Port of Helsinki undergoes massive development

The Port of Helsinki is undergoing ‘one of the largest leaps of development in its history’ with a programme of development taking place in stages over 10 years.

The ultimate aim is to direct traffic from Tallinn, Estonia in the east to its West Harbour and Stockholm, Sweden in the west to Katajanokka, thus freeing up the congestion at the port.

Part of the plans will see a centralisation of port operations and an opening up of the South Harbour for other development.

Vuosaari Harbour will be developed for cargo traffic, which is estimated to continue to grow along with passenger traffic. Vuosaari takes about 40% of Finland’s foreign trade and will continue to be the main international trading port.

“The port renewals will improve the vitality and comfort of Helsinki. The construction of a harbour tunnel from Jätkäsaari to Länsiväylä will reduce vehicle traffic in the city centre, increase the level of comfort in urban areas and facilitate the development programme’s implementation,” the plan says.

The ‘centralised project of port operations’, which has begun and is scheduled for completion in the 2030s, has been carefully planned so that each stage can only begin when the preceding stage has been completed.

First off is a harbour tunnel connecting West Harbour and Länsiväylä motorway, which will receive all traffic from Tallinn. This is the largest project in the programme, with a new passenger terminal to be built and quay and field capacity also being expanded.

About half of the traffic will thus be driven into the tunnel, part of which will run below the water.

Once that is completed, a new West Terminal at Katajanokka will be built to take Stockholm’s traffic, with the existing Makasiini Terminal being demolished in the South Harbour.

Some international cruise traffic and high-speed vessels will use the South Harbour, but other operations will be moved.

The harbour quay and marshalling areas will be expanded, and a port spokesman said operations would be streamlined with automation and digitisation.