Finnish authorities struggle to remove derelict ships as owners evade enforcement

Derelict vessels are being moved from one Finnish municipality to another to avoid forced removal, Yle reports. Local authorities often cannot reach the owners, and when enforcement action begins, the ships are relocated, restarting the process elsewhere.

The lack of a legal definition for derelict ships in national and EU legislation complicates efforts to address the issue. Environmental counselor Taina Nikula of the Ministry of the Environment said each case requires individual investigation, which can take years as authorities track down owners and issue removal orders.

In one case, the former trawler M/S Alfa caused problems in multiple regions before partially sinking in Mynämäki. It now lies in Loviisa’s Isnäs harbor, alongside M/S Tampere, which was classified as a derelict vessel in 2024. Despite the owner’s stated plans to restore it, the ship remains in poor condition.

Joensuu spent years attempting to remove two derelict ships from its harbor, nearly covering the cost of scrapping them before the owner sold the vessels. One, Vinkeri II, was later moved to Mikkeli, where authorities threatened forced removal. The owner eventually towed it to Anttola in May, with Mikkeli now considering scrapping if the ship is not moved to Lake Päijänne as planned.

Scrapping is expensive—Joensuu faced costs exceeding €100,000 for two vessels. Legal uncertainties persist: when is a ship considered derelict? Can a municipality scrap another’s property? And if a condemned ship is moved, does the process restart?