Kvarken Ports' CEO Teijo Seppelin, Development Director Tommi Tuominen, and Traffic Manager Kristian Mäki-Jussila pictured with Taina Nabb and Jan-Peter Viklund from Kvarken Ports, Jessica Ekström and Joonas Haapala from the City of Vaasa, and Anna Måtts-Fransén from VASEK.

By expanding the port of Vaasa, Kvarken Ports supports the region’s growth

Kvarken Ports

www.kvarkenports.com

Kvarken Ports is a joint company between the ports of Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden.

Vaasa

Main areas: Cargo, bulk, projects, passengers, and oil

Volume: 1.3 million tonnes

Channel depth: 9 m

Quay types: LoLo, RoRo, passenger, and bulk (dry and liquid)

Storage area: 58,000 square metres

Open: All year

Umeå

Main areas: General cargo, bulk, projects, passengers, and oil

As the industrial sector in Vaasa keeps expanding, Kvarken Ports strives to actively support the region’s growth. In Vaasa, Kvarken Ports has invested heavily in developing the port to offer even better services to the local industry and enhance its competitiveness. Recently, the focus has been on improving the port’s infrastructure for RoPax vessels – especially for the new Aurora Botnia, the world’s most eco-friendly ferry – that transport passengers and carry wheeled cargo.

“We built a new pier and ramp as well as extended the passenger terminal to better accommodate these vessels and passengers. Moreover, the passenger quay now has an onshore power supply and a modern automated check in – the first of its kind in Finland”, says CEO Teijo Seppelin.

A new wave of investments is already underway in the port of Vaasa. As the amount of project cargo keeps increasing, more quay capacity and storage space is needed.

“We will extend the length of our cargo quay and build a new RoRo ramp for heavy wheeled cargo. This will double our capacity for large project cargo vessels. The fairway to the port will also be broadened and the port basin dredged for the ever-growing cargo vessels”, explains Development Director Tommi Tuominen.

The cargo quay investments, planned to be carried out in three phases, mean about 400 metres of new quay and 35,000 m2 of new cargo area. The construction is planned to start in 2023. However, Kvarken Ports has already started working on a bigger, 20 hectare area extension that will be built in phases over the years.

“As more industrial companies are established in the region, we can expand the port even on a fast schedule”, states Traffic Manager Kristian Mäki-Jussila.

Kvarken Ports is also focusing on reducing emissions and is starting a new project that aims to speed up the journey towards carbon neutral port operations by, for example, offering short sea routes. Other projects are under planning as well.

“In 2022, an LNG terminal was opened in the Energy Port for ships that use liquefied natural gas as fuel. We are closely following the development of future fuels in maritime and adjusting development plans accordingly”, says Seppelin.

Kvarken Ports

www.kvarkenports.com

Kvarken Ports is a joint company between the ports of Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden.

Vaasa

Main areas: Cargo, bulk, projects, passengers, and oil

Volume: 1.3 million tonnes

Channel depth: 9 m

Quay types: LoLo, RoRo, passenger, and bulk (dry and liquid)

Storage area: 58,000 square metres

Open: All year

Umeå

Main areas: General cargo, bulk, projects, passengers, and oil