Finland is the only country in the world where every port will freeze over from time to time during the winter despite of on average, about 2,000 merchant vessels receive
These days, it’s hard to avoid the phrase ‘security of supply’ – and that’s good, as it’s an important topic for us all. The importance of shipping for Finland goes without saying, as more than 95 per cent of our foreign trade is conducted by sea.
System for icebreaking.
Finland is the only country in the world where every port will freeze over from time to time during the winter. So we must have a working system for icebreaking. Ice hinders shipping and increases industrial logistics costs.
Winter conditions
The good news is that we have been breaking ice for over a century. We know how to do it, and have built a well-oiled model for Finland Ltd. On average, about 2,000 merchant vessels receive assistance each winter, and more than 95 per cent of them are able to continue their journeys without delay in spite of the ice. Winter conditions do not, therefore, cause significant disruptions to society or industry.
Finland’s security of supply
Arctia is a wholly state-owned company that lies at the heart of Finland’s security of supply.their mission is to ensure that winter shipping remains possible, in order to safeguard Finland’s security of supply and cater to the transport needs of business and commerce.
They focus on the cost-effective and low-risk Organisation of icebreaking in the northern Baltic Sea; enabling military mobility; and providing hydrography and fairway maintenance and planning services to ensure naval preparedness – under all circumstances.
The operating environment for icebreaking is changing: merchant vessels are less capable of sailing through ice, and there is also an increased need for assistance due to offshore wind farms and difficult conditions caused by climate change.
Future challenges will be addressed by enhancing cooperation among operators, renewing ageing fleets and equipment, and ensuring that Finland continues to have enough skilled personnel.
New icebreakers will be introduced to provide more effective assistance and increased reliability with greater environmental responsibility. However, considerable capital expenditure will also increase costs.
Services
Services such as fairway maintenance and hydrography ensure that vessel traffic safety systems function reliably and nautical charts show accurate depth data. In addition to routine functions, other capabilities also improve security of supply: oil spill recovery, and pipe and cable measurement and inspection services (also in the event of sudden faults). Geopolitical tensions highlight the importance of having reliable operations.
A system that is flexible and collaborative under normal conditions will also respond best to exceptional circumstances, especially when it is staffed by skilled and committed personnel.
Achieved its important climate goal
On the other hand the Port of Helsinki says that it achieved the target of making its own operations carbon neutral in January 2025. To reach this goal, the Port has implemented a variety of measures to reduce its energy consumption, in addition to procuring required energy from zero-carbon sources. The Port also purchases a small amount of voluntary carbon offset credits to compensate for its remaining climate emissions. Work for the climate continues in earnest.
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