Hundreds of metal rings installed on eastern Gulf of Finland coast to speed oil spill response

Authorities have begun marking locations for 350 metal anchoring rings along the rocky shores and islands of the eastern Gulf of Finland, a system designed to accelerate oil spill containment by allowing rapid deployment of booms.

The John Nurminen Foundation, state forest enterprise Metsähallitus, and the Kymenlaakso Rescue Department launched the project Friday, with drilling set to begin in August after the nesting season. The rings—stretching from Pyhtää to Virolahti—will enable crews to quickly secure booms to corral spilled oil before it spreads.

“Fast response saves significant costs,” said Ulla Rosenström, marine environment director at the John Nurminen Foundation. Containing oil at sea is far cheaper than cleaning it from shorelines, she noted, calling the system a major financial safeguard.

The eastern Gulf of Finland faces heightened spill risks due to Russia’s shadow fleet oil transports and navigation disruptions linked to the Ukraine war. Drone strikes on nearby Russian oil terminals have further elevated concerns, said Juhani Carlson, rescue chief for Kymenlaakso.

“Currents would carry any spill directly toward our coast,” Carlson said. While the Finnish Border Guard handles open-water response, rescue services manage shoreline containment. Current preparedness covers spills up to 30,000 tons—equivalent to a large tanker’s full cargo.