Around 12 million passengers travel by ferry between the three Baltic Sea ports annually.

Three Baltic Sea ports, located in Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; and Tallinn, Estonia, are making an investment to establish onshore power electricity connections in a move that is expected to reduce emissions.

In an agreement that set solutions and standards, the trio invested concurrently in onshore power connections at each of the ports.

This initiative is anticipated to reduce the emission of air pollutants from ferries while at the quayside, producing an estimated reduction of more than 18,000t of CO₂ annually.

In the near future, all ferries sailing between the three Baltic Seaports will be able to receive onshore power.

The partners will work together to make it possible for vessels sailing on the Helsinki-Tallinn route to connect to onshore power.

Ships operating on routes between Stockholm and Helsinki or Stockholm and Tallinn already have access to onshore power near the dock areas.

Stockholm Mayor Anna König Jerlmyr said: “The ferry services between our neighboring countries function as a bridge across the Baltic Sea. The passenger and goods supply routes are important, and every year 380,000 haulage vehicles or trailers are transported by ferry between the ports in Stockholm, Helsinki, and Tallinn.

“The onshore power connections at the Värtahamnen Port are part of an important coordinated environmental initiative with other Baltic Sea ports to achieve our environmental goals.”