Thuleland in unique total defence exercise
During this year’s Donsö Shipping Meet, Sweden held its largest maritme total defence exercise in modern times. WALLENIUS SOL was represented by M/V Thuleland, participating with the aim of strengthening the nation's maritime resilience for the future.
As Europe’s security climate deteriorates, the need to rebuild and strengthen Sweden’s total defence capability has become increasingly clear. Given that approximately 90 per cent of the country’s imports and exports travel by sea, it is essential to prepare and train so that transports to, from and within Sweden can always operate – during peacetime crises, elevated preparedness and war. With that in mind, a major maritime defence exercise (DSM2025) was held during Sweden’s largest shipping event, the Donsö Shipping Meet.
Preparation for highest state of readiness
The Donsö exercise was carried out within the Swedish framework BT POS (Transport Preparedness Sector – Private–Public Cooperation). It was co-funded by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), the Armed Forces, cargo owners, shipping companies, and other stakeholders.
Nordic Way Services is the leading logistics coordinator for the total defense, and held a coordinating role during the exercise. Calle Ortner, COO at Nordic Way Services, believes that clear coordination and joint exercises are essential for Sweden and its total defence to be truly resilient:
”The private sector must be involved, particularly when it comes to large scale coordination of logistics, both on land and at sea. Only when we understand each other’s circumstances and establish cross-sector collaboration across all modes of logistic needs can coordination become genuinely effective,” Ortner says.
Thuleland in simulator-based training
Throughout DSM2025, exercises were conducted on board three vessels, as well as on four simulated vessels within a simulator facility. One of the simulated vessels was the Swedish-flagged M/V Thuleland, which operates on a scheduled route in the Bay of Bothnia for WALLENIUS SOL. During the scenario, in which the vessel was to be unloaded in an area of armed conflict, the commander in the simulator was tasked with exercises involving wartime pilotage, crew management, and maritime traffic control via the Vessel Traffic Service centre.
Thuleland is manned by Wallenius Marine, and Henrik Hammarberg, Head of Global Ship Management, highlights the importance of involving the crew in this kind of exercise. For him, it’s about closing critical knowledge gaps and making sure maritime expertise helps shape the way forward:
“This is an issue that has been buried at the bottom of the agenda for decades. An area where we, just like the rest of society, still lack know-how. That´s why it’s both exciting and crucial to have a seat at the table now, helping to modernise and share our expertise.”
Henrik Hammarberg, elaborates:
”I mean, how many professionals in modern shipping even know how wartime pilotage works? With representatives from our organisation on site, we were able to observe it firsthand. Preparation, as always within vessel operation, is key."
A conference led by MSB is planned later in 2025 with the objective of evaluating the outcomes and documentation from the exercise itself.
