Bans imposed on steamships Saaristo and Punkaharju in Savonlinna amid safety concerns

Yle has investigated the circumstances that led to the prohibition of the steamships Saaristo and Punkaharju during the summer in Savonlinna. Authorities had previously not disclosed the reasons for the bans. According to Aleksi Uttula, the head of maritime supervision at the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom), the bans were imposed because the agency could not verify documented information regarding the legal inspections of the vessels’ pressure equipment, specifically their steam boilers.

Traficom mandated the bans in early July after receiving a tip-off about the lack of inspections. Despite the bans, the steamships continued to operate private cruises, prompting a police investigation. Information about the situation remains scarce, as company representatives have refused to comment. Janne Leinonen, CEO of Vip Cruise, and its parent company LP Management, declined to discuss the matter with Yle. Previously, the operators claimed that the complaint to Traficom was unfounded, asserting that the agency mistakenly took the tip seriously.

In response to the investigation, the entrepreneurs filed a request for clarification to Traficom, which has not commented on the validity of the tip. There is no confirmed information on the last inspection date for the vessels’ pressure equipment, nor has Uttula addressed potential safety risks stemming from uninspected equipment.

Uttula emphasized that usage bans are considered on a case-by-case basis, as halting operations is a rare measure aimed at ensuring safety for individuals and the vessels. The pressure equipment on Saaristo and Punkaharju was inspected during the ban and the restrictions were subsequently lifted.

Additionally, the entrepreneurs allege they have faced systemic harassment and have filed multiple police reports regarding cyber attacks and a suspected arson attempt linked to their ships.