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Annual Report of the Board

Seafarers’ Pension Fund 2021 Annual Report

   Development of investment assets                         over 20 g/tkm for rail transport, 60–80 g/tkm for road transport and
                                                            400–600 g/tkm for aviation freight. The share that maritime transports
     MEUR             2018                           1,411  represents of Finland’s total exports and imports is approximately 90%
                            2019 2020 2021                  and 80%, respectively. In addition to cargo vessels, freight is transported
   1,400                                                    by passenger-car ferries and ropax vessels, and their share of Finland’s
   1,200                                                    groupage transports is 50–60%. Thus, for the Finnish national economy,
   1,000                                                    it is vitally important to secure smooth maritime transports in all
                                                            circumstances. During 2021, passenger traffic was particularly low, and
    800                                                     the State’s support measures continued to be necessary, for example, in
    600                                                     order to ensure the transports of foods and medicines.
    400
    200                                                        The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a target
                                                            to reduce maritime greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by the
        0                                                   year 2050. The demands of maritime customers as related to the
                2017                                        environmental-friendliness of shipping have also increased. Deployment
                                                            of new technologies and significant new investments are necessary in
   Other investments                                        order to achieve the set goals. Success requires collaboration within the
   Capital funds                                            entire maritime cluster, which is a larger employer than, for example, the
   Equities                                                 forest industry. New funding models are also needed to safeguard the
   Infrastructure and forest                                competitiveness of Finnish navigation.
   Real estate
   Credit funds and loans                                   Development of the Earnings-
   Bonds                                                    Related Pension System
   Money market instruments
                                                            Since the reforms in 2016, the seafarers’ pension system has been quite
   Investment income                                        similar to the earnings-related pension scheme in general. The pension
   Return on capital employed, %                            reforms implemented at the start of 2017 were applicable to the system
   	                                                        governed by the Seafarer’s Pensions Act (MEL) as well. For old-age
   	2021	2020	 2019	 2018	 2017	                            pension, the lowest pensionable age rose in 2021 by three months so that
   	16.2	6.2	 10.7	0.7	8.1                                  those born in 1957 could retire with old-age pension at the age of 63 years
                                                            and 9 months. Within the seafarers’ pension system, the possibility to
   Average annual return, %                                 retire at a lower individual old-age pensionable age under MEL remains
   	1 y	5 y	10 y	 15 y	 20 y                                valid until the end of 2024.
   	 16.2	8.3	 8.3	 6.3	 6.6
                                                               The life expectancy coefficient confirmed for the year 2021 was 0.94984,
   Average real return, %                                   and accordingly, the commencing pensions were cut by approximately 5.1%.
   		5 y	10 y
   	 	 7.0	7.2                                                 The role of the Seafarers’ Pension Fund as the field-specific pension
                                                            provider has remained unchanged, and its development is linked with the
                                                            development of Finnish navigation.

                                                               In recent years, the earnings-related pension system has become more
                                                            centralised, and as a result, there are currently four pension companies
                                                            in Finland. During 2021, the investigation into whether the municipal
                                                            pension scheme could be merged with the private-sector pension scheme
                                                            was completed. The end result was that they will not be merged.

                                                               In 2021, a survey was initiated concerning the shared vision and goals
                                                            for the pension decision process and estimate calculation for the earnings-
                                                            related pension sector. Established sub-goals include common needs for
                                                            technological upgrading and the development of services. From the start
                                                            of 2022, the pension calculations of the Fund’s new pension system rely
                                                            on the common calculation software utilised in the pension industry.
                                                            This software enables for all pension calculations to be more efficient and
                                                            resources to be allocated more to customer services.

                                                               The survivors’ pension reform entered into force at the beginning
                                                            of 2022. This reform brings changes to both the spouse’s and orphan’s

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