Central Baltic Small Port Projects

The SmartPort project aimed at improving the network of harbors with the focus on communication technology and information. Therefore, the project invested in modern technology and implemented higher services offered by small ports in order to increase their visibility with the aim of doubling their number of visitors in the Central Baltic area.

The main outcomes of the project has been including the creation of a cross-country interactive information system for small ports, improving services in 16 small ports in four countries, doubling the number of foreign visitors by the sea by 2020, improving the safe navigation and docking services in the small ports as well as the environmental protection and pollution prevention services. More information on the project can be accessed by the link below:

http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/32

Masapo project’s main theme was development of Maritime Safety in the Small Ports in the Baltic Sea Region, Programme Specific Objective: Improved services of existing small ports to improve local and regional mobility and contribute to tourism development, sub-programme: Archipelago and Island. 

As a summary, the project MASAPO aimed to develop maritime safety in small ports in the Baltic Sea Region. The project tackled the lack of information about small ports and safety services in Estonia and Åland. The project developed cooperation between small ports in Estonia and Åland islands to provide better information about the ports and their safety services. The project involved pilot voluntary maritime rescue organizations and used their international experience in developing and implementing higher safety standards in the ports for tourists and local habitants.

In practice, the project jointly surveyed and mapped the current safety situation in the participating small ports and made development plans for the needed investments. The project had research and trained volunteers and local service providers in the pilot ports to have the necessary skills for preventive activities and for participation in rescue operations.

As a result of the project, the pilot small ports in Estonian and Åland islands had tight cooperation with four local voluntary maritime rescue organizations like members of Estonian Voluntary Maritime Rescue Organization and stations of Åland island Lifeboat Society. Partners jointly designed a basic safety quality sign, and the safety services have improved. Through these improvements, the number of visitors on the islands is expected to increase as higher safety standards improve reliability and attract more visitors to the region.

MASAPO raised maritime safety in coastal areas and small ports. The targeted areas included western Estonia and the Åland archipelago. Increased maritime safety was achieved through training, and increased capacity of voluntary maritime rescue organizations. Additionally, infrastructure development took place and rescue equipment (rescue boats, personal safety equipment and so on) was purchased in selected small ports. The trainings and rescue exercises were organized together by project partners. The infrastructure development and purchases supported the training and helped achieve long-term commitment to be part of voluntary marine rescue.

In total, conditions, rescue capacity, and the service level were improved in eight small ports on Estonian islands (Kõrgessaare, Kärdla, Lõunaranna, Kuressaare, Soela, Suaru) and on Åland islands (Rödhamn, Kasterholm).

To make the developed small ports more accessible, the project published an application that allows to “View your marinas of interest virtually in beautiful 360°-panoramas”. The project created an app available to download on Google Play Store.

At a glance, the project increased maritime safety in coastal areas and small ports, improved eight small ports and created long-term commitment to voluntary marine rescue.

Available links for more information on the project:

http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/41

LEAD PARTNER:
Hiiu Vallavalitsus, Estonia (www.hiiuvald.ee)

PROJECT PARTNERS:
Alands Sjöräddningssällskap r.f, Finland (www.sjoraddningen.ax)

30MILES CBInterreg project (2015-2018) aimed at improving the service level as well as the safety of both small ports and waterfront in the Eastern Gulf of Finland. The project included several investments related to the infrastructure of the small ports, the creation of a network for the small ports and a route risk analysis concerning that particular area. In the project, 12 different ports as well as 12 different project partners, both from Finland and Estonia, were involved in the project.

The work done during the project was based on data collection and background work that included surveys that aimed at mapping the sustainable behaviors, actions and thoughts of the small ports located in the Gulf of Finland. This analysis was combined with literature review and produced a report. The report and a scientific manuscript, not only include a route map to reach sustainable port operation, but also a list of recommendation on how to achieve long-term sustainable goals in the small ports. Moreover, 30MILES created an investment planning tool for sustainable small ports. The tool is based on the understanding gained and data collected during the project, concerning the aspects of sustainability in the small port context. A user manual and the model code are published on the project website and are free for anyone to use. Finally, example of routes between 30MILES harbors, Approach videos to 30MILES harbors, Safe Harbor video course, Small Harbor safety review and Eastern Gulf of Finland boating risk analysis were created. 

All the materials produced in the 30MILES project can be read and uploaded from below links:

http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/17

http://30miles.info/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0hDPOZXMUxd51l0CA9noJg/search?query=30miles

‘PortMate – safe and resource efficient small ports in Finland, Åland and Sweden’ project was implemented between November 2016 and December 2019. Lead partner of the project was Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK), and other partners were from Municipality of Rauma from Finland, Municipality of Sottunga and Havspaviljongen from Åland and Municipalities of Gävle and Söderhamn from Sweden. Themes of the project were boating safety and resource efficiency of the small ports. Nine different small ports had investments from the project including On-grid and off-grid PV systems, port safety equipment, LED lightings and new service buildings. As other final outcomes, tens of videos of safe port approach, boating safety and resource efficiency and several other documents and publication were produced. All produced material were gathered in a final product, PortMate Web app.

PortMate Web app is an information source for boaters and small port managers who wish to know more about boating safety and resource efficiency and green values of the small ports. Portmate.eu offers boaters practical guidance on how to sail safely. For small port managers and developers there is information on how to develop their port to be safer and more resource efficient. Material related to the themes of boating safety and resource efficiency of small ports is gathered in the Portmate.eu under related menus. For more information on the project, there are links mentioned below:

http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/66

https://www.portmate.eu/

FamilyPorts is a network of guest ports, whose operations are based not only on environmental friendliness and sustainable development, but also on the comfort of families. The project’s goal was to make a joint architectural vision for small ports in Nagu, Dalsbruk, Lickershamn and Ronehamn, to address the need for high-quality, green, functional and accessible services. In the project all four ports were planned to have family friendly service buildings and to invest in environmentally friendly technology and joint marketing.

As a summary on the results of the project in different ports, it can be mentioned that in Finland port of Nagu a service building with a family sauna and a separate dish washing station were constructed, and elected boat chargers were bought. In Finland port of Dalsbruk a service building, electricity system, solar panels and boat charger were installed. In Sweden port of Ronehamn the original time schedule had to be changed, but in the end all planned investments were implemented. A new service building was built, including solar panels. In Sweden port of Lickershamn the service building was renewed, and a sanitation building was built, according to plan. Solar panels were installed as well as a module for automatic check-in was installed.

FamilyPorts website was made to boost the marketing of the ports taking part to the project. Links for more information are mentioned below:

http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/50

https://www.familyports.fi/en

‘Sustainable Gateways – Small ports – sustainable gateways to coastal national parks’. The Sustainable Gateways (SG) project developed small ports located in the national parks and nature reserves of the Finnish and Swedish outer archipelagos. With the project´s support, these seven small ports became more sustainable and attractive gateway destinations for boaters and worked as showcases of sustainable and customer-oriented harbor management. The project’s focus was on increasing environmental sustainability, customer satisfaction and port operators’ business knowledge. Environmental sustainability in the ports concerned mostly preserving nature and providing better opportunities for environmental protection. Investments implemented at ports were directly related to environmental protection, such as wastewater treatment, waste collection and improved sanitation or indirectly contributed to it.

More information on the project can be accessed via below links:

http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/94

Main themes of the SEASTOP project were modern ports in historic waters, improved services of existing small ports to improve local and regional mobility and contribute to tourism development (as programme specific objectives) as well as sub-programme of the project (Archipelago and islands).

SEASTOP enabled infrastructure investment in 18 small ports in the Stockholm/Åland/Turunmaa archipelago. The main common challenge was to develop and broaden tourism and overnight stays by upgrading the service levels in the ports.

In order to make ports more attractive to visitors, these challenges were addressed by the various work packages. The work packages were based on the assessment of the visitor requirements that had been carried out in workshops with all local port operators through a bottom-up process. Priority was given to the most needed investments, taking into account the Central Baltic programme target values and result indicators. The cross-border approach enabled the members to develop joint marketing and joint upgraded standards of quality for port services and safety. SEASTOP was related to the long joint history of the archipelago islands in the Central Baltic area. Many of the ports were traditional stopover places on the “King Valdemar’s sailing route” in the 13th century. SEASTOP was engaging five experienced and financially strong project partners and 21 existing small ports in Sweden, Finland, and the Åland islands. Apart from the partners, the Stockholm County Administrative Board, the Government of Åland, and the municipalities of Österåker and Norrtälje were co-financing the project.

The planned investments led to around 550 meters of new floating jetties and upgraded environmentally sustainable facilities, such as water, toilets, electricity, showers, saunas, boat toilet discharge systems, and waste recycling. The project was expected, amongst other things, to lead to the development of 300 new mooring places and new water and sewage systems. The investments transformed the participating ports into attractive stops and enhanced regional economy and mobility.

Project SEASTOP expected results in 18 small ports in Sweden and Åland/Finland with an extensive increased service level and thus, contributed to the increased share of Central Baltic small ports with good services.

The ports were:

• Sweden: Värmdö municipality: Svartsö, Harö, Stavsudda, Lökholmen, Kyrkviken/berg, Löka, Möjaström, Långvik outer port and Långvik inner port. Österåker municipality: Ingmarsö, Nässlinge and Husarö
• Åland Islands: Sjökvarteret, Bomarsund, Degerby and Lappo.
• Finland: Bromarv and Peterzéns.

Links to the more information on the project:

http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/77
https://seastop.se/

LEAD PARTNER:
Värmdö Kommun, Sweden (www.varmdo.se)

PROJECT PARTNERS:
Mariehamn stad, Finland (www.mariehamn.ax)
Företagsam skärgård, Finland (www.skargarden.ax)
Peterzéns OY, Finland (www.peterzéns.fi)
Bromarv Byaråd rf. Finland (www.bromarf.fi)

ASSOCIATED PARTNERS:
Skärgårdsstiftelsen, Sweden
Svenska Sjöräddningssällskapet, Sweden
Stockholms Sjögård, Sweden
Sveriges Segelfartygsförbund, Sweden

SmartMarina project was a three-years long Interreg Central Baltic project with the main theme of improving the services in the small ports as well as developing tourism in the Central Baltic area. The project was active for over three years from 2018 until 2021. 

The aim of the project was transforming harbors of the area into more modern and attractive ports with higher quality services. Therefore, the project was focusing on making the harbors more visitor-friendly for tourists including hikers, cyclists and families. The equipped services in the harbors during the project were including ship logs, laundry, modern mooring, dockside pedestals to provide electricity, etc.

The main focus of the SmartMarina project was improving the cost effectiveness and standards in the CB area guest marinas, providing environmentally friendly solutions and innovations for the marinas. This was done by renewing them, marketing of the marinas to help their international visibility and improving their profiles as well as promoting the ports, expanding the marinas’ services with the least impacts on the archipelago’s environment, providing high-quality services and smart solutions in order to improve the ports, reducing energy use by improving the energy efficiency solutions, providing information about the harbors as well as adding their web pages on the website.

Overall, SmartMarina was focusing on improving the 32 guest harbors including renovation and development of service houses, piers, booking services and environmental managements. All the materials produced in the project as well as its website can be accessed by links below:

http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/84
https://www.smartmarina.eu
https://www.instagram.com/smartmarina.eu/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClJ0GAGaD61Uk30D-LjmgQQ
https://www.facebook.com/smartmarina.eu

To provide boating tourists with better sewage collecting services, BATSECO-BOAT project aimed to improve the capacity and service level of latrine sewage collection in small boat ports in Estonia, Finland and Sweden. Within the project framework, a strategy containing cross-regional guidelines to inform decision-making on this issue was developed. Strategy is based on information about
i) institutional landscape and legislation, ii) traffic flow of leisure boats, iii) operation costs, iv) best available technology for waste handling, v) analysis of latrine sewage, and vi) estimation of sewage flows.

Digital tools and guidelines were developed, informing local investment and the three investment packages, leading to improved services in altogether twenty Central Baltic ports. An important project output was a document providing guidelines and lessons learnt, which can be used to replicate investments in other regions  as well. The project conducted also a scoping study to create a digital map, showing the network of functional sewage collection services. This map will facilitate cross-border mobility across the Central Baltic region.

http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/87

https://www.batseco-boat.eu

Lead Partner
Finland – University of Turku

Other partners
Finland – Keep the Archipelago Tidy
Sweden – Campus Roslagen
Sweden – Ecoloop AB
Sweden – Norrtälje Municipality
Estonia – Keep Estonian Sea Tidy
Estonia – Viimsi Municipality

The main objective of the INTROSERV project was to create the Trossi Service – a common maritime assistance service tool based on the experience of all Nordic countries and aimed at small boats. This service provide primary technical assistance to amatorial boaters – small repairs on location, the possibility to tow in the nearest harbour, and information about available facilities for larger repairs as required.

The model will initially be established in 10 Estonian and Finnish small ports and implemented by regional coordination centers in which local voluntary maritime rescue organizations will offer the technical assistance service in cooperation with the port operators. IT experts will develop the information system necessary for collecting and maintaining the data needed for operating the service. The project will engage all interested parties – government agencies, local municipalities, ports, yacht clubs, boat owners, and public interested in maritime activities. As a result, the cooperation between local small ports and maritime rescue organizations has significantly increased.  Links for more information on the project is mentioned below:

http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/123

In the Central Baltic area, several small ports and CB projects have made developing activities and investments regarding somewhat similar themes: safety, sustainability/resource efficiency and joint marketing. However, before a common platform for information and marketing was missing. CBSmallPorts gathered all the relevant information and all essential resources into one joint network. The aim was to collect the data of all the made investments and produced information for further marketing. Instead of different separate web apps, tools and websites, the project formulated a common online platform baticsmallports.eu that combines the information for different audiences, such as boaters, other small port service users and small ports owners and developers.

The main theme of the project was about climate friendly leisure time in small ports – with a focus on energy supply and its efficient use by both boaters and other small port users. During the project energy efficiency investments were made in 13 different small ports locating in Estonia, Finland and Sweden including investments such as solar power and smart lighting solutions.

Challenges such as short season, competition of people’s time and limited financial and skills resources for the port development, are faced by all small ports despite being located in different areas. That is why cross-border cooperation has been identified as the way to achieve the project goals. Links for more information on the project is mentioned below:

https://sub.samk.fi/projects/cb-small-ports/
https://www.balticsmallports.eu/

Lead Partner
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK), Finland

Other partners
University of Turku, Finland
Airiston Matkailukeskus, Finland
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK), Finland
Riga Planning Region, Latvia
Kurzeme Planning Region, Latvia
Municipality of Söderhamn, Sweden
Bläse Kalkbruk, Sweden
Small Ports Competence Center, Estonia 
Foundation Hiiumaa Harbours, Estonia
Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation – Associated Partner, Finland

The aim of Arc Gate project was to open the “gates” to maritime tourists who don’t have a boat or knowledge about the peculiar travel conditions that apply each day. The project aimed at increasing the service at these “gates” and to get the infrastructure in place so that tourists can find their destination without worrying about how to return home. In the framework of the Arc Gate project 13 travel hubs ”Service Points” in the Stockholm and Finnish Archipelago were identified. These service points are all connected to public transportation.

The main results at these 13 service points in the archipelago were better digital information about timetables and tourist  information including maps. The project results contribute to a more local, “green” tourist economy. All Arc Gate small ports (Dalsbruk, Kasnäs, Nagu, Pärnäs, Heponiemi, Galtby, Baggö, Sommaröstrand, Ekenäs, Sollenkroka, Möja, Årsta Brygga, Utö (Sweden)) will have digital information screens. Additionally, 8 solar powered flexible modules will be installed in the ports.

For more information see http://database.centralbaltic.eu/project/127