Saima Canal faces third summer of silence as cruises halt at Russian border

The Saima Canal will see almost no vessel traffic this summer for the third consecutive year, as cruise routes remain cut short by the closed Finland-Russia border, Yle reports.

Only short canal cruises to the Mälkiä lock and back will operate from Lappeenranta, with no passage to Vyborg. Finland continues to pay roughly €3 million annually for the canal’s lease and maintenance, despite minimal use.

Jari Hämäläinen, a retired cruise captain who navigated the canal for 50 years, called the situation regrettable but understandable. “The insurance costs for cargo ships are prohibitive, and you never know what Russia might do—they could seize a vessel at any time,” he said.

The canal, nearly half of which lies in Russian territory, is leased long-term by Finland for about €1.2 million per year, with an additional €2 million spent annually on upkeep. In 2023, just nine pleasure boats used the canal—no cargo ships. Before border closures and sanctions, the 2019 season saw around 1,000 cargo vessels and 700 pleasure boats.

Hämäläinen expects cargo traffic to rebound once the war in Ukraine ends. “The canal simplifies exports and imports, avoiding detours through Kotka or Hamina,” he noted.

The Mälkiä lock, the canal’s highest with a 12.4-meter drop, releases about 15,000 cubic meters of water per cycle. First-time passengers often react strongly to the experience, Hämäläinen said, especially when water rises over the concrete walls.

Two cruise ships, m/s Camilla and m/s Saimaa Margareta, will operate limited routes this summer, turning between the Mälkiä and Mustola locks before returning to Lake Saimaa.