A consortium of ports, ministries and shipping companies in Finland and Estonia have agreed to create a green corridor between the ports of the capitals Helsinki and Tallinn to promote more sustainable and green shipping. 

”It is important that the connection between Helsinki and Tallinn is environmentally even more sustainable in the future. More than the mandatory steps need to be taken to ensure that,” says Valdo Kalm, CEO of the Port of Tallinn, in a joint press release from the parties involved.

Specifically, the parties are the two capitals, the shipping companies AB Eckerö, Tallink Grupp and Viking Line, and the Estonian Ministry of Climate with the support of the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Finland. 

The new agreement essentially means that there will be joint roadmaps for shipping companies, cities and ports with foundations - and other partners - to help them reach a goal of zero carbon emissions.

Each roadmap will include specific milestones to be achieved in terms of ”priorities and possible funding,” according to the press release.

”I’m convinced that we can find smart and better solutions of tackling the climate change in this area of ours and to ensure the future growth and welfare of two countries,” says Ville Haapasaari, CEO of the Port of Helsinki.

The preliminary agreement does not say anything about the specific solutions needed to reduce the climate footprint.

The international shipping industry, under the auspices of the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO), has set a goal of achieving zero emissions in or around 2050. Whether this is also the goal for the future green corridor between Tallinn and Helsinki is not yet clear.

(Translated using DeepL with additional editing by Kristoffer Grønbæk)