Russia and Finland sign Protocol to Agreement on Lease of Saimaa Canal (photo)

RF Transport Ministry says the Protocol to the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Finland on the Lease by Finland of the Russian Part of the Saimaa Canal and the Surrounding Area and Navigation through the Saimaa Canal dated May 27, 2010 was signed at the meeting between Anne Berner, Finland's Minister of Transport and Communications, and Maxim Sokolov, Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, held on April 20, 2016 in Saint-Petersburg.

The ministers also exchanged information on the development of the transport systems in Finland and Russia as well as cooperation in the sectors of transport.

They signed four intergovernmental agreements: on arranging transportation of hazardous cargo by international straight-through rail service, on international straight-through rail service, on cooperation and interaction when providing icebreaking services in the Baltic Sea, on introduction of amendments into the agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Finland on international straight-through road service.

The Saimaa Canal connects the Saimaa water area Saimaa Lakeland from Lappeenranta (Finland) to the Gulf of Finland via Vyborg (Russia). Its total length is 57.3 km including 34 km in Russia and 23.3 km in Finland. The Saimaa Canal sea fairway is 14.4 km long. The Canal is available for navigation of river, lake and sea going vessels. Opening and closing of navigation at the Saimaa Canal is every time confirmed by the Commissioner of the Russian Federation for the Saimaa Canal depending on the ice situation. On the average, the navigation season lasts for 275 days (9 months). The Canal links inland water ways of the eastern Finland with the coastal and inland ports of Europe. Timber, construction materials, fertilizers, cellulose, paper, coal and sawn timber make the bulk of Saimaa Canal traffic.