Finnish Ports Unable to Meet Timetable for New International Security Regulations

Finnish ports and harbours are reportedly unable to implement new international security regulations due to a lack of suitable gateways and other equipment.

Passage control systems were supposed to be ready by the beginning of October 2004, but the Finnish Marine Administration has had to make compromises on the start-up date.

Costs for the security measures were reportedly estimated to be some EUR1.0m for each of Finland's ports, while annual maintenance costs would total an average of EUR100,000.

Matti Aura, the managing director of the Finnish Ports Association, said that ports had welcomed the new regulations despite the high costs involved, reported the Finnish online news service of YLE24.

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