An increase to the basic pilotage fee for 2021

The basic pilotage fee for coastal waters will increase by an average of 49 euro in 2021. The price level in the Saimaa region will remain at 26% of the pilotage fee charged in coastal waters.

The pilotage fees cover costs necessary for the organisation of pilotage activities and maintenance of the national service network. The pilotage company must also ensure the sufficiency of incoming funds in order to continue its operational development.

In 2021, the pilotage fees will increase by an average of 3%. The increase will be implemented by raising the basic pilotage fee. Mile-based prices as well as the standby, cancellation and order transfer fees for pilotage will remain the same. For the most common vessel size, the increase will be 49 euro per pilotage assignment. The price level in the Saimaa region for the coming year will remain at 26% of the pilotage fee charged in coastal waters.

COVID-19 affects international trade as well as the number of pilotage assignments

The decrease in the amount of Finland’s international imports and exports significantly affects vessel traffic and the number of pilotage assignments. The number of assignments in the coastal regions is predicted to drop by approximately 19% (18,300 assignments) this year. In the Saimaa region, however, the traffic volume has increased by +25% (3,000 assignments) in comparison to the previous year.

The calculated impact of the increase on the pilotage revenue for 2021 will be about 1.0 million euro. Over the coming years, the company’s cost structure will be impacted by the general cost and wage development as well as by the research and development costs necessary to advance remote pilotage and digitalisation. The company will continue to implement safety improvements to its fleet and to develop the occupational safety of its personnel.

The increase to the pilotage fees was decided by the Board of Directors of Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd. at its meeting on 28 September 2020.

The new pilotage fee charts can be found on Finnpilot’s website.

Further information

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