Vuosaari Harbour has made a perfectly-timed digital leap. In February, Finnlines launched Gateway – a self-service concept for trailer customers that has proven its worth from the outset. While the closure of the Vuosaari road tunnel has posed scheduling challenges, this 24/7 service has given transport companies critical room to manoeuvre.

“Although we came up with the idea for our digital Gateway service about ten years ago, the time wasn’t right until now. Technological advances and the widespread adoption of mobile apps have now made its implementation possible,” says Mikko Juuti, Manager, Ship Operations at Finnsteve.

The free Gateway app is designed to make daily life at Vuosaari Harbour easier for both drivers and transport companies.

“We wanted a simple and reliable system that would be easy for customers to adopt. We involved drivers and hands-on experts in the development process to ensure that the app actually works in the environment in which it’s used, such as a truck driver’s cab,” says Juuti.

The new app eliminates unnecessary waiting time at the gates, as it sends advance notifications of any missing details. Damage reports will also be added to the app during spring 2026. This will enable drivers to report any damage they observe at the harbour and upload photos directly to the system at any time of day.

Merja Kallio-Mannila, Commercial Director at Finnlines, notes that 24/7 service has been one of their customers’ top requests. This update is even more important now that the Vuosaari road tunnel is currently closed.

“Schedule pressures increase when traffic is rerouted. Now that the gates are open 24/7, transport companies can optimise their schedules while still ensuring that their units arrive at the harbour on time. Waiting times will also be reduced. All this boosts the efficiency of the supply chain, which in turn enables customers to save on both time and costs,” says Kallio-Mannila.

The project’s success is a result of close cooperation between experts from Finnlines, Finnsteve and customer companies. Instead of using external consultants, the app was developed by people with extensive practical experience in both forwarding and the port’s day-to-day operations.

Shipping has traditionally been a conservative industry, but Finnlines and Finnsteve want Gateway to be a trailblazer.

“The world around us operates 24/7, so the port must not be a bottleneck in this chain. We want to support our customers’ businesses as best we can,” says Mikko Juuti.