Reinforcing Eastern Finland-Estonia Transport Corridor (REFEC)

Transcription

1 Reinforcing Eastern Finland-Estonia Transport Corridor (REFEC) Programme Priority: P3 Well-connected region Programme Specific Objective: 3.1. Improved transport flows of people and goods Sub-programme: Southern Finland - Estonia Duration: Total funding: EUR ERDF funding: EUR ERDF Project Summary: The heavy vehicle traffic (trucks and trailers) on ferries over the Gulf of Finland has been ever increasing and the trend is estimated to continue. There are two ferry routes between Finland and Estonia (Helsinki-Tallin and Hanko-Paldiski). Remarkable part of this heavy vehicle traffic takes place between Eastern Finland and Eastern Estonia. Currently the trucks need to drive via Helsinki-Tallinn, or via Hanko-Paldiski, even longer route. The best solution to increase the performance of the Eastern Finland - Eastern Estonia corridor is to establish a ferry connection between the ports of Loviisa (FI) and Kunda (EE). The project aims at reinforcing the establishment of the Eastern Finland-Eastern-Estonia transport corridor. The project outputs are focused mainly on concrete measures to support the establishment of the Loviisa-Kunda ferry connection. This includes business model(s) with potential shipping companies, port operatives and investment plans, as well as,a roadmap to comply with the needed licences and regulatory requirements, best practise to be transferred from similar connections in the BSR, ferry scheduling and route option plans, marketing plan and the organization of events to promote the connection. Furthermore, the cargo transport potential of the corridor is analysed and the impact of the developed corridor is verified (reduced travel time, volume of corridor users and the feasibility of a Loviisa-Kunda connection). In addition to the faster and more fluid transports between eastern parts of Finland and Estonia there are other benefits brought about by the activated transport corridor:he traffic to/from Eastern Finland that uses the Via Baltica would benefit from a more direct connection as well. It will also relieve the city centres of Tallinn and Helsinki from the pressure of a growing heavy traffic (traffic jams, emissions, noise, dust) The decreased mileage in transports means also less CO2 emissions. Map of Partners Page 1 of 5

2 Partners Lead Partner Turun yliopisto Partner budget: EUR Amount of ERDF funding: EUR ERDF Project Partners Loviisan kaupunki Partner budget: EUR Amount of ERDF funding: EUR ERDF AS Kunda Nordic Tsement Page 2 of 5

3 Partner budget: EUR Amount of ERDF funding: EUR ERDF Associated Partners Loviisan satama Oy Lovisa Forwarding & Stevedoring, Oy The Federations Stevedore in Lovisa Ab Lääne-Viru Maavalitsus Schenker Oy Lääne-Viru Omavalitsuste Liit Results Expected results The overall result of the project is the development of the Eastern Finland Eastern Estonia transport corridor and its two nodes: ports of Loviisa and Kunda. In short, the project results contribute to the eventual establishment of the ferry connection between Loviisa and Kunda. The project carries out activities that are needed to initiate the ferry service. This is in line with the programme result indicator since it addresses directly reduced travel time of the cargo in the transport corridor in the focus. The results can be grouped in three entities: 1. Detailed figures on the freigth potential (number of units, tons) that will use the corridor nodes i.e Loviisa-Kunda ferry connection. The future estimates of figures are also given. This result is needed as an input for actual plans and measures for the ferry connection in phase The concrete measures to support the establishement of Loviisa-Kunda connection - business model(s) with contacted potential shipping companies - port operative plans - port investment plan - port operator related plans (operations, investments, work force) - roadmap to comply the needed licenses and regulatory requirements - best practise transferred from similar connections in the BSR - scheduling and route option plans for the service - marketing plan and events to promote the connection 3. The impact Page 3 of 5

4 assessment of the created transport corridor The benefits of the improved transport corridor are verified. In addition to reduced travel time in the improved corridor the transferred cargo volumes are calculated. This forms a basis to calculate the impact to CO2 emission decrease. The socioeconomic impact is covered as well (employment and turnover in the transport corridor area). All three entities are important but the main focus is on the results in entity 2 which contributes directly to establisment of the corridor and its enabler - the ferry connection Loviisa-Kunda. This is leading to reduced travel time of cargo. Achieved results Project Visibility Other media visibility Webpage Page 4 of 5

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