The European Union provides financial support to NextGen Link project, via the CEF Transport programme. The aim of the project is to upgrade an existing maritime link to cross the Baltic Sea from Finland to Sweden in the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor and to develop green shipping and port interconnections.
The project is coordinated by Finnish port of Turku, and includes also Finland Viking Line, Mariehamns Harbor, and Ports of Stockholm from Sweden.
Upgrade of the maritime link includes the environmental upgrade with a new sustainable LNG powered ro-pax vessel and the infrastructure development in ports. The development of port infrastructure means investments in the ports, in order to accommodate the new larger vessel and to handle efficiently the increased cargo and passenger capacity.
The Port of Turku is investing in the development of the logistics and services in the port area, including a new parking hall and control equipment of trucks. Improving vessel traffic services is also under study.
The project started in January this year and is expected to be completed in June 2020.
Key goals of the project:
