Thu, 12 Mar, 2015 04:00:23 AM FTimes Report, Mar 12 File picture of Oulu Port. Photo Business Oulu. All Northern Ostrobothnian (Pohjois-Pohjanmaa) ports were in overdrive last year.
Exports from the sawmill industry and imports for the wind power industry kept the boats on the move, reported the national broadcaster Yle.
The ports of Northern Ostrobothnia look to the future with a cautious optimism as Oulu, Raahe and Kalajoki all showed marks of growth last year, said the report.
“I don’t believe in a steep decline or a tremendous growth,” Port of Oulu Managing Director Marko Mykkänen told Yle.
Port activity is very important for the business economy of the country. The tidal motions of the economy seem to appear in the ports almost as fast as they do in taxi stands.
Replying to a question of how far into the future one does dare to look, Raahe Port Managing Director Hannu Pyykönen replied after a moment of silence, “We intend to build new areas and to improve their load-bearing capacity.
Pyykönen hinted that the Raahe port authorities were preparing for a nuclear power project.
Big investments, big hopes
Big investments in the region create big hopes for the ports, sensing increasing freight traffic in the future.
Freight traffic rose almost 10 per cent at Kalajoki port last year, sources said, adding that they are preparing for the Pyhäjoki nuclear power plant project.
“We have acquired a total of about 20 hectares in new port space,” Kalajoki Port Director Esa Anttio told Yle.
“In this area, it is possible to both provide storage space and build warehouses, if Pyhäjoki needs them,” said Anttio.
The Port of Oulu has invested in a new dock. It will make possible a passage depth of 14 meters, if the deep channel they have long planned materializes. The new dock will also help in handling of goods.
“We needed more space, especially for lumber,” Port of Oulu Managing Director Marko Mykkänen told Yle.
The question of whether Pyhäjoki’s nuclear power plant will increase traffic is still unclear to port operators. No one can say yet, if the deliveries will come by sea.
Link to the original report is http://yle.fi/uutiset/pohjoisen_satamat_toiveikkaina_tulevaisuuteen/7844776
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