Integrating Small and Medium-Sized Ports Into Green Shipping Corridors: A Case Study of Sillamäe-Kotka Ferry Line

The green transition remains a top priority on the European agenda, with targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The European transport sector contributes approximately 20% of total CO₂ emissions, strongly necessitating the need for sustainable transport solutions, so that the assessment of the maritime transport system is considered beyond time and costs to include environmental issues and regional development.

This research examines the potential environmental impact of a newly proposed ferry connection between Eastern Finland and Eastern Estonia, focusing on its role in advancing sustainable transport in the region. The study combines case studies, expert interviews, and survey data collected as part of an ongoing EU project between 2023 and 2025. The findings indicate that by 2030, the Sillamäe-Kotka ferry route could reduce annual CO₂ emissions by over 51 million tonnes, which would be a substantial contribution to regional decarbonization, enhanced freight and passenger transport efficiency, and alignment with the International Maritime Organization’s emission reduction targets. At the same time, this research highlights how maritime connectivity can contribute to a just transition process in Estonia’s Ida-Viru County, a region severely affected by the downturn in the oil shale industry, by facilitating new green economic opportunities, regional labour mobility, and sustainable tourism.