Photograph: Vesa Hovi
Port of HaminaKotka Ltd arranged an exercise for exceptional and accident situations
In September, Port of HaminaKotka Ltd participated in the Karelian Stronghold 25 local defence exercise led by the Karelia Brigade. The exercise was carried out in the areas of Kotka, Hamina and Kouvola from 1 to 5 Sep-
tember 2025. The port company also participated in the KAAKKO25 readiness exercise carried out at the same time by the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland.
The local defence exercise carried out at the Hamina Harbour in September included an incident where the troops of the Finnish Defence Forces detained a person who had entered the area without permission. Photograph: Kati Vesalainen / XAMK.
The local defence exercise was used for exercising various incidents and threats to the cyber environment of the port. A practical exercise was also carried out at the Hamina Harbour in co-operation with the Finnish Army and Customs. The National Defence Training Association of Finland (MPK) and the European Logistics Institute ELI were also closely involved in the planning of the exercise.
The Rescue Department of Kymenlaakso, the Port of HaminaKotka and other co-operating authorities and operators in the region organised a joint major accident exercise in accordance with section 48 of the Finnish Rescue Act and the Seveso III Directive at the Hamina Harbour on 15 October 2025. The exercise involved several simultaneous major accident scenarios that were triggered by two major chemical spills in the port area and the resulting fire and explosion. One consequential effect was the extensive spread of a cloud of poison and smoke in the port and its surrounding areas.
“Joint exercises like this with different authorities and operators give all parties an understanding of each other’s operating models, which in turn improves overall security,” says Maria Kämäräinen, Manager, Security and Rescue, of Port of HaminaKotka Ltd.
The Rescue Department of Kymenlaakso, Port of HaminaKotka Ltd and other co-operating authorities and operators in the area organised a major accident exercise in Hamina in October. Photograph: Merisade Kuusela / Rescue Department of Kymenlaakso.
Cruise ports on the Eastern Baltic Sea are becoming increasingly attractive
International cruise traffic in the Baltic Sea region has undergone significant changes in recent years because of the covid pandemic and geopolitical instability. After the worst phase of the covid pandemic subsided in 2022, it seemed that the international cruise business in the Baltic region would start to grow rapidly again. For the 2022 season, the Port of HaminaKotka had confirmed reservations for 47 cruise ships that would have brought more than 100,000 cruise passengers to the region. However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed the situation fundamentally, and 19 cruise ships ultimately arrived at the Port of HaminaKotka in 2022.
New market area
St. Petersburg used to be the marque port for international cruise traffic in the Baltic Sea, but it has not been on the route for a few years now, which is why a completely new market area has been built for cruise traffic in the Eastern the Baltic Sea. Consumers
are increasingly interested in cruise ports in the Eastern Baltic Sea, and alternative ports suitable for Baltic Sea cruise routes, such as HaminaKotka, are considerable options for cruise lines. Luxury cruise ships in particular have found Kotka and Hamina to be attractive destinations in recent years, and the port company has been working closely with local stakeholders for several years to attract them. The luxury ship segment is quite small in cruise traffic on the Baltic Sea, but e.g., 10 cruise ships have booked berth at Port of HaminaKotka as early as 2027 based on the current situation. Over the years, it is possible to get back to about 20 cruise ships annually.
Versatile services all year round
The profile of cruise passengers has changed in recent years, and the customers today include many families with children and young adults, alongside more mature people. The services offered to cruise guests must be versatile, and much-needed variety can be found in
the Kotka-Hamina region. Tour operators arrange guided excursions for cruise guests to attractions such as the Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge, the Salpa Line museums, the Kymijoki River and the nearby archipelago, such as the island of Tammio. Sightseeing tours in Kotka and Hamina have also been popular among cruise guests. Since the ships stay at the port all day from morning till late evening, both cruise guests and crew members often also visit the towns on their own and use the services of local service providers.
The inaugural call by a ship is particularly important
The customer feedback on visits by international cruise ships in the summer of 2025 was very positive. The Port of HaminaKotka was praised for its fluent services and the Kotka-Hamina region for its diverse offerings. The location of Finland on the eastern border of NATO is also of interest to tourists. The cruise ship AIDAbella of the German cruise line AIDA Cruises, which is part of the world’s biggest shipping group Carnival Cruises, made its inaugural call at the Port of HaminaKotka last summer. The inaugural call by a cruise line is particularly important, as a new port and destination is always a major strategic investment for the cruise line, and it is preceded by several years of preparations. The visit by the AIDAbella to Hamina was a success, and the cruise line has announced that it will return to the Port of HaminaKotka at least in 2026 and 2027. Finland is increasingly seen as a highquality cruise destination all year round, and the inaugural call by one cruise ship at the Port of HaminaKotka has already been confirmed for 2028 outside the summer season.
Our customers value reliability and fluent co-operation
Port of HaminaKotka Ltd monitors customer satisfaction regularly to ensure the quality and continuous development of its services. The customer satisfaction survey conducted this autumn was a follow-up to the surveys carried out in previous years, and again provided valuable information about our customers’ experiences. The survey was mainly carried out as telephone interviews, and some of the responses were collected by email. As before, the customer satisfaction survey was carried out by Innolink Research Oy.
The key results of the customer satisfaction survey show that the overall score for the success of the Port of HaminaKotka is at the level of the previous survey conducted in 2023. We have succeeded particularly well as a reliable partner. The invoicing service and fast response to contacts were also emphasised in the success ratings. Customers felt that the most preferred ways of obtaining information were bulletins, which can be subscribed directly to email, as well as the port company’s events and website. There was of course also
room for development, and the development of infrastructure, traffic and access arrangements, and signage in particular came up in those responses. Overall, the Port of HaminaKotka is mainly considered to function well, and easy co-operation is appreciated.
Many thanks to all those who provided valuable feedback in the survey. The product packages drawn among the respondents have been delivered to the lucky winners.
The AIDAbella arrived in sunny Hamina on 15 June 2025. Photograph: Vesa Hovi
A long-term influential figure in the port industry facing new things
Kimmo Naski, D.Sc., CEO of Port of HaminaKotka Ltd, satamaneuvos (Port Counsellor), has had a long career in the maritime and port sector and will now retire at the end of this year. His career has taken him to a wide range of positions both in Finland and abroad, and during his long work period he has been involved in the development of the maritime industry in many different ways.
Versatile career in shipping and ports
Kimmo Naski’s career began at the Port of Hamina, where he worked for several summers during his school years. After this, the young man’s path took him to Lübeck in Germany, where he got a job at the Port of Lübeck to see how a large port works. During his years in Lübeck, he accumulated extensive knowledge of various tasks in the port. Kimmo Naski’s period in Lübeck also turned out to be significant in terms of his family life, as it was there that he met his future wife, and the fam-
ily’s first two children were born in Lübeck. From the port, he moved to work in shipping at the local Viking Line subsidiary in Germany. Here he was responsible for the mainland, Baltic and Russian markets in addition to the shipping company’s German subsidiary. In total, he spent 12 years in Germany.
In 1997, Kimmo Naski was elected the port director of Pori, and at the beginning of 1998, the family moved there. For the extrovert boy from Kymenlaakso, the reserved character of the Satakunta region felt strange to him at first, but he learned to know the warm-heartedness that is also part of the Satakunta culture once he had been accepted into the community, leaving him many great memories. The strong role of the Port of Pori on the west coast motivated Kimmo Naski to enhance his expertise further.
When Kimmo Naski moved from the Port of Pori to the position of Managing Director of Port of Kotka Ltd in 2002, the first phase of the container terminal in Mussalo had
just been completed. The area felt huge and there was empty space everywhere. Years of almost exponentially rapid growth lay ahead. The port areas continued to grow, more quays were built in several phases, and up to seven customer warehouses were built per year in Mussalo alone. The transport of containers and new cars flourished at that time. The growth continued until the financial crisis in 2009. This very eventful period included the birth of a third child, the building of a house for the family, and a doctoral dissertation on the ownership and organisational structures of Baltic Sea ports, completed in 2004. All these things meant that his mornings started at 04.59.
The international economic difficulties that started with the financial crisis were also reflected in Finland’s foreign trade and transport volumes at ports. The transport volumes of the ports of Kotka and Hamina decreased by a third in 2009. This launched co-operation negotiations to develop co-operation
Kimmo Naski enters a new phase in life with a nostalgic but positive mind. Photograph: Juha Metso.
between the seaports in Kymenlaakso, and Kimmo Naski’s doctoral dissertation was put to the test. Two years of rather varied negotiations and political struggle resulted in the merger of the ports of Kotka and Hamina. This had the strong support of customers. When the ports merged in 2011, Kimmo Naski became the CEO of Port of HaminaKotka Ltd. He says that the merger of the ports was the right decision, as the customers have received significant synergy benefits from the merger, and the port company’s equity ratio has multiplied as a result of it. The port has produced significant added value for its owner towns Hamina and Kotka as well as for the entire regional economy, both directly and indirectly through jobs.
Kimmo Naski was awarded the title of Logistics Expert of the Year at the Finnish Logistics Forum in 2011 for his determined and successful career in logistics.
National and international positions of trust as unique vantage points
In addition to his work as the CEO of the port company, Kimmo Naski has held several key positions of trust on the boards of various companies and organisations, such as the national and regional efforts of the Chamber of Commerce, the German-Finnish Chamber
of Commerce and the Baltic Ports Organization (BPO). Since 2007 he has been the Chairman of the Transport Committee of the German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce, the biggest foreign chamber of commerce operating in Finland, which promotes trade relations and business between Germany and Finland. Kimmo Naski has been involved in the activities of BPO since the late 1990s. He served as a member of the Board of Directors from 2006 to 2011 and as Deputy Chairman of the Board from 2011 to 2018. Kimmo Naski was the Chairman from 2018 to 2025. Kimmo Naski thinks that the chairmanship of BPO has been an exceptionally great vantage point for shipping and ports on the Baltic Sea, as 96% of Finland’s foreign trade is carried via the Baltic Sea.
In 2023, President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö awarded Kimmo Naski the honorary title of satamaneuvos (Port Counsellor) in recognition of his work for the benefit of society.
Kimmo Naski will retire on 1 January 2026. The change to his daily routines will be significant, but he is looking forward to having more time for his family, beloved hobbies, such as varied physical exercise, as well as reading and travelling. Kimmo Naski is deeply grateful for the support he has received during his long career from customers, partners, the company’s Board of Directors, owners and highly skilled personnel. It is now good to continue to a new stage in life.
Kimmo Naski opened the Baltic Ports Conference in Gdansk in October 2025. Photograph: GospodarkaMorska.pl.
Café Neptunus ending its long journey
Lunch restaurant Café Neptunus in the Merituuli building in Mussalo has been operating for more than 23 years by the current entrepreneurs Vesa Haapasalo and Mikko Arjola. The operation of the restaurant is coming to an end by the joint decision of the entrepreneurs, and although closing down marks the end of an era, it is also the beginning of new opportunities.
Vesa and Mikko, how did it all start, when and why did you decide to start this restaurant?
Sirpa Virolainen originally founded the lunch restaurant after the building was completed, and we worked there. The restaurant was in operation for 18 months before it went bankrupt. We decided to seize the opportunity and continue the restaurant operations as independent entrepreneurs. It all happened quickly – the restaurant was closed for only a week until we reopened its doors on 8 April 2002. At first, we ran the place by just the two of us, but after a couple of months, we got a summer worker to help us. The number of employees increased little by little, and at best, there have been eight of us working here.
What were the initial stages of the restaurant like?
The initial stages were really difficult, because everything about running a business was new
to us and we learned many things through trial and error. Fortunately, we had a great accounting firm that helped us with many things, and after the first challenging months, things slowly started to roll.
Where did the name of the restaurant come from?
Café Neptunus was the name invented by the first entrepreneur, Sirpa Virolainen, and we decided to continue with the same name.
What has been the most rewarding or best thing during these years?
The most rewarding thing has been the growth that started after the initial difficulties, which continued until 2010. After this, there was a slight dip, but when the customers returned, they also came again and again. There was a good period until the covid pandemic.
What has been particularly significant is that many customers have become acquaintances and even friends over the years. Positive feedback from the customers is always heartwarming, and for example, successful wedding orders that we have done on the side have remained as fond memories.
What has been the hardest thing?
Of course, it was difficult in the covid period. Difficulties were caused by the fact that the author-
ities provided little or unclear information and they had to investigate matters themselves. The restaurant had to be closed completely at times due to the lock-downs, but fixed costs were running all the time.
What have you learned as entrepreneurs during these years?
The biggest lesson over the years has been that it is not worth stressing about small things –especially when you cannot influence them. Our experiences as entrepreneurs have also shaped our attitude so that we are now less naive and unfortunately more cynical. On the other hand, during these years we have got to know many good and nice people from whom we have received help when needed, and the connection with these people has remained.
Is there a food or foods on the list that have become a lasting favourite among customers?
The breaded chicken products served on Thursdays, i.e. chicken nuggets and fingers, have been long-standing favourites year after year. Fried salmon was also very popular earlier, but we had to leave it off the menu when the price of salmon increased.
What kinds of plans do you have for the future now?
Closing down the restaurant operations was a joint decision. We both agreed that now is a good time to end while we still have our health and sanity. Now we’re looking openly ahead and exploring what the world has to offer us.
The team of Café Neptunus has become familiar to customers over the years.
Photograph: Petra Kuitunen
Chicken nuggets have been a favourite dish at the restaurant year in, year out.
Photograph: Petra Kuitunen
New lunch restaurant in Merituuli office building will open in January
A new lunch restaurant will open in the Merituuli office building in Mussalo in January. The new entrepreneurs Jesse Penttilä and Erkan Öncü are already familiar to many from other restaurants in the Kotka region.
The paths of the two men crossed a few years ago, and they immediately found common ground. They found that they share the same passion for developing things and creating something new. Constant movement and a desire to improve things is a way of life for both, so opening a new lunch restaurant is a natural continuation of co-operation. The restaurant is scheduled to open in January as soon as the necessary renovation and alteration work has been completed.
“The previous entrepreneurs have built a solid foundation for the restaurant business, and it is good to start building on it. We believe that our concept works well here – it is modern but at the same time respects the old,” says Erkan.
Both will initially work in the new restaurant on site as much as possible.
“A face is important to a company. We want to get to know the customers so that they have the lowest possible threshold to come and talk and give us feedback,” Jesse says.
The different preferences of customers will be taken into account in the lunch menu.
“Our goal is to offer food where everyone can find an option they like. Those who do heavy physical work and lighter office work want to eat different types of food. We are also planning theme lunches,” Jesse says. The restaurant facilities will be modified to support the restaurant’s concept.
“We are going to focus on the salad selection and give customers the opportunity to taste different flavours, and if it works, we will continue with it. We are happy to receive feedback and develop our operations by listening to the wishes of our customers,” Erkan adds.
The entrepreneurs welcome both new and old customers.
“The customers will not be disappointed, they will be pleasantly surprised,” Erkan says.
Appointments
The Board of Directors of Port of HaminaKotka Ltd has appointed Eija Rossi, Master of Science in Economics, as the new CEO of Port of HaminaKotka Ltd as of 1 January 2026. She will move to the position of CEO from the position of Commercial Director of the company.
Merja Pelli, Bachelor of Business Administration, has been appointed as the Manager, Administration and Finance, of Port of HaminaKotka Ltd as of 1 October 2025. She will move to the position of Manager, Administration and Finance, from the position of Accountant of the port company and will report to the Commercial Director.
Elina Pakkanen, Bachelor of Business Administration, started as an Accountant at Port of HaminaKotka Ltd on 1 December 2025. She will move to the port company from Tili MOY Bokföringsbyrå Oy Ab and will report to the Manager, Administration and Finance.
The entrepreneurs Jesse Penttilä and Erkan Öncü are looking forward to opening a new restaurant. Photograph: Petra Kuitunen
Port of HaminaKotka Ltd’s Christmas donation to MIELI Mental Health Kotka Region
This year, Port of HaminaKotka Ltd will donate the funds intended for Christmas gifts and cards to MIELI Mental Health Kotka Region. MIELI Mental Health Kotka Region, which has been operating in the Kotka and Hamina regions since 2009, is an active local supporter of mental well-being, with an emphasis on preventive mental health work and self-care.
The activities of the association are diverse and aimed at people of all ages. It promotes well-being by increasing mental health skills and by providing opportunities for physical exercise, art, culture and traditional communal association activities. The association has various theme groups, excursions, cultural events and training, among other things. As an example, a weekly football club for immigrant
youth is organised in Kotka. Through supported volunteer activities, young people can participate in a wide range of tasks among the elderly by offering, for example, digital support and outdoor help in the Kotka and Hamina regions. Jenni Eerola Martikainen of MIELI Mental Health Kotka Region says that the donation is of great importance to the activities of the association. The donation will be used to arrange meaningful joint activities for those involved in the efforts of the association and for purchases that bring joy to the participants for a long time.
“On behalf of the whole association, we thank you warmly for your important support,” Jenni Eerola Martikainen says.
Website of MIELI Mental Health Kotka Region: https://www.mielenterveysseurat.fi/kotka/ en/
Website of MIELI Mental Health Finland: https://mieli.fi/en/
Port of HaminaKotka Ltd again involved in the Pink Ribbon campaign of Cancer Foundation
Port of HaminaKotka Ltd has again participated this year in the Pink Ribbon campaign of Cancer Foundation Finland by giving a Pink Ribbon to all members of its personnel. The proceeds from the Pink Ribbons purchased from the local association are used to support cancer patients and their loved ones in the Kymenlaakso region. The 2025 Pink Ribbon was designed by Katja Ståhl
This year’s research theme is breast cancer. More than 5,200 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in Finland every year, and it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths. Better treatments and hope are being found for those affected thanks to research.
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