Fairway
Ships will reach the Vuosaari Harbour along a 32-kilometre fairway. It starts at the Helsinki lighthouse, like the fairway leading to the present harbours, and proceeds west of Itätoukki, Eestiluoto, Kuiva-Hevonen and Krokholmen, then between Pikku-Niinisaari and Mölandet to the new harbour.
Both fixed and floating safety equipment has been used to mark the fairway. Boards indicating the route have been located on the islands of Granlandet, Rönnhället and Mölandet. Farther out, the edges of the fairway have been marked with posts in shallows. Radar beacons have been built on Itätoukki and Länsitoukki. Buoys have been used between the north side of Eestiluoto and the harbour.
The fairway has a minimum width of 200 metres and a minimum depth of 12.5 metres and farther out 13.0 metres. This corresponds to a draught of 11.0 metres. Traffic will be in both directions except for a stretch of about 10 kilometres, which will have a meeting point for anchorage halfway. Ships less than 25 metres wide can pass each other in this stretch.
Construction of the fairway began in spring 2004. The new fairway was officially opened in January 2008. Regular traffic will begin in November 2008, when the harbour will go into full operation.
Traffic monitoring system for vessel traffic
Arriving and departing vessel traffic at the Vuosaari Harbour will be monitored in many ways. Special attention has been focused on the efficiency of the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system. The system will monitor ship movements as well as the condition of the fairway and safety equipment. The system can also be used to steer traffic and to give ships navigational assistance.
Barge traffic during construction
Crushed rock will be transported by barge between Hernesaari and the harbour during the open water season.
Vuosaari-Kalkkiranta 2-metre boating channel
The 2-metre boating channel that previously passed through the harbour area has been moved. The new channel has been approved and is now in use.
Main boating channel between Pihlajaluoto and Musta Hevonen
A new alternative channel has been built around the anchorage area in the Vuosaari fairway. Boaters can use this channel to go around the anchorage area safely if a ship is anchored in the area. The channel was opened and marked on 31 January 2007.
Look at maps!
FIGURES
Length 32 km
Minimum width 200 m
Draught 11 m
Cost estimate 11.7 million euros
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