First steel train in over a decade arrives at Pori shipyard

A 16-car train carrying 800 tonnes of steel arrived at the Mäntyluoto shipyard in Pori on Thursday, marking the first rail delivery to the site in over a decade, Yle reports.

The steel, sourced from SSAB’s Raahe mill, will be used to manufacture components for icebreakers sold to the US. Sata Shipbuilding, which operates the yard, expects similar monthly deliveries going forward.

Niko Suomela, CEO of Sata Shipbuilding, said the reopening of the rail link allows steel to be transported directly to the shipyard, speeding up production. The long-dormant track required minor repairs before use.

Lotta Ruottinen, SSAB’s sales director for Finland and the Baltics, noted that an 800-tonne order is unusually large for a Finnish customer, reflecting growing demand from the maritime industry.

The steel delivered is not yet low-carbon. SSAB plans to begin fossil-free steel production at its Luleå plant in 2029, which would eliminate most CO₂ emissions by using recycled steel and fossil-free energy.