Port of Helsinki Launches Separate Company for Ship Services

Finland's main port Port of Helsinki Ltd is preparing for the implementation of the requirements of the EU’s Port Services Regulation by transferring ship services covered by the regulation to a subsidiary company.

From 1 January 2019 onwards, the new company South Finland Port Service Ltd, owned by the Port of Helsinki Ltd, will be responsible for vessel mooring and unmooring. Some sixty employees will be transferred to the new company.

Kari Noroviita, technical director at Port of Helsinki Ltd, will start as CEO of the company along with his other duties.

"The new business model makes it possible to develop our operations more efficiently than before. This opens interesting opportunities for developing both the content and the area of our services," said Noroviita.

The incorporation will not have immediate effects on current services. "We will discuss the incorporation of ship services in more detail with our customers towards the end of the year," Noroviita confirmed.

The requirements of the EU’s long-prepared Port Services Regulation will come to effect on 24 March 2019. The regulation requires that mooring and unmooring services be opened to competition. The arrangements will ensure the transparency of the operations on the market.