Finnish transport firms break silence on Helsinki port delays

Thirty Finnish transport companies have jointly filed a complaint against Steveco, the largest container operator at Helsinki’s Vuosaari port, over excessive waiting times, Yle reports. The firms fear retaliation from stevedores if they speak out publicly.

Trucks transporting containers to and from the port have faced delays of up to five hours, with some companies reporting regular waits of 3.5 to 4 hours. The holdups incur significant costs and disrupt deliveries, according to the firms.

Other port operators at Vuosaari, such as Multilink and Finnsteve, do not experience similar issues, with waiting times typically limited to 30 minutes. Steveco has acknowledged the problems but claims they have eased.

Only one company, R. Stenvall, agreed to speak on the record. Its transport manager, Jussi Mäkelä, said firms avoid public criticism due to fears of being sidelined by stevedores. Another executive, who requested anonymity, stated that stevedores could deliberately delay trucks from critical companies.

Steveco handles container transfers between ships and trucks at Vuosaari, a critical hub for Finland’s foreign trade. A single vessel can carry up to 2,000 containers, requiring hundreds of trucks for transport.