Helsinki port charges support green operators

Among the rises, the port’s 2018 Price List shows that there will be slight increases on vessel charges. Vessels carrying mainly cargo will be charged €38.80 per 100 net tonnage units against €38.40 in 2017.

There is also an increase on the minimum charge for this category from €221.50 to €223.70.

Additionally, among the charge rises, in 2018, ships and pontoons using a private quay will be charged by 100 net tonnage units at €19.45, with a minimum charge of €111.85. In 2017, these figures were €19.25 and €110.75 respectively.

However, the port is bringing in a new incentive for 2018 giving operators the opportunity to apply for vessel charge discounts – the maximum discount being 3% – based on lowered impacts on the environment.

The discount is available to those who put measures in place to reduce vessels’ environmental effects – namely, in the form of decreased air emissions, noise reduction while in the port’s harbour or other environmental efficiency improvement investments – with the port saying that positive results constitute a decisive factor.

“As we once again emphasise the importance of managing environmental impacts, we would like to thank our customers for good operations and offer them financial opportunities to develop their operations even further,” the port’s quality and environmental manager Aino Rantanen said.

Vessels have been able to discharge their wastewater at all Port of Helsinki quays for no extra charge since 2008, and at the beginning of 2016, the port also brought in a price incentive to encourage international cruise ships to discharge wastewater at the port.

In, 2016 waste water was discharged into the port’s systems at nearly 90% of all cruise ship visits, and these positive experiences led the port to expand its fee incentives to lower the environmental effects of port and maritime operations, it said.

For the full port price list for 2018 and implementation guidelines regarding the environmental discount, visit: www.portofhelsinki.fi/sites/default/files/attachments/Price_List2018.pdf.