Finland moves icebreakers’ home ports to Kemi and Pori

Finland’s Ministry of Transport and Communications has designated Kemi and Pori as new home ports for icebreakers, while Helsinki will remain a home port, Yle reported. The change is intended to strengthen the reliability of icebreaking operations, including during disruptions and exceptional circumstances.

Transport and Communications Minister Lulu Ranne said the ports had been reassessed to ensure operations could continue in all conditions. She said national security and security of supply had to be protected, particularly as the operating environment in the Baltic Sea had changed.

Ranne said 95 per cent of Finland’s imports and exports of goods travel by sea. Icebreakers can also be used for tasks such as oil-spill response.

The ministry has instructed state icebreaking services provider Arctia to move the home ports. The change will take effect when the 2026–2027 icebreaking season ends. Icebreakers are based in their home ports mainly outside the season, from May to December.

Kemi Port chief executive Markku Rautio previously said dispersing the home ports could improve security of supply and preparedness. In February, he said that keeping the icebreakers together in Helsinki meant the entire group was, in principle, “behind one Iskander missile”.

Arctia has eight heavy icebreakers. A new vessel is due to arrive in 2029, and construction of the icebreaker Aino is scheduled to begin in 2027. It is intended to replace ageing vessels.