Helsinki is the busiest passenger port in Europe. The Port of Helsinki creates a seamless framework for sea traffic to destinations such as Tallinn and Stockholm. We are also Finland’s leading general port for international cargo traffic, serving the business world and well-being of the Helsinki region and the whole country.
The ownership of the Port of Loviisa was transferred to the Port of Helsinki at the beginning of 2017. The Port of Loviisa continued as a flexible processer of dry bulk.
Tallink’s newly constructed vessel Megastar began operating out of West Harbour’s new West Terminal 2 at the end of January.
Tallink Megastar begin operating out West Harbour
West Terminal 2 was officially opened on 27 February 2017, and in addition to the invitation-only event, an open doors event was organised for the area’s residents.
West Terminal 2 opens on monday 27 February
Between January and March, the amount of cargo traffic and exports in the Port of Helsinki experienced a strong increase.
Exports increasing strongly
The sizeable changes to Vuosaari Harbour’s infrastructure were finished in May, and the pulp exports terminal commissioned by Metsä Group was also completed.
West Terminal 2 became fully operational in June, when the second passenger bridge was completed and MS Finlandia began using West Terminal 2 instead of West Terminal 1.
Ms Finlandia starts using West Terminal 2
The cruise season broke previous records and brought a staggering 478,000 international travellers to Helsinki. The largest group of visitors came from North America.
Record breaking number of cruise passengers
Metsä Group began exporting pulp via Vuosaari Harbour in August. By the end of the year, the daily amount had already reached four trainloads. The full transport capacity is expected to be reached in early 2018.
The Port of Helsinki arranged the third “Satamahulinat” event for the residents of the nearby neighbourhoods. This free family event with music and street food was held in Jätkäsaari.
Throughout the summer, the construction of the new cruise quay in Hernesaari progressed as planned. The quay’s enormous concrete elements were lowered into the sea at the beginning of September. The new quay will be put into service during the cruise season of 2019.
West Terminal 2 received recognition for its design and execution, when, for example, it was chosen as the Steel Structure of the Year 2017 and won the interior lighting category of the Finnish Lighting Award 2017.
West Terminal 2 named Steel structure of the year 2017
West Terminal 2 awarded Finnish lighting award 2017
The Port of Helsinki decided to introduce a new price model for the year 2018, offering an incentive to liner traffic vessels to reduce their environmental impacts.
Port of Helsinki offers price incentive to reduce vessel emissions and noise
The Port of Helsinki Ltd named Ville Haapasaari as its new CEO. In recent years, Haapasaari has led Helsinki Vantaa Airport to great success in his role as Airport Director. He will begin working in his new role on 1 April 2018.
Ville Haapasaari named new CEO
Helsinki became the busiest passenger port in Europe as well as Finland’s leading general port for foreign trade.
Port of Helsinki takes top spot among European passenger ports
