Deepened channel boosts Port of Raahe

Deepening of the channel from eight to ten metres was completed ahead of schedule at the beginning of November, two months earlier than agreed. The contract for dredging the channel and the extension of the storage area cost some €40m.

The port with its deepened channel and extended storage area will offer an excellent route for exporting and importing companies, with the logistics capacity of the area considerably increased due to construction. Volume through the port is expected to increase noticeably from the current five to six million tons per annum. The new depth of the channel will also allow large icebreakers to operate in all conditions, further enhancing trade opportunities.

The dredging of the Port of Raahe was a long term project. The Finnish Maritime Administration and City of Raahe agreed upon the collaboration project in 2002 and construction was started in March of 2008, with completion of a new quay at the end of last year. A total of 3.8m cu/m of dredged material was produced, of which some 1.9m cu/m was used to infill the port’s storage area.

The Port of Raahe is the busiest port in the Bay of Bothnia. There are frequent sea transport connections to the UK, Ireland and the Mediterranean as well as weekly connections to Rotterdam and Vejle. There are also destinations in Ireland, Italy, Greece, Albania and Egypt. Goods shipped through the port include steel, timber, containers and project cargos.