessels built by NAPA customers.

Today, the company’s expertise spans the entire lifecycle of a ship, from shipyards to operational safety and efficiency at sea. Over 3000 commercial ships globally sail with NAPA safety and efficiency solutions, which include digital ship stability systems that enable a proactive approach to safety at sea, cloud-based performance monitoring that delivers insights to unlock new operational efficiencies, and voyage optimization solutions that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from voyages. 

Headquartered in Finland, NAPA employs 220 experts and operates globally, with a presence in Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, the USA, Germany, Greece, Romania and India. For more information, visit: www.napa.fi