A link to the sea
Two meters does not sound like a lot, especially when it comes to the traffic of huge cargo ships. However, two meters was precisely the additional depth needed in the shipping channel at the Port of Jakobstad to allow for the easy traffic of larger cargo ships. Now the Port runs more efficiently, and ships can carry almost twice the cargo compared to previously.
“The channel was deepened in 2015, and now the benefits can be seen clearly in the way our port functions. Ships are able to carry more cargo, meaning that transport becomes more energy efficient and ships emit less emissions,” says Juha Hakala, Managing Director at the Port of Jakobstad.
industry of the surrounding area,” say Pauli Rautiainen and Juha Hakala.
The Port of Jakobstad is the second deepest port on the Finnish side of the Bothnian Bay. Over the years, it has become an especially significant export hub for pulp and sawn timber. In addition to the depth, there are also other factors that are important to the Port’s efficiency and logistics. The electric railway, which facilitates the flow of goods further afield, was completed in 2017.
“Previously, cargo had to be transferred between trains along the route. The new railway makes it possible for cargo to reach the Port directly by train, and also shortens the distance that the cargo has to travel by a hundred kilometres. This saves a lot in costs and valuable time. In addition to facilitating transport, we have also invested in constructing new warehouses and storage areas. A two-hectare storage area was completed at the same time as the railway. It was a significant but worthwhile investment for us,” says Pauli Rautiainen, Operations Director at Euroports Pietarsaari Oy.
The aim behind the Port’s improvement has been a desire to serve the companies in the Ostrobothnian area and the whole of Finland as effectively as possible. The Port of Jakobstad is very important to the city, as it creates jobs and contributes to the economy and welfare.
“We at the Port of Jakobstad are not only seeking to make a profit, but we also serve the industry of the surrounding area. Ostrobothnia is a very vibrant and continuously developing region. The port has to keep developing at the same pace,” Hakala notes.
