The cargo volumes transported during January–September totalled approximately 595,000 cargo units, 63,000 cars (not including passengers’ cars) and 962,000 tons of freight not possible to measure in units. In addition, some 764,000 private and commercial passengers were transported.

As anticipated, passenger travel increased considerably on Finnlines’ vessels during the summer season. All the four ro-pax lines performed well and the number of private passengers more than doubled on the route between mainland Finland, Åland and Sweden. The growth on our Naantali–Långnäs–Kapellskär route during January–September was 122 per cent compared to previous year.

Finnlines has opened a new freight service between Finland and the United Kingdom to Port of London Medway, which is located in Sheerness in Kent. The infrastructure in the port is well-developed with a rail network and a direct access to the motorway connecting Kent with the London Metropolitan area and the rest of the UK. Further connections from UK are more easily available to Belgium, Spain and Ireland.

Global economic prospects are gradually improving. In the Euro area, including Finland, GDP is expected to rise by some 1.5 per cent in 2025–2026. Therefore, the European Central Bank should continue to take further actions and continue to cut interest rates in a more rapid pace to boost industrial activity and growth.

Since the beginning of this year, shipping has been included in the Emissions Trading Scheme. Starting next year, the Fuel EU Maritime regulation will also come into effect, shaping the future of shipping further. To align with these enhanced environmental standards, Finnlines has been forced to sell older vessels, which were not energy-efficient or which did not comply with the new regulations and emission requirements. To comply with the new environmental regulations and to reach lower CO2 emissions, Finnlines has invested over half a billion euros in most advanced vessels currently available with huge battery banks and other advanced technology to reduce emissions.

Regarding the green transition, Finnlines has currently a tender round on-going for selected shipbuilders to order three new ro-pax vessels using green fuels, which will enter the Finnlines fleet on our Helsinki–Travemünde route. The target is to sign the orders at the end of 2024 or at the beginning of 2025. In spite of somewhat unpredictable economic outlook and geopolitical challenges, Finnlines steams ahead. We are financially strong, we also have operationally and environmentally sound fleet, which will be further improved by new green-fuelled vessels, which will benefit Finnlines and also our customers when we both are reducing our emissions further.”

Full report here https://www.finnlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/financial-review-q3_2024-eng.pdf

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