Low-carbon maritime traffic at the harbours

Indicator: emission reductions achieved per net tonne of the vessel

Maritime traffic at harbours refers to outgoing and incoming traffic in the Helsinki port area. The carbon dioxide emissions it causes account for approximately 80% of the total annual emissions in the port area, which is why reducing them is essential to the Port’s climate goals.

The goal of the Carbon-neutral Port 2035 programme is to reduce vessel emissions by a total of 25% by 2035. In terms of vessels’ net tonnage, the target is 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per 1000 NT.

Progress towards the goal is made

• by building onshore power supply connections at berths
• by making alternative fuels available at the harbours of Helsinki
• through an environmental discount programme for vessels.

The trend in absolute vessel emissions has been downward

In the year 2020 because of COVID-19, the emission level per net tonne may have been less accurate than normally due to the default emission calculation values. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, vessels have spent more time in the port area than normal. On the other hand, their so-called hotel load, i.e. the heating and electricity required for the services provided by the vessels, has been significantly lower than during normal years.

• Investments to reduce ship emissions included the construction of an onshore power supply at South Harbour and
• an automatic ship mooring system at West Harbour in connection with West Terminal 2.