In 2024, VTS Centres prevented 14 vessels from running aground and prevented near misses from developing into accidents. This information is from the newly completed annual statistics on prevented groundings by Fintraffic’s Vessel Traffic Services. In 2024, nearly 20 new vessel traffic meeting and overtaking prohibition areas and new special transport safety zones were also introduced in Finland.

The police and Fintraffic work closely together to ensure smooth and safe traffic, especially in exceptional situations.

Digitalizing Port Operations – Optimizing Maritime Logistics in the Baltic Sea
Date: January 30, 2025 
Time: 12:00 CET to 13:30 CET (13:00–14:30 EET)

The Sustainable Flow project is the first global project focusing on both the development of a digital tool and energy savings and renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions in the transport sector, especially in the maritime sector and in ports. A digital tool developer has now been selected through a tender process. A total of nine international service providers participated in the public tendering process, and of these Awake.AI Oy was selected.

A wide variety of aviation operators responded to the survey, ranging from strategic partners in air navigation and flight schools to smaller airport operators and general aviation representatives. This year, the total number of respondents and the percentage of pilots among respondents was slightly lower than in the previous year. On the other hand, the overall cooperation score for Fintraffic's Air Navigation Services increased slightly, rising to 4.0 this year (2023: 3.8).

Luxembourg Air Navigation Administration, which is responsible for air navigation services in Luxembourg, has simulated new air traffic control working methods in Finland.

Fintraffic’s Vessel Traffic Services and the Lübeck Port Authority have signed a service agreement for the Fintraffic POLO Port Activity port application. Port of Lübeck will start using the application in the beginning of next year. The port is particularly known as a busy hub for Scandinavian and Central European freight transport.

POLO Port Activity is already in use at more than 30 ports and is a daily tool for hundreds of people. In connection with the launch of Maritime Traffic Notification Service NEMO, the application will also include vessel notifications in accordance with the European Maritime Single Window (EMSW) regulation as a new feature next year. This will enable vessels to submit port call-related vessel notifications via POLO both to Finland and to the EU.

A new working method concept will be validated for Luxembourg’s air traffic control in Fintraffic’s air navigation simulators. The aim will be to obtain data on new working methods on the basis of which their practical functionality and prerequisites for operational deployment can be verified.

Finland is introducing special maritime transport security zones for the first time to ensure the safe passage of special transports by organizing other traffic in the area. The first safety zone for special transports was introduced in the Inkoo fairway. In the future, similar arrangements will be extended to merchant shipping lanes throughout Finland’s coastal area.

In Finland, the monitoring and oversight of commercial shipping is a crucial part of ensuring maritime safety and environmental protection. Fintraffic’s VTS centres monitor the movement of cargo and passenger ships along the Finnish coastline around the clock, every day of the year. In the first half of 2024, vessel traffic has for the most part proceeded safely both along the Finnish coast and in nearby international waters.

The Destia Winter Maintenance Management Centre utilises the road weather information provided by Fintraffic on a daily basis, all year round. Fintraffic road weather data makes it possible to carry out maintenance measures in the road network in a timely manner. This helps to save costs.

The DigiMar project, focused on enhancing navigational safety through innovative learning tools, is on track with its planned schedule. This July, the project celebrated a significant milestone with its first international meeting, where the project's progress was discussed.