The ports of Helsinki and Tallinn, Rederi AB Eckerö, Tallink Grupp, Viking Line and Estonia's Ministry of Climate, with support from the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, have teamed to reduce GHG emissions from transport & logistics.

The memorandum of understanding the parties have signed aims at making the Tallinn-Helsinki and Vuosaari-Muuga crossings climate-neutral for passenger and cargo traffic, on- and offshore.

The initiative will put forth several roadmaps containing milestones for the different actors towards zero-emission operations.

At the same time, making the Helsinki-Tallinn 'sea bridge' a green corridor is intended to sharpen the competitive edge of the twin-city region.

The parties will conduct joint scientific studies to enhance project activities and increase knowledge and knowledge-sharing.

"It is important that the connection between Helsinki and Tallinn is environmentally even more sustainable in the future. More than the mandatory steps need to be taken to ensure that. It is vital that all major players participate in this activity, so this is a day of great importance and a turning point for working together with all partners in favour of climate and nature," said Valdo Kalm, CEO of the Port of Tallinn.

Ville Haapasaari, the Port of Helsinki's CEO, also commented, "We look forward to the co-operation this project offers between all parties. I'm convinced that we can find smart and better solutions to tackling the climate change in this area of ours and to ensure the future growth and welfare of the two countries."

Around nine million passengers and two million vehicles are carried between Helsinki and Tallinn yearly.

Photo: Port of Tallinn