Finland, a country that relies on shipping for around 90% of its commodity exports and 80% of its imports, may face challenges in winter as it becomes harder for its icebreaking fleet to operate in temperature extremes caused by the climate change.
The average annual amount of ice is declining, but the changing climate means ice conditions are becoming more extreme and harder to predict.
"The climate change brings more extremes, more warm winters, but also more severe winters. So, it doesn’t look like it’s easing in the Baltic waters in the coming decades," said Paavo Kojonen, senior vice president of icebreaking at Arctia company that operates vessels.
According to the Finnish government, in an average winter, foreign ships arriving in Finland need to pass more through more than 200 nautical miles of ice, Daily Cargo News reports. The government expects the need for icebreaking to increase in the future, as global environmental regulation means more ships are operating with lower engine power.
"We’re the only country in the world where all the ports freeze during the winter months," said Kojonen. "There might be less ice coverage in square kilometres, but the ice is moving all about; it doesn’t freeze and stay there, so the conditions … are getting more difficult over time."
Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief of the European bureau, Rough&Polished
