Page 34 - Port of Kokkola Handbook & Directory

PORT INVESTMENTSInvestments in the harbour’s quays and the port’s deep access channel have resulted in considerable savings for clients.Port of Kokkola has been recognised as one of the strongest companies in Finland with a certificate only awarded to organisations obtaining a high- rating ‘Alfa’ credit classification.The certificate is presented to every tenth company in Finland by Suomen Asiakastieto Oy, one of Finland’s leading providers of data services for corporate management, financial and administration organisations.A ‘Strongest in Finland’ certificate recognises an organisation’s powerful influence in the Finnish economy both now and in the future.It is a sign of a company’s positive financial figures, background information and good payment behaviour. The certificate informs customers, partners and other stakeholders that co-operation with the company is on a firm foundation.40 and 50-ton cranes and advanced transport conveyor systems offer fast handling speeds making daily loading and discharging rates of up to 40,000 tons possible. The Deep Port’s methods used for loading vessels is unique in Finland.Nearly €0.9 million was invested in the General Port in 2015, a further €1.3 million in 2016 and €1 million in 2017. The money was spent to install new rail tracks, build warehouses and lay new asphalt surfaces around much of the port’s exterior infrastructure. A further €1 million has been allocated to the General Port’s 2018 investment programme.Like other municipality-owned seaports, in 2015 Port of Kokkola was ‘corporatised’ and now competes on the same terms as private companies by paying taxes of 20% on profits and 24% in VAT directly to the government. The port is now a limited company owned by the City of Kokkola and takes care of its own accounting, payroll, payments and tax transactions. These tasks were previously handled by City Hall in Kokkola. lUp to 1,100 m of new quay extensions, 26.4 hectares of new field areas, 35,000 m2 of new covered€1.3 million was spent in the Silverstone Port in 2015, mostly to reclaim land from the sea, construct32PORT OF KOKKOLA HANDBOOK & DIRECTORYwarehousing facilities and covered conveyor systems have now been constructed, and seven cranes – of which the largest are 50-ton Capesize cranes – have been installed to serve the loading and discharging of vessels using the Deep Port.Work to install a new fixed flexible conveyor system in the Deep Port commences in 2018. The plans have already been drawn up and construction tenders sent out in 2017. The system will take the best part of one year to install and be fully operational by 2019.new port docking facilities and provide further warehousing. A further €3.4 million was allocated in 2016 to build more embankments and lay new double track rail lines into the port. In 2017 €0.8 million was paid for the first stage of a project to extend the Silverstone harbour by a further 50 hectares. The project will take five years to complete. €0.7 million will be spent on further investments in the Silverstone Port in 2018.€13.9 million will be allocated to other capital projects and purchasing additional equipment for all three harbours in 2018. Dredging the port fairway will be financed by the port (€6 million) and the rest from government funds (€37 million).©Merius Oy