“It will be like it was before 1995” – INRIX – svenska.yle.fi

Extra hassle and extra cost, but that won’t be the end. This is the situation in the ports Svenska Elle spoke to about the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.

At present, trade with Great Britain forms a small part of the shipping operations carried out at the ports of Helsinki, Hanko, Turku, and Karlupi. Despite the small quantities, it is still a matter of large amounts, as the value of the goods shipped is significant.

For Finland’s international trade, the Port of Helsinki is the main gateway for goods leaving and entering the country.

“We have one flight a week that goes directly to the UK, and in addition, there are a few container ships that pass through the UK on their way,” says Jukka Kallio, Head of Cargo Movement at the Port of Helsinki. .

“A small but important part of freight traffic.”

From the Port of Hanko, there is also one ship a week heading directly to Great Britain, says Hanko Port CEO Anders Ahlvik.

-We have 40 departures weekly, including one ship heading to Great Britain. “It’s an important part of our business, but it’s still not a big part,” he points out.

Ahlvik also does not expect any major problems for operations at Hankow Port as a result of a no-deal Brexit.

It’s certainly not the end of the trade. It will be a little more difficult than it is today.

Erik Söderholm, CEO of the Port of Turku

He expects more bureaucracy and some new red tape from the beginning of the year during the transition period, but he does not believe this will entail any insurmountable obstacles.

– It is about collecting taxes and customs duties for trade with a country outside the European Union, and we already have such shipments here at the port. “We have ships going to Russia and to other countries outside the European Union,” Ahlvik says.

“A big step back”

They also have traffic from Turku to countries outside the Schengen Area.

– The trade is by no means over. It will be a little more difficult than it is today, says Erik Söderholm, CEO of the Port of Turku.

Söderholm has been involved for a long time and remembers the times before Finland joined the European Union. He feels a lot has become smoother since 1995 and with Brexit he sees a big step backwards.

– Today, it does not matter if you send a container to Kuopio or to London, as it is the same bill of lading that applies.

– But now everything that enters or leaves the country must be cleared and a tax must be paid on it. Söderholm stresses that it will only cause more problems, but it will be fixed.

“It is difficult to prepare for Brexit”

Despite it being so close to the start of the year, no problems have been observed at Carlby Harbour. Since so much is still uncertain, it is difficult to prepare, says Joachim Laxabak, CEO of Rawanheimo, the port operator at Carleby Port.

– Until the beginning of the year, it continues, but it changes once. Regardless of whether we reach an agreement or not, more administrative work will be required than when trading between EU countries takes place.

Laxapak believes that it will be a problem if the European Union and Great Britain cannot agree on a trade agreement before the end of the year.

– The situation without a trade agreement represents a big problem for the United Kingdom and for all EU countries. He added that it is in everyone’s interest to try to reach an agreement.