Port of Helsinki Sets Annual Record for Passenger Numbers

Finnish Port of Helsinki set a new annual record for a number of passengers, reaching 11.56 million in 2016, up 3.1 percent from the previous year.

A total of 8.74 million passengers passed between Tallinn and Helsinki, and 2.34 million between Stockholm and Helsinki.

The port saw a total of 408,900 cruise passengers throughout the cruise season, a decrease of 6.3 percent compared to 2015.

“Traffic to Tallinn is expected to continue to grow in the future, and the Port of Helsinki is preparing by opening a new West Terminal 2 during February 2017. The introduction of the new terminal and the related two new quays will increase the capacity for fast traffic to Tallinn significantly,” according to the port.

In December 2016, a total of 931,100 passengers, 4.3 percent more than in December 2015, passed through the Port of Helsinki.

Furthermore, the Port of Helsinki recorded an increase of 1.9 percent in its annual cargo throughput, having handled a total of 11.62 million tons in 2016.

Of this amount, 10.57 million tons was transported in large-sized unit loads, such as cargo transported in containers, trucks, and trailers.

“This was the third consecutive year of increase in total cargo traffic and unitised cargo,” Kimmo Mäki, Managing Director of Port Of Helsinki, said.

Imports stood at 5.02 million tons, an increase of 3.8 percent compared to the previous year. Exports amounted to 5.6 million tons, a decrease of 0.3 percent.

Exports are expected to increase during 2017, as the export operations from the new Metsä-Fibre bioproduct plant in Äänekoski are started through the Vuosaari cargo harbor, the port said. These transportations will increase exports by almost one million tons per year, according to the Port of Helsinki.

“The merger of the Port of Loviisa, which is specialised in forest industry and dry bulk, with the Port of Helsinki at the beginning of the year will create plenty of new possibilities for cargo traffic,” the port said.

The Port of Helsinki is the main port for foreign trade and passenger traffic services in Finland.

Image Courtesy: Port of Helsinki