Ferry and logistics operator, Finnlines has introduced a new Green Lane sea transportation service.
This combines sustainability with efficient freight carriage.
There are two options for new low emission shipments – electricity or biofuels.
Green Lane shipments will provide customers with an opportunity to meet increasingly stringent environmental requirements and to achieve ambitious energy saving targets.
The 100% electricity powered shipments are available on the Naantali/Kapellskär route, which is operated by Finnlines’ latest hybrid ropaxes, ‘Finnsirius’ and ‘Finncanopus’.
The ships’ 5 MWh batteries are charged with onshore power while berthed, and the energy is utilised at sea to replace fossil fuel, thus enabling green transportation for certain freight units.
”Our utmost goal is to reduce emissions and we are already seeing concrete results. With the introduction of our new vessels, ‘Finnsirius’ and ‘Finncanopus’, we have entered the hybrid era and can now offer our customers even more efficient and sustainable sea transport services.
“Although the cargo capacity of the vessels operating on the Naantali/Kapellskär route has increased significantly, absolute carbon dioxide emissions per nautical mile have decreased by 22%,” said Antonio Raimo, Finnlines’ Line Manager.
The other Green Lane option utilises biofuels derived from renewable sources.
This service is available on shortsea shipping routes, which are of prime importance for the security of supplies in the Baltic Sea region, ie Naantali/Kapellskär, Malmö/Travemünde, Malmö/ Świnoujście and Hanko/Gdynia.
By choosing the biofuel option, Finnlines replaces the amount of fossil fuel needed for the voyage with biofuel.
Use of biofuels can reduce well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%, compared with conventional fossil fuels, the company claimed.
”We want to offer our customers concrete solutions to help them achieve their de-carbonisation targets.
“Both solutions ensure low emissions – for example using biofuel can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 700 kg per a trailer on the Hanko/Gdynia route,” added Merja Kallio-Mannila, Finnlines’ Commercial Director.
The Green Lane will also available for passengers on Finnlines’routes – Naantali/Långnäs/Kapellskär, Helsinki/Travemünde, Malmö/Travemünde and Malmö/Świnoujście.
If passengers choose this option, Finnlines will consume renewable biofuels to replace the corresponding volume of fossil fuels and the emissions per passenger on the route will decline.
Finnlines said it had invested massively in enhancing energy efficiency and renewal of its fleet. For example, during the last two decades, the company has ordered or purchased 20 vessels. The total investment has been nearly €2 bill.
In order to renew and upgrade its fleet, Finnlines has ordered three new methanol-powered vessels, which are due to operate on the Helsinki/Travemünde route in 2028/2029.
”In April we announced of a new investment programme, which consists of three methanol-powered ropax vessels to enter the route between Finland and Germany.
“These new and previous investments will enable us to offer our customers fossil-free freight transportation. This has raised great interest and we are confident that the demand will grow in the future,” explained Finnlines’ President and CEO, Thomas Doepal.
The low-carbon Green Lane was launched for both freight customers and passengers on 22nd May, 2025.
