PRESS RELEASE 2013

25 YEARS OF THE SEA LOAD CONTROL GROUP!

The founding words of the company were uttered during the establishment meeting, which was held on 14.4.1988. The line of business was entered as "consulting and brokerage operations, as well as inspection operations, concerning international trade and transportation". Esa Anttio was selected as the managing director of the company. He is a graduate sea captain from the Sundsvall / Härnösand University and has worked in the maritime sector since 1978.

The ownership base of the company has changed over the years, so that the capital stock of the family business is presently held one hundred percent by the Anttio family.

The first office of the company was located in Marttila, close to Turku. During the early years, operations focused strongly on vessel loading consultations and supervision- in other words, so-called, super-cargo operations. The company, therefore, offered its services mainly to companies that were engaged in maritime transport activities. The assignments were able to cover the entire supply chain, from the loading of vessels, all the way to the port of destination.

During the 1990s, the company also carried out a significant amount of vessel brokerage and shipping clearance activities. Since the latter half of the 90's, operations have focused on inspection activities, which include, vessel and cargo inspections, delivery and reception inspections, as well as damage assessments. As an inspector who is authorized by the Central Chamber of Commerce, such activities as neutral HTT-goods inspections, for example, for juridical reasons, have been carried out.

During the latter half of the 1990s, the focus of operations shifted to south-eastern Finland, and the company moved its offices to Loviisa.
In 1994, the U.S. agency, Sea Load Control America Inc, was founded. This had a significant role at the start of the 2000's when, as a result of the WTC catastrophe, authorised representatives for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA were appointed throughout the world. The Sea Load Control group was a ready prepared organization in the USA and was named as one of the representatives. The company has also carried out ABS inspections for the American Bureau of Shipping classification society.

1995 was also an important milestone in the history of the group. At that time, the group was selected as an authorised inspection group for the umbrella organisation of the world's grain and feed trade association GAFTA (The Grain and Feed Trade Association, London). Sea Load Control Finland Oy Ltd also operates as a representative for several international inspection concerns.

Quality system activities already began in the early 2000's, and the ISO-9001 quality management system certification was achieved in 2009. In addition, in its operations, the company also applies the international 17020 standard for inspection companies. The quality system brings uniformity to the business activities and regular internal audits function as a continuous tool towards improvement. Quality certification from the world's oldest classification society, the Lloyds Register, tells customers that the company is a reliable partner, who takes the quality of their operations and service seriously.

Nowadays, the company's principal place of business is Kalajoki. Managing director Esa Anttio has responsibilities as the full-time director of the Port of Kalajoki, the role of the office manager of the company transferred to his wife, Marjaana Anttio, who has served as a secretary for the inspection operations from the early years onwards. Activities are carried out today in all Finnish ports and when necessary, also overseas, with the assistance of an international network of inspectors.

The company's motto has been for a long time:

"Internationally recognized Finnish know-how for many years"