Journal is indexed in following databases:
- SCOPUS
- Web of Science Core Collection - Journal Citation Reports
- EBSCOhost
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- TRID Database - Transportation Research Board
- Index Copernicus Journals Master List
- BazTech
- Google Scholar
2024 Journal Impact Factor - 0.6
2024 CiteScore - 1.9
ISSN 2083-6473
ISSN 2083-6481 (electronic version)
Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editor
Prof. Tomasz Neumann
Published by
TransNav, Faculty of Navigation
Gdynia Maritime University
3, John Paul II Avenue
81-345 Gdynia, POLAND
e-mail transnav@umg.edu.pl
The Impact of Climate Change on Maritime Transport: A Review of the Situation in the Kymenlaakso Region
1 South‐Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, Kotka, Finland
ABSTRACT: In the context of international trade logistics, Finland is an island. Due to the significant reduction in trade with Russia following the war in Ukraine, maritime transport has become the predominant mode of transportation for exports and imports, accounting for approximately 95%. The Port of Hamina-Kotka, located in south-eastern Finland, is the primary freight port in the region and plays a crucial role in the maritime logistics of the heavy industry in eastern Finland. The consequences of climate change are being felt acutely in the area, especially during the winter months. Rising temperatures are leading to a decline in winter sea ice cover annually, exerting a substantial influence on winter weather conditions in the region. However, the variability of weather conditions, which is expected to continue in the future, poses an additional challenge. The ILMERI project (Impacts of Climate Change on Maritime Transport, implemented between March 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026), conducted by the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences and funded by the European Regional Development Fund, studies the effects of changes in conditions caused by climate change on maritime transport in the Kymenlaakso region. This article presents a summary of the baseline situation, including a review of the region’s fairway system, marine transportation infrastructure, typical cargo types transported, and available climate data. This is significant because fairway and port solutions represent long-term investments, and any recommendations must be based on reliable data to prevent both over and under-preparedness for future challenges.
KEYWORDS: Safety of Navigation, Maritime Transport, Port Operations, Water Level, Climate Change, Sea Ice, Wind and Waves, Fairways
REFERENCES
T. Olsson, J. Jakkila, N. Veijalainen, L. Backman, J. Kaurola, B. Vehviläinen. “Impacts of climate change on temperature, precipitation and hydrology in Finland – studies using bias corrected Regional Climate Model data,” Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, vol. 19, pp. 3217–3238, 2015. - doi:10.5194/hess-19-3217-2015
H. Tietäväinen, H. Tuomenvirta, A. Venäläinen. “Annual and seasonal mean temperatures in Finland during the last 160 years based on gridded temperature data,“ International Journal of Climatology, vol. 30, pp. 2247-2256, 2010. - doi:10.1002/joc.2046
I. Merkouriadi, M. Leppäranta, M. “Long-term analysis of hydrography and sea-ice data in Tvärminne, Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea,” Climatic Change, vol. 124, pp. 849–859, 2014. - doi:10.1007/s10584-014-1130-3
Finnish Meteorological Institute (2025, 13 March). Sea ice statistics [Online]. Available: https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/icestatistics.
S. Karetnikov, M. Leppäranta, A. Montonen. “A time series of over 100 years of ice seasons of Lake Ladoga,” Journal of Great Lakes Research, vol. 43(6), pp. 979-988, 2017. - doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2017.08.010
U. Löptien, L. Axell. “Ice and AIS: ship speed data and sea ice forecasts in the Baltic Sea,” The Cryosphere, vol. 8, pp. 2409-2418, 2014. - doi:10.5194/tc-8-2409-2014
T. Vihma, J. Haapala. “Geophysics of sea ice in the Baltic Sea: a review,” Progress in Oceanography, vol. 80(3-4), pp. 129-148, 2009. - doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2009.02.002
A. Höglund, P. Pemberton, R. Hordoir, S. Schimanke. “Ice conditions for maritime traffic in the Baltic Sea in future climate,” Boreal Environmental Research, vol. 22, pp. 245-265, 2017.
I. Kubat, D. Fowler, M. Sayed, M. “Floating ice and ice-pressure challenge to ships,” in Snow and ice-related hazards, risks, and disasters, W. Haeberli and C. Whiteman, Eds. Cambridge: Elsevier, 2021, pp. 641-669. - doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-817129-5.00006-8
T. Olsson, T. Perttula, K. Jylhä, A. Luomaranta. “Intense sea-effect snowfall case on the western coast of Finland,” Advances in Science and Research, vol. 14, pp. 231-239, 2017. - doi:10.5194/asr-14-231-2017
T. Olsson, A. Luomaranta, H. Nyman, K. Jylhä. “Climatology of sea-effect snow in Finland,” International Journal of Climatology, vol. 43(1), pp. 650-667, 2023. - doi:10.1002/joc.7801
A. Rutgersson, E. Kjellström, J. Haapala, M. Stendel, I. Danilovich, M. Drews, K. Jylhä, P. Kujala, X.G. Larsén, K. Halsnæs, I. Lehtonen, A. Luomaranta, E. Nilsson, T. Olsson, J. Särkkä, L. Tuomi, N. Wasmund, N. “Natural hazards and extreme events in the Baltic Sea region,” Earth System Dynamics, vol. 13, pp. 251–301, 2022. - doi:10.5194/esd-13-251-2022
Kymenlaakson liitto. “Ilmastokestävä Kymenlaakso. Ilmastonmuutokseen sopeutumisen suunnitelma,” MDI Public Oy, Tapio Palvelut Oy and Kymenlaakson liitto, 2022
Port of HaminaKotka (2025, 19 March). Port of HaminaKotka [Online]. Available: https://www.haminakotka.com
Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (2025, 19 March). Fairway card, Orrengrund-Kotka channel [Online]. Modified 29 Nov 2024. Available: https://dvk.vaylapilvi.fi/vaylakortti/kortit/kotka?lang=en
Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (2025, 19 March). Fairway card, Mussalo channel [Online]. Modified 22 Nov 2024. Available: https://dvk.vaylapilvi.fi/vaylakortti/kortit/mussalo
Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (2025, 19 March). Fairway card, Hamina channel [Online]. Modified 22 Nov 2024. Available: https://dvk.vaylapilvi.fi/vaylakortti/kortit/hamina
E.A. Kulikov, I.P. Medvedev. “Variability of the Baltic Sea level and floods in the Gulf of Finland,” Oceanology, vol. 53, pp. 145–151, 2013. - doi:10.1134/S0001437013020094
A. Lehmann, H.H. Hinrichsen. “On the wind driven and thermohaline circulation of the Baltic Sea,” Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Part B: Hydrology, Oceans and Atmosphere, vol. 25(2), pp. 183-189, 2000. - doi:10.1016/S1464-1909(99)00140-9
K.S. Madsen. “Recent and future climatic changes in temperature, salinity, and sea level of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea,” Ph.D. dissertation, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2009.
M. Metzner, M. Gade, I. Hennings, A.B. Rabinovich. “The observation of seiches in the Baltic Sea using a multi data set of water levels,” Journal of Marine Systems, vol. 24(1-2), pp. 67-84, 2000. - doi:10.1016/S0924-7963(99)00079-2
Finnish Meteorological Institute (2025, March 19). FMI’s open data [Online]. Download observations. Available: https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/download-observations
J. Suomi, M. Meretoja, M. “Trends and irregular variation of spatial temperature differences in the high-latitude coastal city of Turku,” Climate Research, vol. 84, pp. 41-57, 2021. - doi:10.3354/cr01649
L. Veneranta, J. Vanhatalo, L. Urho. “Detailed temperature mapping-warming characterizes archipelago zones,” Estuarine, Costal and Shelf Science, vol. 182(A), pp. 123-135, 2016. - doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2016.09.011
P. Pirinen, H. Simola, J. Aalto, J-P. Kaukoranta, P. Karlsson, R. Ruuhela. “Tilastoja Suomen ilmastosta 1981-2010,” Ilmatieteen laitos, Helsinki, Finland, 2012:1, 2012.
O. Pärn. “Sea ice deformation events in the Gulf of Finland and their impact on shipping,” Ph.D. dissertation, Marine Systems Institute, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia, 2011.
V. Ryabchenko, A. Drovnikov, J. Haapala, K. Myrberg. “Modelling ice conditions in the easternmost Gulf of Finland,” Continental Shelf Research, vol. 30(13), pp. 1458-1471, 2010. - doi:10.1016/j.csr.2010.05.006
P. Kankaanpää. “Distribution, morphology and structure of sea ice pressure ridges in the Baltic Sea,” Fennia – International Journal of Geography, vol. 175(2), pp. 139-240, 1997.
I. Lehtonen, L. Utriainen, J. Seppänen, U. Leijala, J. Särkkä, H. Pettersson, K. Jylhä. “Ilmastonmuutoksen skenaariot väylänpidossa,” Väylävirasto, Helsinki, Finland, 15/2024, 2024.
M. Rantanen, K. Ruosteenoja, S. Luhtala, M. Virman, H. Pellikka, S. Polade, R. Ruuhela, A. Luomaranta. “Ilmastonmuutos pääkaupunkiseudulla,” Ilmatieteen laitos, Helsinki, Finland, 2023:1, 2023. - doi:10.35614/isbn.9789523361737
M. Heikkilä, H. Himmanen, O. Soininen, S. Sonninen, J. Heikkilä. “Navigating the future: developing smart fairways for enhanced maritime safety and efficiency,” Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, vol. 12(2), 324, 2024. - doi:10.3390/10.3390/jmse12020324
Safety Investigation Authority. “Incident between a pilot boat and a missile boat off Emäsalo”, Safety Investigation Authority, Helsinki, Finland, M2018-04, 2019.
Safety Investigation Authority. “Capsizing and sinking of pilot boat 242 (FIN) in the Gulf of Finland, to the south of Emäsalo on 8 December 2017,” Safety Investigation Authority, Helsinki, Finland, M2017-04, 2018.
Safety Investigation Authority. “Risk of collision between two passenger ships in the Archipelago Sea on 13 November 2019; the RoPaX ferry Finnswan and the road ferry Mergus,” Safety Investigation Authority, Helsinki, Finland, M2019-03, 2020.
Safety Investigation Authority. “RORO passenger vessel M/S Finnmaid and road ferry M/S Mergus, collision at Smörgrund on 16 June 1997,” Safety Investigation Authority, Helsinki, Finland, C4/1997M, 1997.
Safety Investigation Authority. “Factors contributing to fatigue and its frequency in bridge work,” Safety Investigation Authority, Helsinki, Finland, C3/2004M, 2004.
Safety Investigation Authority. “Road ferry Prostvik 1, collision with the minesweeping equipment of Kuha 26 in Storströmmen at November 10, 2005,” Safety Investigation Authority, Helsinki, Finland, C7/2005M, 2005.
Safety Investigation Authority. “Factors contributing to fatigue and its frequency in bridge work,” Safety Investigation Authority, Helsinki, Finland, S3/2004M, 2004.
A. Ingwersen A.J.H. Menacho, S. Pfister, J.N. Peel, R. Sacchi, C. Moretti. “Prospective life cycle assessment of cost-effective pathways for achieving the FuelEU Maritime Regulation targets,” Science of the Total Environment, vol. 958, 177880, 2025. - doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177880
F. von Malmborg. “Advocacy coalitions and policy change for decarbonization of international maritime transport: the case of FuelEU Maritime,” Maritime Transport Research, vol. 4, 100091, 2023. - doi:10.1016/j.martra.2023.100091
A. Springer (2023, July). Transport & Environment. Modelling the impact of FuelEU Maritime on EU Shipping [Online], Available: https://www.transportenvironment.org/uploads/files/FuelEU-Maritime-Impact-Assessment.pdf
EC/2023/1805. Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport, and amending directive 2009/16/EC.
EC/2023/957. Regulation (EU) 2023/957 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 amending Regulation (EU) 2015/757 in order to provide for the inclusion of maritime transport activities in the EU Emissions Trading System and for the monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions of additional greenhouse gases and emissions from additional ship types.
E.M. Bitner-Gregerse, C.G. Soares, M. Vantorre. “Adverse weather conditions for ship manoeuvrability,” Transport Research Procedia, vol. 14, 1631-1640, 2016. - doi:10.1016/j.trpro.2016.05.128
M. Kuroda, Y. Sugimoto. “Evaluation of ship performance in terms of shipping route and weather condition,” Ocean Engineering, vol. 254, 111335, 2022. - doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2022.111335
N.P. Ventikos, A.D. Papanikolaou, K. Louzis, A. Koimtzoglou. “Statistical analysis and critical review of navigational accidents in adverse weather conditions,” Ocean Engineering, vol. 163, 502-517, 2018. - doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.06.001
Finnish Transport and Communications Agency. Ice Classes of Ships [Online], Available: https://www.traficom.fi/en/transport/maritime/shipping-companies-and-shippers/ice-classes-ships
T. Solakivi, T. Kiiski, L. Ojala. ”On the cost of ice: estimating the premium of Ice Class container vessels,” Maritime Economics & Logistics, vol. 21, 207-222, 2017. - doi:10.1057/s41278-017-0077-5
Citation note:
Altarriba E.: The Impact of Climate Change on Maritime Transport: A Review of the Situation in the Kymenlaakso Region. TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, Vol. 19, No. 1, doi:10.12716/1001.19.01.23, pp. 197-205, 2025
Authors in other databases:
Elias Altarriba:
orcid.org/0000-0002-9569-2876
57209577334
orcid.org/0000-0002-9569-2876
57209577334
Other publications of authors:
File downloaded 49 times
