Reinforcing Eastern Finland-Estonia Transport Corridor

The heavy vehicle traffic (trucks and trailers) on ferries over the Gulf of Finland has been ever increasing and the trend is estimated to continue.  There are two ferry routes between Finland and Estonia (Helsinki-Tallin and Hanko-Paldiski). Remarkable part of this heavy vehicle traffic takes place between Eastern Finland and Eastern Estonia. Currently the trucks need to drive via Helsinki-Tallinn, or via Hanko-Paldiski, even longer route. The best solution to increase the performance of the Eastern Finland - Eastern Estonia corridor is to establish a ferry connection between the ports of Loviisa (FI) and Kunda (EE).

The project aims at reinforcing the establishment of the Eastern Finland-Eastern-Estonia transport corridor. The project outputs are focused mainly on concrete measures to support the establishment of the Loviisa-Kunda ferry connection. This includes business model(s) with potential shipping companies, port operatives and investment plans, as well as,a roadmap to comply with the needed licences and regulatory requirements, best practise to be transferred from similar connections in the BSR, ferry scheduling and route option plans, marketing plan and the organization of events to promote the connection. Furthermore, the cargo transport potential of the corridor is analysed and the impact of the developed corridor is verified (reduced travel time, volume of corridor users and the feasibility of a Loviisa-Kunda connection).

In addition to the faster and more fluid transports between eastern parts of Finland and Estonia there are other benefits brought about by the activated transport corridor:he traffic to/from Eastern Finland that uses the Via Baltica would benefit from a more direct connection as well. It will also relieve the city centres of Tallinn and Helsinki from the pressure of a growing heavy traffic (traffic jams, emissions, noise, dust) The decreased mileage in transports means also less CO2 emissions.