BTJ 3/2008 - Baltic Transport Journal

The cost of these port investments is estimated at EUR 313.7m, but the
expenditure for the whole project, with road connections, railway line, fairway
and logistics centres amounts to well over EUR 600m. The participants in
the project are: the Port of Helsinki (the constructor of Vuosaari), the Finnish
Road Administration, the Finnish Rail Administration and the Finnish Maritime
Administration. The ownership of the entire traffic connections will be
the governmental participants.
A logistics area is planned for construction in the vicinity of the Vuosaari
harbour. It will consume about 75 hectares of land, of which 50 will
serve as a logistics hinterland for the port. Apart from the logistics centre,
a business park is anticipated to be built in order to further increase the
attractiveness of the area.
Economy
The Vuosaari harbour will offer the most frequent shipping services between
Finland and the north-central European ports. The total capacity of
the port will amount to 12m tons (2m more than is currently handled by the
Port of Helsinki). The construction of the harbour will not change any shipping
routes on the Baltic Sea and the Finnish Bay as the new site will have the
same functions as the old port in the centre of the city. However, centralizing
the harbour activities will enable cost-savings and, at the same time, increase
the efficiency of port operations and transportation. According to the Port of
Helsinki, the harbour traffic will be organised in such a way that a trailer truck
can pick up a container at the harbour within a couple of minutes. The new
port is already gaining attention from business entities. A letter of agreement
has been signed with Finnsteve Oy Ab, Steveco and Multi-Link Terminals
Ltd. – all first class players in cargo handling, stevedoring and forwarding.
Furthermore, the Vuosaari Harbour, the nearby logistics centre, and business
park will create around 4,000 new jobs. This will definitely have an impact on
the development of the district and of the city centre.
Spatial aspect
Relocation of the port and industrial activities is a result, as said before, of
the change in technology and demand. For the last decades we have noticed
this process on the continent and the British Aisles, e.g. in Baltimore, London,
Copenhagen and Cardiff. The list is too long to enumerate all. What we must
keep in mind is the balance of gains and losses. Helsinki is a very “lucky” city
– by having an extremely long shoreline the town has ample space for the shift
of its industrial activities to much more favourable sites.
When the harbour operations are transferred to Vuosaari, the West and
North Harbours may, and supposedly will be, used for commercial and residential
functions. New homes, offices, and waterside parks will become reality.
In the Länsisatama (West Harbour) and Sörnäinen (North Harbour) flats
for approximately 20,000 to 30,000 residents will be built, and the area of
Sörnäinen in particular will also offer a vast number of jobs. On the shore
side, a recreational route system and new parks are envisaged.
The construction of Vuosaari will increase the vitality of this district
itself and also of the neighbouring areas. The business park and
logistic area, built in the vicinity of the harbour and alongside with the
port itself, will create a vital harbour centre. The commercial district
will create new jobs stimulating daily life and the need for services.
This should have a snowball effect, increasing demand for new investments
in housing, shopping and cultural centres, as well as green areas
for outdoor and recreational activities.
Environment
Maritime
Transferring harbour operations to new areas located outside
the city will decrease the number of lorries and trucks in the centre,
leading to a substantial reduction in noise and exhaust emissions.
It is estimated that approximately 3,000 lorries and trucks
pass each day between the North and West Harbours. Furthermore,
handling and transport of hazardous goods will be eliminated from
the vicinity of housing districts and office buildings. Current experts
show that up to 100,000 inhabitants live or work in areas exposed
to toxic substances, potential accidents or emergencies arising
from industrial activities.
The environmental aspect was thoroughly examined before the
decision for constructing Vuosaari was taken. All the pros and cons
were weighed. Although the construction will have some negative
effects on the vicinity of the construction site, all possible solutions
were adjusted in order to minimize the damages, like tunnel solutions.
The harbour road and the railway for the most part run entirely underground
thus leaving the land above unchanged. In addition, the
heavy traffic in the harbour has been arranged in such a way that it
is directed straight to the main arteries, minimizing harmful impacts
on housing. Particular attention has also been paid to noise control to
railway and harbour roads, with numerous sound barriers alongside.
Vuosaari has also very good railway connections which should support
this environmentally friendly transport mode.
The Vuosaari project will be finished this year. Upon its completion,
the centre of Finland’s capital will undergo major changes and, at the
same time, Helsinki will gain a modern specialized cargo port. Adding
the environmental awareness of the decision-makers we may boldly
state that the project is a textbook example of sustainable development
in the region.
Michał Gomerski
3/2008 | Baltic Transport Journal | 19