The Government has decided to stop the long-running policy of halving fairway fees, which is not good for Finnish competitiveness. The Government unexpectedly decided to stop halving fairway fees from the beginning of 2025. This was bad news in general for shipping and Finland’s overall competitiveness.

Transport costs from Finland have already increased as a result of emissions trading for shipping, and will continue to do so in the future. We are more dependent than ever on maritime transport, and rising costs place our ‘island’ even further away from our target market. There is currently a degree of inequality in how fairway fees are applied. For example, under the existing model, international cruise traffic – which is only just recovering from the pandemic – also pays for icebreaking even though it only operates during open-water periods.

Continuing to halve fairway fees in accordance with the Government Programme would have been a good compromise while we wait for a complete overhaul of the system.

Yet there is plenty of good news as well. Extending emissions trading to cover shipping is a favourable trend in itself. Although it will increase maritime transport costs during the early stages, it will also accelerate emission reductions – which is the intention.

Who will implement our new technological solutions? The shipping industry boasts attractive career opportunities at the forefront of the green transition and in tasks that are important for Finland’s comprehensive security. This is helping the maritime sector to compete for talent.

My own stint as head of port communications will have already ended by the time this column comes out, as I have just stepped down to enjoy life. I will be passing the baton to Maira Kettunen, who started as editor on 13 May.

Communications – both at the port and around the world – have been continually evolving over the past few decades. Things are heading in a better direction, and only time will tell where they will go next. Informing has become communicating. In the future, we will definitely see not only an increase in entertainment, but also a need for hard facts.

Experiments with trade fairs and customer magazines helped us to create the right customer magazine for the port alongside its long established magazine for personnel. Starting with the last issue, our customer magazine received a full makeover, and its current incarnation – Kaija – has already been successful in magazine media competitions.