Positive discussions and interactions at the AGA 25 led to site visits from Finland to the USA. Prof. Dr. Minna Keinänen-Toivola from Satakunta University of Applied Sciences visited Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) and Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MassMA) in December 2025.
MMA was the first destination visited from the 3 to 5 December.
The first day of the visit consisted of a meeting with the Director of Communications, Dr. Michael Dickerson, a campus familiarization, and a dinner meeting with top management, led by President Craig Johnson and Vice President for Financial and Institutional Services and Chief Financial Officer Janet Waldron. Discussions focused on future cooperation opportunities in both education and research.
The visit days two and three included a tour of the maritime simulators with Prof. Dr. Ender Asyali and Associate Professor Dr. Steven Baer, an introduction to the graduating students’ poster exhibition, and discussions with students. Maine Maritime Academy will have a pier and a new training ship in the near future. Keinänen-Toivola gave a guest lecture titled “Finland and SAMK – Maritime Education, Research and Arctic Expertise” at Professor Baer’s course.
The second destination of the trip was the MassMa from 7 to 10 December, which was hosted by Mr. Patrick Nobrega, Director of the CAPT Paul Cuffe Global Institute. Several meetings and discussions were held on cooperation opportunities and future collaboration with the faculty, staff, and students. Some persons active in IAMU and to be mentioned were Provost Brigit Pavilonis, Prof. Dr. Paul Szwed, and Captain Dr. Ashok Pandey. Keinänen-Toivola gave an expert lecture titled “Finland: A Country of Maritime Logistics and Icebreakers,” in which she presented SAMK as well as Finland’s strengths in maritime logistics, icebreaking, and Arctic expertise.
As part of the program, Keinänen-Toivola visited the region’s maritime history and present-day sites, including the Port of New Bedford, the historic waterfront area, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum, with Mr. Nobrega and program coordinator Pamela Cerrud-Ahern. The final day focused on the learning and simulation environments at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The programme included a guided tour of the training vessel Patriot State led by a student guide, as well as a visit to the simulator center.
Minna Keinänen-Toivola and Steven Baer at the Simulator Center of Maine Maritime Academy.
Minna Keinänen-Toivola and Patrick Nobrega, at the CAPT Paul Cuffe Global Institute in Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
