According to a recent customer survey, up to 84% of passengers travelling the Helsinki–Tallin route consider sustainability to be important. This gives us a strong signal that our customers value responsibility and sustainability. The customer survey was conducted in September and October at the passenger harbours of Helsinki and Tallin by Taloustutkimus and RAIT Faktum. 

Price and timing continue to be important purchase criteria for ship passengers, however, up to 50% of passengers would like to know the carbon footprint of their trip when booking tickets. This indicates that sustainability has become an important factor in travel planning.

Another interesting survey result was that approximately half of passengers said that sustainability actions would impact their choice of shipping company, but the information available to customers is limited. Nearly 40% of the respondents said that they have no information about the shipping company’s sustainability work. It can therefore be concluded that communication about sustainability and the visibility of sustainability work are of considerable relevance to passengers.

They want to learn about concrete actions aiming to improve sustainability at port and in maritime traffic.

The customer survey was conducted as part of the Green Corridor cooperation between Helsinki and Tallinn, through which the ports, cities and shipping companies aim to develop a sustainable travel chain together. The objective of the cooperation is to make crossing the Baltic Sea more environmentally friendly – from home to destination. Customers can, for example, arrive at all our passenger terminals using public transport or on bicycles, reducing the strain put on the environment. Other examples of sustainability actions include installing onshore power connections for ships reaching port, docking of ships with auto-mooring suction cups that make port calls shorter, and building energy-efficient terminals. 

The Port of Helsinki achieved its goal of carbon-neutral operations in 2025, and we will continue to work together with our customers and partners to reduce emissions from vessel traffic, heavy-duty vehicles and machinery in the port area. 

A great example of maritime sustainability work is the envisaged introduction of electric and hybrid ships in the Helsinki–Tallin route. In addition, low-emission and bio-based fuels and their production chains are constantly developing. However, sustainability work does not only apply to ships: ports, cities and collaborators are constantly working hard to reduce emissions across the travel chain. 

The Port of Helsinki strives to become a pioneer in sustainable port operations and development of sustainable travel. This work requires investments in the environment, energy efficiency, and cooperation. The Green Corridor project is an example of how we can promote sustainable development in the Baltic Sea through cooperation.

Sustainability does not only mean added value – it is an essential part of a good passenger experience. When passengers have an easy access to this information, making a sustainable choice becomes a natural aspect of travel planning. You can learn more about the sustainability work and goals of the Port of Helsinki here.