Since the traffic to the Russian ports on the Baltic Sea has increased greatly over the last few years, Russia’s icebreaking capability can no longer meet demand in severe winter conditions. Russia and Finland have thus entered into an agreement focus of which is to promote cooperation in icebreaking assistance in the Baltic Sea by letting Finnish icebreakers provide assistance in Russian territorial waters, and vice versa. The assistance is provided under a commercial agreement, which defines, inter alia, a compensation system and individual conditions of assistance.
Partner Matti Komonen from Hammarström Puhakka Partners, Attorneys Ltd, has written an article on the agreement. The update titled “Icebreaking services agreement with Russia comes into force” has been published in the International Law Office’s newsletter.
