Page 30 - Port of Kokkola Handbook & Directory

TOWAGE“Most of our tugs are out in service on a daily basis, which keeps us busy, and we now employ18 staff.”Jani Hannula, Manager, Oy Yxpila Hinaus-Bogsering Abport from a distance of three nautical miles outside of Kokkola. State-run icebreakers from the Finnish Maritime Association keep Baltic channels open before handing over duties to Jani’s tugs which take over at geographicalpoints leading into the port.The harshest period for sea-ice atThe company’s original founder Mauri has now retired from active service with the company but remains a board member. “He also likes to drop in to see tug crews from time to time and have a cup of coffee with them,” says Jani. “You could say that he likes to keep an eye on things. In reality, he finds it hard to stay away from his beloved tugs.” l28 PORT OF KOKKOLA HANDBOOK & DIRECTORYKokkola is usually December-May although the port has not been totally closed because of poor weather since the 1960s, thanks to Jani’s tugs, someof which have been designed to rise above the water line and drop down again on top of sea ice to create channels wide enough to allow vessels to pass through without damage or delay.Oy Yxpila Hinaus-Bogsering Ab