Friday, October 30, 2015 - 11:08 by ce-press
The Port of Turku is a core port in the Scandinavian-Mediterranean transport corridor of the EU TEN-T Core Network. Together with the Finnish ports of Naantali and HaminaKotka, the Port of Stockholm and Viking Line, Turku has been granted EU funding to an environmental project, The Northern ScanMed Ports – Sustainable Maritime Links. Turku is the coordinator of the project worth E8.1m with an EU funding of E2.65m.
The project focuses on carrying out environmental and safety surveys and various investments in developing the infrastructure.The environmental investments for the Port of Turku in 2015-2016 will focus on developing the infrastructure of wastewater reception from vessels and improving the preconditions for offering shorepower to vessels.
The port will construct a stationary drain-piping system in two different harbour locations serving roro, ropax and passenger vessels. A stationary connection will ensure that sufficient reception capacity can be offered to vessels calling Turku, and thus meet future demands.
The port will also improve on its capacity to supply shorepower to vessels throughout their berth time, when desired. By using shorepower the noise, particle and nitrogen emissions of vessels during their stay at port can be reduced. All the work is due to be completed during 2016.
The port is receiving eight calls this year with negotiations ongoing for increased numbers in 2017 which would make it a record year. Celebrating 100 years, there will be many events going on including the Tall Ships Race which Turku is organising for the fifth time.
Five ships up to 230m in length can be accommodated at one time. The size restriction is due to the port approach rather than the basin. AIDA Cruises, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Saga and Noble Caledonia are all customers. AIDAcara which was built in local shipyard Aker Yards was the first to call this season. While passengers may choose to walk the 3km along the river into the city, the shuttle bus now has stops along the waterway.
New tours are being developed including the hope that passengers may be able to visit shipyard Meyer Turku which has just won an order to build the first LNG-powered cruiseships alongside sister company Meyer Werft.
