Your Interviews

 Ten minutes with.... Lauri Bäckman

Shipping, Trade and Finance 2009

What is your current position/occupation?
I currently work as Vice President at Arctia Offshore Ltd. I’m in charge of the multipurpose icebreakers. I also hold a Captain’s license and I am a member of the the Institute of the Chartered Shipbrokers.

Why did you study at Cass?
Cass Business School’s MSc in Shipping, Trade and Finance is the most respected shipping course in the world and I wanted to educate myself up to the best possible standards.

What is your most treasured memory of your time at Cass?
My best memory from Cass is the time when I took part of the Dr. Grammenos established London Biennale at the IMO Head Quarters . That’s when I realised that I am truly amongst the highfliers of the shipping world. Another very good moment was the graduation ceremony at the London Guild Hall, which is such a prestigious place.

How has your career developed since you left Cass?
After leaving Cass I set up my own offshore service company www.backmanmarine.fi and started looking for business opportunities. However, shortly after that a headhunter approached me and asked whether I would be interested in a Vice President opening with Arctia Offshore. After a couple of interviews I started working here.

How did you get into the offshore shipping profession?
I first worked onboard various cargo ships as crew and then later on as deck officer. After couple of years at sea I became interested in dynamically positioned offshore vessels which worked at the oil fields carrying out subsea construction work. Inspired by this I then specialised as DP Operator and worked in various oilfield development projects from dive support vessels to drill ships and semi-submersibles. Finally, after gaining enough offshore experience I was offered a position as Captain. Some time after that I became interested in the business side of the offshore industry and got a job as trainee shipbroker and started learning the chartering. Very quickly I realised that I would need commercial shipping degree to be able to achieve an executive level. So, I applied to Cass Business School.

What is the Cass/Moore Stephens business plan competition?
Every year, Moore Stephens company sponsors a business plan competition open to MSc Shipping/Energy/Logistic, Trade & Finance students. Every group is given a large amount of virtual equity and then the group uses their knowledge of their chosen trade and Cass-taught skills to present a real life business case. Judges and opponents for the plans are shipping professionals and consultants from Moore Stephens. In 2009 our team was fortune to win that competition with the business plan “Icebreaking Offshore Construction Vessel”.

What made you attend the event in Monaco?
The opportunity to network with fellow Cass Alumni and the well chosen location for the meeting. The event was a success and we all really enjoyed it.

What does the future hold for you?
I still haven’t forgotten my goal to set up a ship owning company specialisng in icebreaking offshore vessels for Arctic oil and gas fields. Only time will show whether I can find the right partners for this venture as it is a quite capital intensive project. But I have the right experience and connections to charter the vessels to the oil companies pushing for Arctic.

What’s your favourite thing to do in London?
Business! ;D