Wärtsilä's Jaakko Eskola appointed chairman of ...

Wärtsilä Corporation, Press release, 1 April 2008 at 3.45 pm local
time

Mr Jaakko Eskola, Group Vice President and Head of Wärtsilä Ship
Power has been appointed Chairman of the European Marine Equipment
Council (EMEC). He will assume this position today, 1 April 2008.

The European Marine Equipment Council (EMEC) represents the European
marine equipment industry, and comprises 12 European trade
associations from Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany
(two), Italy, Norway, Poland, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
EMEC stands for a strong European marine equipment industry. It
optimises interaction between the member associations and European
institutions, and supports the involvement of companies in all EU
programmes affecting the sector. In particular, it strives for
increasing the quality of marine technology and the competitiveness
and prosperity of the whole industry.

European marine equipment manufacturers and suppliers represent a
cluster of companies with a very significant role in the European
Maritime cluster. The marine equipment manufacturers and service
providers supply all the products and services necessary for
building, repair, conversion and maintenance of vessels. The products
and services delivered by the industry account for up to 70% of the
total value of the ship. The maritime equipment sector employs
directly more than 280,000 people, while indirect employment amounts
to about 440,000.

"The environmental challenge will top the agenda in all marine
related industries. Prime movers have improved in efficiency and
emissions levels, but further improvements are needed. I expect that
there will be stronger equipment integration development that will
secure higher overall efficiency, innovations related to different
fuel strategies, and secondary methods to meet future demands.
Improved environmental performance will be the focus for R&D and new
equipment", says Jaakko Eskola, Group Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship
Power.

Further information: Mr Jaakko Eskola, Group Vice President Ship
Power, Wärtsilä Corporation tel. [phone].
Ms Paola Lancellotti, Secretary General, EMEC, tel [phone].

Link to photos