Kvarken Ports is making Vaasa into a stronger and more eco-friendly harbour
KVARKEN PORTS is a joint company for the ports of Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden. It is a vital part of the region’s transport routes running from east to west and north to south, all of which converge in the Kvarken region. With export-led Vaasa continuously growing and developing, serious investments are being made to ensure that the Vaasa port serves the region in the best way possible. According to the Kvarken Ports Managing Director Teijo Seppelin, in future, it will be possible to export more and more goods by sea from Vaasa.
“It’s very difficult to find a better option for large-scale haulage than sea transport. It is unbeatable. We are carrying out a great many investments in the port in order to be able to serve companies more widely and in a more versatile way.”
THE FAIRWAY at Vaasa port is being dredged from 9 to 10 metres for the purpose of accommodating regular feeder traffic between Antwerp and Vaasa. Direct feeder traffic to Central Europe will bring great new opportunities, for example, for exporting the energy hub’s products and components. In Umeå port, a new railway yard is being built.
“When the railway extends to the outermost point of the port, it can be utilised for transport in both directions”, Seppelin explains.
WÄRTSILÄ’S SMART TECHNOLOGY HUB and the Kvarken ferry have an influence on the way the Vaasa port is being developed. A new double ramp will be built for the quay, as well as a new ferry quay. Some changes will also be made to the terminal, the passenger bridge tubes will be entirely replaced and new adjustable ramps will be built on both sides of the passenger quay. Kvarken Ports wants to reinvent itself in a smart and responsible way.
“Ship-owners will invest in eco-friendly fuels, and our vision is to be a Smart Port. This means operating the port using very little fossil energy. We will use solar power and geothermal heat, among other things”, Seppelin says.
THE SHIPPING LANE between Vaasa and Umeå is the most northern lane in the world that isrelatively easy and free of ice. Digitalisation has made it possible to optimise the speed of entering the port, which both increases safety and saves natural resources. New technology facilitates better communication between ships, the ports, customers and icebreaker staff.
“All our development measures are aimed at creating eco-friendly port operations.”
