Port of Helsinki reports 55 per cent drop in passenger traffic in H1 2020 compared to H1 2019

The Covid-19 pandemic had reduced ship travel through the Port of Helsinki by a considerable margin during the first half of 2020, port officials said in a recent statement.

The number of liner traffic passengers between January and June 2020 was 2.4 million, which is 55.3 per cent less than in the same period the previous year.

Port officials said the traffic through the port during the first two months of the year was almost as expected, but the pandemic led to passenger transport being restricted, and ship travel was halted almost completely in mid-March. In mid-May, some of the travel restrictions were lifted, and passenger numbers gradually began to recover.

Shipping companies recently introduced new connections through Helsinki in place of Stockholm traffic in particular, which is not expected to start up again until autumn.

Total cargo traffic through the port was 6.6 million tonnes during the first half of the year, a drop of 9.2 per cent compared to H1 2019. Cargo traffic picked up between March and April, and the resulting amount then became roughly 10 per cent lower than that of H1 2019.

Port officials said that, for passenger transport, 2021 will also be “weaker than usual,” particularly with regard to international cruise traffic passing through Helsinki.

Officials added that they are uncertain whether international cruise traffic through Helsinki will be able to start up at all before the end of 2020.

Click here for the other news, features and reviews comprising this month’s Passenger Vessel Week.