Finnish maritime pilots demand eastern shipping route should be kept open in winter

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The Finnish maritime pilots are demanding that the inner eastern winter route in the Gulf of Finland should be kept open in order that ships could avoid getting stuck in the ice.
      Over the past few days, it has been difficult for vessels to get from the eastern harbours of Finland to the open sea.
      The Finnish Transport Agency, which started operations on January 1st, says that it is not willing to open the detour unless there is a sufficient cause.
     
The winter route through the archipelago would secure unhindered shipping as far west as Hanko and from there further to the Baltic Sea.
      On an archipelago route masses of ice move more slowly than in the open sea.
      This route was last in active use during the icy winter of 2003-2004.
      ”I regard it as strange that the archipelago route has not been opened, even though traffic has ground to a halt”, says chairman Antti Rautava from the Finnish Pilots Association.
      For example in Hamina, all vessels have been forced to wait at the harbour for more than 24 hours before they have been able to leave.
      The fully loaded Dutch cargo vessel Leonie was waiting for an icebreaker at the port for more than three days.
     
The Finnish Transport Agency does not turn down the proposal out of hand, but Director Ilmari Aro from the Winter Navigation Department says that the proposed route is no shortcut to success.
      He points out that the recent navigation problems are attributable to exceptional conditions.
      ”It all depends on how the winter will turn out, which is why it is too early to discuss such a route. I can see why the maritime pilots have a strong urge to open it, as for them it is a question of earnings”, Aro argues.
      The proposed route would secure good earnings for pilots, as their role is more important in the archipelago, where navigation is slow and overtaking is difficult.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Fears that new Pilotage Act could increase number of marine accidents (6.8.2009)

Links:
  Finnish Transport Agency

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