Port of Helsinki posts results for 2017
The Port of Helsinki Ltd 2017 cargo traffic added up to 14.3 million tonnes (+14.2% from the previous year), while the number of passengers was 12.3 million (+2.4%). The turnover of the Port of Helsinki was 95.0 million euros (+5.9%).
The total amount of operating costs was 33.9 million euros (-4.9%). The Port of Helsinki achieved a profit of 24.2 million euros (+55.3%) and the adjusted earnings were 10.4 million euros.
After taxes, the profit for the financial year was 11.3 million euros (265.6%). Dividends of 5654.08 euros per share, i.e. nearly 5.7 million euros in total, were distributed.
The total amount of investments was approximately 36.4 million euros (-43.7%). The most significant investment targets included the construction of the West Harbour’s new terminal building and Hernesaari’s new cruise ship berth, as well as the acquisition of Loviisan Satama Oy’s shares.
Helsinki became the busiest passenger port in Europe with 12.3 million passengers. The number of passengers went up by 2.4% from the previous year. Passenger numbers continue to grow on the Helsinki-Tallinn route in particular.
The Port of Helsinki’s market share of the passenger liner traffic in mainland Finland’s sea ports is 79,4%.
The route between Helsinki and Tallinn is by far the busiest. In 2017, a total of 9 million ship passengers travelled along this route, which is 3.2% more than the previous year. The increase in the popularity of the route is expected to continue at almost the current rate in the coming years.
The number of passengers travelling to Stockholm remained close to the previous years’ level (-0.2%), with 2.3 million passengers.
210,000 people travelled between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg, and the popularity of the route decreased significantly (-26.9%). St. Peter Line did not begin its cruise season until April and only operated a single vessel, unlike the previous years.
The Helsinki–Travemünde route was travelled by 149,000 passengers, which is 4.9% more than the previous year.
In 2017, the number of passengers on international cruise ships hit an all-time high. 478,000 passengers visited Helsinki, which is a staggering 16.8% more than last year. The number of cruise ship visits was 266 (+10.8%), which is just below the record figures.
Nearly 82% (+4.6 percentage points) of the international cruise passengers on the Baltic Sea stopped by at the Port of Helsinki. The largest group of visitors came from North America (26%), with Germans forming the second biggest group (25%). Just under 10% of visitors were from the UK, almost 6% from Canada and a little under 5% from Spain.
In 2017, the Port of Helsinki became the number one general port for international cargo traffic in Finland. The total tonnage of international cargo traffic handled was 14 million tonnes (+14.3% compared to previous year). The total tonnage of cargo traffic was 14.3 million tonnes (+14.2%).
11.9 million tonnes of cargo (+12.5%) was transported via Helsinki’s harbours in large units, such as containers, trucks, and trailers. Imports made up 5.5 million tonnes (+10.1%) and exports 6.4 million tonnes. The exports showed an increase of as much as 14.6% from the previous year. The balance between imports and exports remained good.
The proportion of cargo transported at the port by trucks, trailers and similar vehicles was 63,9% of all unitized cargo. A total of 587,000 vehicles (+11.1%) passed through the harbours as rubber-wheeled traffic, transporting a total of 7.6 million tonnes (+13.8%) of cargo.
A total of 491,000 TEUs (+8.8%) of containers were transported through Helsinki, containing a total of 3.9 million tonnes (+7.2%) of cargo.
The proportion of container traffic from unitised cargo traffic at the Port of Helsinki accounted for 32.7%.
In addition, 34,200 new cars were imported through Vuosaari Harbour, which is 9.2% less than the previous year.
The Port of Helsinki’s dry bulk traffic mainly consists of imported coal for Helen Oy. The amount of coal was approximately 1.1 million tonnes (+31%).
The total amount of cargo traffic travelling through the Kantvik Harbour managed by the Port of Helsinki was 353,800 tonnes (+18.0%). Of this amount, 334,000 tonnes (+15.8%) was imports and 9,800 tonnes (+249.9%) was exports. The imports consisted mainly of coal and gypsum. Export traffic was low.
The total amount of cargo traffic through the Port of Loviisa, 60% of which is owned by the Port of Helsinki, was 663,400 tonnes (+14.7%), with the main articles including timber, cement and grain.
The West Terminal project has been the most significant investment in recent years for the Port of Helsinki. The new West Terminal 2 was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. The harbour complex has proven functional and will continue to serve fast liner traffic from the West Harbour far into the future.
At the beginning of January, Tallink’s new ro-pax ferry MS Megastar, bigger than any of the fleet’s previous vessels, began sailing from the West Harbour’s new quay. The shipping company’s need to start using the new terminal building sped up the inauguration of West Terminal 2. The opening ceremony was held on 28 February, about a month ahead of the initial schedule.
The budget for the terminal complex was 45 million euros, but the actual cost was over 5% lower.
In addition to the new terminal building, the West Terminal project included two new berths, three disembarkation bridges, 350 metres of passenger bridge, the dredging of the Pihlajasaari route, improving the street connections and extensive land transport and field arrangements.
The West Terminal project is part of the TWIN-PORT II EU project, carried out in cooperation between the Port of Helsinki, the Port of Tallinn, and Tallink Group. The development project aims to improve travel comfort and create more efficient and environmentally friendly connections to Central Europe. The Port of Helsinki West Terminal project was granted funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme.
During 90% of all visits, cruise ships pumped their waste water into the harbour’s reception system, and from there the water runs directly to the city’s waste water system and onwards to be treated. The amount of received waste water increased by 5.4% compared to the previous cruise season of 2016.
2017 was a year of a business launch for the Port of Helsinki. The investments necessary for transporting bioproducts from Äänekoski’s new mill were completed, and the transports began as planned in August.
At the beginning of 2017, the majority stake in Loviisan Satama Oy was transferred to the Port of Helsinki Ltd. This merger with a large operator opened up new opportunities for the Port of Loviisa. The port’s total amount of transport grew by 14.7%, and the cargo flows became more versatile. In September, the port launched a sizeable grain warehouse investment by Suomen Viljava.
