The Kvarken Multimodal Link project officially launched in Umeå

Press release December 17th 2013

The aim of the Kvarken Multimodal Link project is to update and reassert the traffic across Kvarken, and a well-functioning and reliable ship plays naturally a big part in this. Another aim with the project is to plan and develop a new ship that will sail across Kvarken. The cities of Vaasa and Umeå are responsible for the project and in October the project was granted funding from the European commission.

The project´s official launching event was held in Umeå on December 17th. Those present were main partners in cooperation and organizations that support the project. Also representatives from the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications and Swedish Näringsdepartementet were present.

– This shows that the project has a high priority status on the national level. Even a representative from TENEA, the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency, Project Manager Jaroslaw Kotowski participated. He wanted to experience the launch of such a fascinating project personally. We are much honored to receive him, so that he can explore the harbours of Vaasa and Umeå, their infrastructure and of course the ship that currently operates across Kvarken, notes the Director of Kvarken Council Mathias Lindström.

– In EU the project is considered interesting, because the local industry wants to play an unusually active part in the project. The border-crossing collaboration within the project runs smoothly, when two countries are carrying out a joint cause. By combining the environmentally friendly innovations within seafaring with new materials, and the testing of those in an inspiring environment, the project is able to generate additional value on the EU-level, Lindström continues.  

– Also many representatives from the Vaasa region’s industry participated, because they see the project as a brilliant opportunity to bring forth their own seafaring innovations that could be of use in the Kvarken traffic. By tradition the companies have been each other’s rivals. Now they want to cooperate, since they are given a chance to introduce their own innovations and new techniques to their home region, says Logistics Expert Riitta Björkenheim from VASEK.

The program of the day included looking over the project strategy, hearing what EU´s expectations for the project are, getting to know the structure of the project organization and the organization’s communication plan, as well as scheduling upcoming actions and responsibilities. The common goals of the project were also discussed.

For more information about the project

For more information

Kvarken Council
Director Mathias Lindström
+358 (0)50 918 6462
mathias.lindstrom@kvarken.org

City of Vaasa
Mayor Tomas Häyry
+358 40 540 5412
tomas.hayry@vaasa.fi