The year 2024 continued the period of instability for Finland’s maritime transport. The situation was also reflected in Finnpilot’s activities and finances. During the summer, there were more pilotage assignments than expected, but at the end of the year, the traffic reduced to figures that were below those of the previous year. As a whole, the pilotage company succeeded in turning the company’s all-time quietest traffic year into a positive result.
In 2024, a total of 16,736 pilotage assignments (2023: 17,396) were carried out covering 294,985 nautical miles (2023: 300,748). Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd’s turnover for the financial period of 2024 was EUR 33.9 million (2023: EUR 30.9 million) and the net profit was EUR 0.9 million (2023: EUR -3.0 million).
Finnpilot continued the savings programme started in the previous year, the focus of which was on personnel savings realised mainly through temporary layoffs. The efficient use of transport resources was further improved by increasing the mobility of pilot boat operators between stations. The number of person-years was 273 (2023): 290).
The year 2024 was the first full year that Finnpilot offered examination services as required by the new Pilotage Act. All Finnpilot pilots are able to supervise familiarisation voyages and other examination services (simulator tests, pilotage demonstrations, fairway knowledge tests) are assessed by qualified pilots who have been specially trained in these examination areas. By virtue of the new Pilotage Act, Finnpilot now also offers deep sea pilotage services in the Baltic Sea for vessels operating outside of Finland’s compulsory pilotage area.
The draft of the pilot training system was handed over to the authorities in December. By developing the training, Finnpilot is preparing once again, after a long period without recruitment, to hire new pilots, as a larger number of our experienced employees than usual will be retiring in the coming years.
Pilotage plays a critical role for the security of supply of Finnish society and this role has become further emphasised within the current security situation. The pilotage company’s obligation to prepare for emergencies is also regulated by the Pilotage Act. Finnpilot responded to the changed global political situation by actively investing in preparedness and continuity planning. The year also brought with it an entirely new threat in the form of satellite positioning interference. The interference was particularly an issue in the eastern Gulf of Finland. The high level of professionalism of our pilots and pilot boat operators is emphasised in situations where navigation aids provide inaccurate or incorrect information. Finnpilot’s personnel actively reported satellite positioning interference and observations were submitted to the authorities.
Finnpilot actively investigates its environmental impacts, with the aim of reducing the absolute amount of total emissions by 50% by 2030 (with 2021 as the reference year). The most significant portion of our direct negative environmental impacts is CO2 emissions from pilot boats. Finnpilot’s overall emissions in 2024 totalled 5,252 tCO2e (2023: 4,398 tCO2e). The increase in emissions is mainly due to a more comprehensive calculation of indirect emissions (Scope 3). The calculation methods will continue to develop annually, which means that the picture of the company’s indirect emissions, in particular, will become more specified each year.
Finnpilot’s General Meeting has appointed M.Sc. (Admin.) Jani Sivusalo as a new member of the company’s Board of Directors. Sivusalo currently serves as a Senior Specialist at the Ownership Steering Department of the Prime Minister’s Office. Previously, he has worked as a Senior Inspector at the Financial Supervisory Authority, a Senior Advisor at the Large Taxpayers’ Office, and a Tax Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Chairman of the Board is Kimmo Mäki, the CEO of Finavia
The Finnpilot Pilotage Annual General Meeting was held on March 21, 2025.
Read Finnpilot’s annual report here >>
Kari Kosonen, CEO, kari.kosonen@finnpilot.fi, tel. +358 40 741 4625
Timo Siren, Financial Director, timo.siren@finnpilot.fi, tel. +358 40 145 9848
From a navigational perspective, the conditions of the Finnish archipelago are among the most challenging in the world. Finnpilot helps ships to manoeuvre safely and smoothly through the fragile maritime environment. Pilotage is a vital part of the chain of logistics required for Finland’s international trade and security of supply. Many essential goods are transported by sea and the passage of cargo must be assured, also in possible times of serious disturbances.
The added safety that pilotage provides within Finland’s narrow archipelago fairways is pivotal in terms of preventing accidents. The pilot is a vital local advisor to the shipmaster who provides navigational assistance to vessels sailing along the fairways and increasingly ensures safe harbour manoeuvring.
Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd is a special assignment company entirely owned by the State that provides pilotage services in all Finnish fairways requiring pilotage. The costs accrued by the organisation of pilotage activities and maintenance of the national service network are covered by charged pilotage fees.
