Hamina’s 100-metre flagpole faces dismantling due to safety risks from deteriorating coating

The 100-metre flagpole in Hamina, home to the world’s largest Finnish flag, will likely be dismantled in the near future due to severe damage to its protective coating, public broadcaster Yle reports after obtaining an inspection memo. The structure’s zinc and paint layers are cracking and detaching, posing a risk of falling debris, while repairs would cost over €500,000—four times the €120,000 estimated for dismantling and recycling.

The city’s development committee will decide on the flagpole’s fate at a meeting today. Consulting firm Sitowise has advised Hamina to strip the existing coating down to the steel structure and apply a new protective layer. However, the process would require lowering and disassembling the pole, as re-coating on-site would demand constructing a temporary weatherproof shelter for its massive sections.

Inspections revealed that the steel’s unusually high phosphorus content made the zinc layer brittle, causing it to crack and flake—exposing rust beneath. Wind-induced swaying, even without a flag, and friction from the flag’s cables during raising and lowering have accelerated wear. The memo notes that original coating documentation is missing, leaving the exact cause of the failure unclear.

Rust stains from the deteriorating pole have also discoloured flags flown from it. The city’s technical director, Sari Paljakka, warned that falling coating fragments pose a safety hazard to people below. If dismantled, the pole’s sections would be recycled.