KOKKOLANSATAMAOY:N SIDOSRYHMÄLEHTI2/2021 PORTOFKOKKOLANEWSLETTER FOR CUSTOMERS ANDINTERESTEDPARTIES2/2025
Origin by Ocean brings brownalgae from the Caribbean to the port of Kokkola
Analcime sand from the lithium project will be tested in the construction of the port
Port of Kokkola Newsletter for customers and interested parties
CHIEF EDITOR:
Torbjörn Witting
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Jorma Uusitalo
LAYOUT:
Olli Ilmanen/WTF Design
PRINTED IN:
Waasa Graphics Oy PHOTOS:
Jorma Uusitalo
Clas-Olav Slotte
Anssi Martinmäki
Jaana Orjala
Kokkolan Satama
COVER PHOTO:
The port of Kokkola was founded at its present site 200 years ago.
The latest harbour, Silverstone Port is seen at the front of the picture.
PHOTO: PORT OF KOKKOLA
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the port of Kokkola. At the time of the port’s founding, Kokkola’s merchant fleet was one of the largest in Finland, which speaks to the strong history of merchant shipping in our region. Even today, the port of Kokkola is one of the leading ports in our country, offering efficient port logistics services nationwide.
At Port of Kokkola Ltd., we plan our strategy with a customer-oriented focus. A good example of the customer-oriented development is Silverstone Port, which is the newest of our three ports. The Silverstone Port is a typical container port, but it also serves light bulk handling and project traffic, such as components of wind power.
Investments in the development of the Silverstone Port are currently fuelling in particular the strong growth in container traffic. Last year, container traffic grew by over 30 percent, and the figures for the first four months of this year show an increase in the container traffic of over 80 percent compared to the previous year. The growth has been possible because the development has been carried out with long-term commitment, and when planning the investments, we have listened to the wishes of our customers.
Our latest investment in container traffic is the STS container gantry crane, or Mörkö, which was put into operation at the beginning of this year. The STS crane Mörkö significantly speeds up container handling and consequently shortens the turnaround time of the container ships in the port. The size of the container ships is constantly increasing, and the crane investment responds perfectly to this development. At the same time, the capacity of the two multi-purpose Gottwald mobile cranes is freed up for project lifting at Silverstone Port and, for example, for the transport needs of wind power components. The Gottwald cranes can be used simultaneously with Mörkö, thus speed ing up the container handling. In addition, the Gottwalds serve as important backup cranes.
In February, Port of Kokkola organized the already traditional international Kokkola Container Day seminar. One of the highlights of the day was the official commissioning of the STS crane, during which ice hockey legend Marko “Mörkö” Anttila christened the 75-meter-high crane Mörkö, in keeping with his nickname. Kokkola Container Day was a successful event in every way, attracting a record number of participants and bringing together various play ers in the container world. We received valuable feedback that will help us serve our customers even better.
As we mark our anniversary, I would like to thank our customers for the long journey that we have travelled together. At Port of Kokkola, we look forward to the opportunities that the coming years and decades will bring.
TORBJÖRN WITTING CEO Port of Kokkola Ltd.
Port of Kokkola’s CEO, Torbjörn Witting (right) and Keliber CEO, Hannu Hautala signed an agreement on the utilization of analcime sand.
Port of Kokkola is promoting the circular economy in a unique way when building new port facilities. The latest example of this is the agreement signed between the Port of Kokkola and Sibanye-Stillwater’s Keliber Lithium Project on the utilization of analcime sand generated in the Keibler lithium refinery process in the construction of port facilities.
The14.2-meter deep channel and the deepening of the port at Kokkola, which was commissioned in autumn 2020, was the largest circular economy project in hydraulic engineering ever in Finland. Over 2 million cubic meters of soil were dredged and used to build new port fields.
Analcime sand, now used as a new construction material, is produced at the Keliber lithium refinery in Kokkola, when lithium is separated from the concentrate produced at the company’s Kaustinen concentrator. The separation uses soda ash and lime.
– At this stage, it is a trial agreement, during which we will gain experience on the behaviour of analcime sand and its suitability for the construction of port fields. We also have an environmental permit for this material, but we want to proceed responsibly in this matter, one step at a time. If analcime sand performs as expected, we will then have a new construction material at our disposal for future port areas, says Torbjörn Witting, CEO of Port of Kokkola Ltd.
THE GOAL of the Keliber Lithium Project of is to utilize as much of the production side streams as possi-
ble. The construction of Port of Kokkola’s port fields is one of the largest circular economy projects in Finland, using recycled materials in construction.
Port of Kokkola will place the analcime sand in basin 2 of the Silverstone Port, which has a reception capacity of approximately 40,000 cubic meters, and which is already partially filled.
– We have also agreed to continue with the Keliber Lithium Project if analcime sand proves to be a viable material. These are quantities that we can accommodate with the current basin capacity. If necessary, we can proceed with the construction of the basins faster than the current plan, Torbjörn Witting states.
Analcime is a mineral of the zeolite group. Up to 290,000 tons of analcime sand are produced annually.
– We are intensifying our sales and marketing efforts for both this by-product and the actual product, lithium hydroxide. We are continuing discussions with several potential customers about the utilization of the by-product. If a use for all the analcime sand is not immediately found, the excess analcime sand is intended to be placed in the Hoikkaneva final repository in Kaustinen, which will be built in stages. The environmental permit procedure for the Hoikkaneva final repository is currently in the consultation phase, says Keliber’s CEO Hannu Hautala.
Keliber’s goal is to be the first integrated lithium hydroxide producer to manufacture battery-grade lithium hydroxide from its own mined ore.
The port of Kokkola is Finland’s largest bulk port, the largest rail port and the number one port for the extractive industry. The Kokkola port complex consists of three independently operating ports: General Port, Deep Port and Silverstone Port.
The types of goods are separated into different parts of the port, allowing them to be handled without different types of goods interfering with each other.
The port began operations in Ykspihlaja in 1825 on the site where the General Port is now located. The General Port is known for its AWT terminal, where ships can be unloaded and loaded indoors, sheltered from the weather.
The General Port handles general cargo and light bulk cargo, such as limestone and fertilizer raw materials. A special terminal has been tailored for light bulk cargo with efficient rail car unloading equipment and conveyors. The General Port handles in particular general cargo, most of which is sawn timber, zinc and big bags.
The General Port has approximately 48 000 square meters of storage capacity for light bulk and general cargo.
Finland lives off exports, of which over 90 percent is by sea. The port of Kokkola is one of the largest ports in our country, with a wide variety of goods passing through its three ports.
The construction of the port of Kokkola on the site of the current General Port began two centuries ago, when the then merchants Anders Roos the Younger and Anders Donner received land donated by the city for the storage of export goods.
– Even today, our role is primarily to act as an enabler. In order for companies in Kokkola, Central Finland and elsewhere in the port’s area to employ, grow and succeed in international markets, they need efficient port logistics that support the competitiveness of companies, says Torbjörn Witting, CEO of Port of Kokkola Ltd.
One example of the port of Kokkola’s enabling role is the Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP), a large industrial area located in the immediate vicinity of the port. The area is home to numerous top international companies, whose raw materials and products are unloaded and loaded in the adjacent port. In addition to local large-scale industry and retail, Port of Kokkola’s long-
In addition to light bulk handling and container traffic, the Silverstone Port serves the needs of wind power construction, among other things.
The Deep Port serves as an import port for raw materials used by industry. Its construction began in 1985. The deep sea channel leading to the Port of Kokkola has a draft of 14.2 meters, which allows the Deep Port to be used by real ocean giants, i.e. Panamax and Capesize vessels.
Large ships and large quantities of goods require an efficient loading and unloading system. Processing speed is provided by efficient port cranes and modern conveyor systems, which enable a loading and unloading capacity of up to 40,000 tons per day. For customers, this means cost-effective port logistics.
The Deep Port is tailored for dark bulk. Different varieties of dark bulk are separated from each other, for example with high windbreaks, and each variety also has its own terminals.
term customers include the extractive industry in Central Finland.
GREEN TRANSITION investments have taken on an increasingly important role in the traffic of the port of Kokkola in recent years. Among other things, the power plant components of Finland’s largest onshore wind farm have passed through the port of Kokkola.
– Several significant green transition investments are underway in Kokkola. The port is also of key importance in these investments. The port, and its ability to efficiently and flexibly serve various customer needs, is one factor that makes Kokkola attractive to investors. Maritime logistics is also the most important route for both raw materials and products in green transition projects, says Jonne Sandberg, Development Director of the City of Kokkola.
According to Torbjörn Witting, the role of the port of Kokkola as an enabler is based on long-term work. Over the past 40 years, two new ports have been built in Kokkola, expanding out to sea, so there are now three ports in total. The port logistics areas in use total approximately 110 hectares and the areas under development approximately 120 hectares These can quickly be converted into port logistics areas that will operate according to customer needs.
– Our principle is to make annual investments in port logistics, according to our capabilities, on the principle that if you do something every year, you can achieve a lot over ten years, says Witting.
The newest of the ports is Silverstone Port, which is expanding out to sea with new port fields. Construction of Silverstone Port out to sea began in 2009. Silverstone Port is becoming the second deep-sea port of the port of Kokkola to serve, for example, container transport, light bulk handling and project transport. Two Gottwald port cranes will bring efficiency to project lifting. The newest of these has a capacity of 150 tonnes and the cranes’ combined lifting capacity is 220 tonnes.
The layout of Silverstone Port is excellent for the wind power industry, for example. The strong growth in container traffic is being accelerated by the STS gantry crane that was put into operation in January. The crane, nicknamed Mörkö, significantly speeds up container handling.
A 3D image of the KIP area, which is approximately 700 hectares in total. On the left are the three harbours of the Port of Kokkola: General Port, Silverstone Port and Deep Port.
”The port enables efficient export and
Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP), Northern Europe’s largest concentration of inorganic chemical industry and metal processing, turns 80 this year. For KIP’s manufacturing companies, the port of Kokkola is a vital gateway to the world.
The large industrial area, which initially included the Kemira and Outokumpu factories, has grown over 80 years into a major international player in its field. Production in the large industrial area began in 1945, when the production facilities of the state-owned Sulfuric Acid and Superphosphate Factories Ltd., later known as the Kemira factories, were put into operation. Outokumpu started in the area in 1962 with a sulphur factory and power plant.
Manufacturing companies have spawned an extensive network of service companies around them. Services include maintenance and design services, real estate and premises services, ICT services, contracting and project services, electrical work services, and security services.
KIP’s current corporate structure is largely the result of the subsequent spin-off of Kemira and Outokumpu into new companies. There are also a number of completely new entrants to the area, such as gas company Woikoski, clean hydrogen and solid carbon producer Hycamite TCH Technologies, and Sibanye-Stillwater,
which is currently building the Keliber lithium refinery in the KIP area.
The city of Kokkola has been and continues to be a key player in the large industrial area, if only because city-owned players such as Port of Kokkola, Kokkola Energy and Kokkola Industrial Water are an important part of the KIP entity.
KIP ACTORS continue the strong development of the area.
– The vision of our latest strategy is “the world’s most functional industrial ecosystem.” The vision refers to KIP’s unique industrial symbiosis, where companies efficiently utilize each other’s sidelines, energy, and services. Collaboration between people is also a key part of the ecosystem. Companies, educational organizations, authorities and service providers work closely together, sharing expertise, resources and development projects, says Kaisa Kaapo, Executive Director of the Kokkola Industrial Park Association.
On a global scale, KIP is located quite far from raw material and finished product markets, meaning that raw materials and products are transported over long distances. What explains the competitiveness of KIP’s manufacturing companies in international markets?
– Competitiveness is based primarily on the companies’ specialized expertise in chemistry and metal processing, as well as efficient logistics, especially
• Area size 700 hectares
• A total of about 80 companies
• Manufacturing companies 16–19
• Approximately 60 service companies
• Turnover approximately 2.7 billion euros
through the port of Kokkola. Competitiveness is also brought about by the synergy benefits between KIP companies, high automation and process technology, and strong export orientation. Most of the production goes to international markets, Kaapo states.
A WIDE VARIETY of products arrive and depart from around the world through the port of Kokkola, to serve the needs of companies in the large industrial area.
Kaisa Kaapo cites examples such as Boliden Kokkola’s zinc production, where the necessary raw materials are imported through the Deep Port, from where the final products are shipped out to the rest of the world, and Umicore’s battery and catalyst materials, whose components are transported through the adjacent port.
According to Kaapo, the role of the port is absolutely essential.
– The KIP area would never have developed in Kokkola without a strong port. The port enables efficient export and import of even large flows of goods all year round, she emphasizes.
According to the executive director, the future of KIP also looks strong.
– New investments are planned for the region, circular economy solutions are continuing to develop, and the need for labour is increasing.
And what kind of greetings does Kaisa Kaapo send to Port of Kokkola, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary?
– Congratulations! You have been and continue to be a vital part of KIP’s success story. Let’s continue together towards the next 200 years.
– The port is a vital part of KIP’s success story.
KAISA KAAPO
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE KOKKOLA INDUSTRIAL PARK ASSOCIATION
Kaisa Kaapo works as the executive director of the Kokkola Industrial Park Association.
The world’s first biorefinery utilizing brown algae will be built in Kokkola. The wet brown algae will be packed into big bags and containers in the country of origin, after which the biofeedstock will be transported to the port of Kokkola and from there to a nearby biorefinery.
Finnish green chemical industry startup Origin by Ocean and chemical contract manufacturer CABB Group operating in Kokkola Industrial Park have agreed on a strategic cooperation, through which the companies will build the first commercial-scale biorefinery of its kind in Kokkola.
Port of Kokkola operates as part of Origin by Ocean’s raw material chain, as brown algae found in the Caribbean is brought to the port in containers, from where it ultimately ends up at the biorefinery for processing.
Approximately 4,000 tons of raw material are brought to the refinery annually.
– The Origin by Ocean team has driven the project forward with incredible energy. It is great that we are able to enable such an advanced circular economy solution, which also focuses on cleaning the sea, which is the shared workplace of our port community, says Anssi Martinmäki, Commercial Manager at Port of Kokkola.
ORIGIN BY OCEAN’s CEO Mari Granström describes the importance of Port of Kokkola to the company’s business as enormous.
– We are really excited about our partnership also because Port of Kokkola has some really great people working for it. Right from the start, they asked us to tell them what our needs were so they could develop a solution for them. I have also never experienced such flexibility anywhere else as things have progressed with Port of Kokkola, says Granström.
Seagrass beds have grown to harmful proportions in areas such as the Caribbean and West Africa, where they produce up to 40 million tons of biomass per year. Origin by Ocean aims to turn this environmental disaster into an industrial solution for the chemical industry.
– As our partnership with CABB begins and we prepare to build a biorefinery in Kokkola, we are also planning more refineries in the Caribbean, closer to the brown algae blooms. In the future, we plan to utilize locally grown brown algae as raw material for the Finnish biorefinery, Granström says.
The biorefinery processes brown algae into highly refined bio-based chemicals, such as alginate and fucoidan. They are suitable for the cosmetics, detergent and textile industries, among others. The biomass residue generated in the process can also be utilized, for example, in agriculture.
The refinery to be built in Kokkola is planned to be in full production by 2028.
– I have also never experienced such flexibility anywhere else as things have progressed with Port of Kokkola.
MARI GRANSTRÖM CEO ORIGIN BY OCEAN
Origin by Ocean’s CEO Mari Granström praises Port of Kokkola’s flexibility and willingness to find solutions to customer needs.
The start in May of iron oxide transports from Yara’s Siilinjärvi mill is reflected in increased rail traffic at the port. Iron oxide is mainly transported from the port of Kokkola as a raw material for the steel industry.
Port of Kokkola Ltd and Yara Suomi Oy signed an agreement earlier this year for the transportation of iron oxide from Yara Siilinjärvi. The agreement is for 4 years, with two additional one-year options.
Iron oxide shipments have been 250,000–300,000 tons in the past couple of years, but according to Yara’s estimate, the shipment volumes may double, depending on the market situation.
Iron oxide transported from Yara’s Siilinjärvi plants is unloaded from train wagons at the Deep Port of Kokkola.
The Finnish Ports Association’s Port Days will be held in Kokkola on 18-19 September. The Port Days celebrate the 200th anniversary of Port of Kokkola. The Port Days brings together experts, partners and
The customized port infrastructure with its tracks and production machinery enables efficient handling of iron oxide in the Deep Port. Thanks to the deep sea channel, iron oxide can also be loaded into the largest Panamax and Cape Size vessels operating in Finland. An essential part of the supply chain are the port operators Rauanheimo in Kokkola and Valtavirta in Siilinjärvi, as well as VR Transpoint.
Iron oxide is a by-product of Yara’s Siilinjärvi plants. It is formed when pyrite from the Pyhäsalmi mine is burned in the sulfuric acid production.
decision-makers from the port sector. During the days, presentations by expert will be heard on topics such as the impact of economics and geopolitics on port operations, the electrification and digitalization of ports, and the diversity goals of the ports.
There will also be themed discussions and a workshop that will delve into the practical issues of port operations. Naturally, participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a tour in the port and visit the photo exhibition about the port’s 200-year history on display at Kallentori.
Port of Kokkola employs just under 30 people in various positions. Although most of the work remains invisible behind the locked gates of the port, its effects are also reflected outside the port. Ben Huukkala works as a port supervisor, responsible for ensuring that ships dock safely and on time.
WhenHuukkala arrives for work, the course of the day is determined by the shipping traffic. The most important job is to ensure that incoming ships are moored and outgoing ships are unmoored. Of course, the work day includes much more.
– The best thing is the variety of the work. In this job, I get to use common sense and plan the content of the working day the way I want, if there are no specific tasks coming from outside. As an all-rounder, I might, for example, cut grass or fix a car, Huukkala describes.
Ben Huukkala started working as a port supervisor in February, but he has been familiar with the port landscape for a long time. Before his current position, he worked as a deckhand for years.
The man applied for a job at Port of Kokkola in search of better pay and flexible working hours. While working as a deckhand, the father of small children could be away from home for days on end. The twoshift work of a port supervisor means that he can always go home after a working day.
BEN HUUKKALA enjoys working in a job where he gets to work with his hands and solve problems on his own.
– The work is very independent. No one directs what I do, but I plan the course of the day myself based on what is happening in shipping traffic and where help is needed.
The work is physical and is done outdoors, regardless of the weather.
– Sometimes in the freezing winter weather I won-
der if working indoors might be a better option. But on the other hand, I’ve never felt comfortable in an office and I like working with my hands.
According to Huukkala, Port of Kokkola offers a great work community. The new employee has been well received and the colleagues are helpful and cheerful.
– There’s an absolutely great team here and that’s one of the main reasons why it’s nice to come here every day. Here you can banter a little with the others and get it back right away, and no one takes it personally, the man laughs.
PORT OF KOKKOLA is one of the most significant industrial ports in Finland. Well over 600 ships visit the
port annually. The number varies daily, but on the busiest days there may be as many as four ships in the same day.
The vessels are 100-300 meters long and special attention must be paid to occupational safety when mooring them.
– When moving around the quay area, you must always wear a life jacket and helmet. The biggest risk is falling into the water or the rope breaking. You have to know what you’re doing here, because you’re dealing with enormous forces, Huukkala explains.
Safety is also important when moving around in the port area. You can only move around in a vehicle, so there is no risk of being run over by a wheeled vehicle or locomotive, for example.
– In addition to wearing the proper equipment and following the rules, experience, caution and common sense can also go a long way in safety matters, Huukkala concludes.
”When working at the port, safety is the most important thing in every situation,” says Ben Huukkala.
The STS container gantry crane, which was brought into operation by Port of Kokkola at the beginning of this year, is accelerating the growth of container traffic in Silverstone Port, where container traffic is currently concentrated. Marko Anttila, known from the Finnish national ice hockey team, served as master of ceremonies when the rugged STS crane was named “Mörkö” after the ice hockey legend’s nickname, in connection with Kokkola Container Day.
-Ithoughtthey do come up with everything, but I accepted the task gladly. It is a privilege to bring good cheer and meet new people, Marko Anttila smiled as he prepared for the ceremony surrounded by Kokkola Container Day’s guests.
– Container ships are getting bigger, so the STS crane we purchased is an excellent fit for this development, says Torbjörn Witting, CEO of Port of Kokkola Ltd, about the crane investment.
The STS crane significantly speeds up container handling and thus container ship turnaround times in the port. At the same time, the capacity of the two multi-purpose Gottwald cable cranes at Port of Kokkola is freed up for project lifting and, for example, wind power transport needs. One Gottwald is still in use as additional capacity for handling large container
Marko Anttila (2nd left) with Port of Kokkola CEO Torbjörn Witting, City Mayor
Stina Mattila and Port of Kokkola Board Chairman Jorma Kauppila.
ships, and the Gottwalds also act as backup cranes for the Mörkö crane when necessary.
CONTAINER TRAFFIC at Port of Kokkola increased by over 30 percent in 2024, and growth has continued at over 80 percent compared to the previous year.
Wallenius Sol’s Enabler container ships have been operating to Kokkola weekly since 2021 on the Zeebrugge–Antwerp–Travemünde route. At the beginning of this year, the same shipping company’s Peyton Lynn C and Perseus container ships began operating on the Kokkola, Rotterdam and Antwerp route.
The largest customer base for container traffic is the large industry in Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP). Other customers include local retail and the extractive industry operating elsewhere in Finland. The latest industry to show interest in container transport via the port of Kokkola is the mechanical forest industry.
– Port of Kokkola has long and systematically created the conditions for the growth of container traffic. In addition to crane capacity, we have extensive port fields for empty containers as well as for loaded import and export containers, Torbjörn Witting states.
– I thought they do come up with everything, but I accepted the task gladly.