Kotkan Kantasatama cruise port and ropax terminal development begins

KOTKA PAX project press release

KOTKA PAX project develops transport infrastructure of the Port of HaminaKotka in the Kotkan Kantasatama Harbour with the objective to build the capacity for regular year-round passenger ferry operations between Kotka and St. Petersburg. The terminal facilities in the Kantasatama Harbour will be constructed and modified for handling passenger traffic and operating customs and border guard control. The project receives EUR 2 million funding from the South-East Finland – Russia CBC 2014-2020 Programme.

Port of HaminaKotka is acting as the Lead Partner of the project and will build the necessary port infrastructure for a passenger and cargo terminal. The new port infrastructure will enable smooth and efficient check-in and provide facilities for the customs and border control operations in the terminal. Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg “Marine Façade” will assist the Port of HaminaKotka to develop the passenger flow processing services due to their considerable experience in the field. They will also study the experience of the Port of HaminaKotka in handling cargo flows of the ferries. Finnish Customs will provide the required customs services and Finnish Border Guard the required border control services for cross-border traffic between Finland and Russia in the new passenger terminal in Kotkan Kantasatama.

The project will develop a year-round ferry connection and enhance the quality level of services at border-crossing points, ensuring both reliable and time-saving control and security of travelers and vehicles. Enhancing cooperation and sharing of knowledge and best practices with the project partners will develop sustainable transport services and increase economic growth in the region. Exchange of professional competences will also help to harmonize operational practices of Russian and Finnish partner maritime ports thus leading to their smoother and more transparent cooperation.

The project was started on June 1st, 2019 and will run until November 30th, 2021. The Port of HaminaKotka hosted the kick-off meeting in the Mussalo Harbour, Kotka, on August 9th, 2019. Representatives of the Managing Authority of the programme as well as of all the project partners participated in the meeting. In the morning, the Managing Authority presented the administrative issues of the project, followed by a visit to the Kantasatama Harbour, where the new passenger terminal will be built. In the afternoon, the Finnish project partners discussed the practical implementation of the infrastructure investments.

CONTACT PERSON FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Markku Koskinen, Director of Traffic Operations, Port of HaminaKotka
markku.koskinen (at) haminakotka.fi, tel. +358 20 790 8831
Merituulentie 424, 48310 Kotka

Read more at www.haminakotka.com