Former services to Russia re-assigned
Finnlines is no longer serving Russian ports. On 9 March 2022, it decided to unilaterally interrupt its traffic to Russia, although it was not legally obliged to do so. Thus, the holding Grimaldi Group, which operates these routes through Finnlines, cut four services to Russia from Spain, Belgium, UK and Germany. Four vessels were affected, all Finnish flagged with a total cargo capacity of 16,000 line metres. Meanwhile, they have all been re-assigned to other intra-EU services.
The last call of Finnlines vessels in Russia was performed on 7 March, and the suspension was announced on 9 March. Moreover, as from 3 March, Finnlines granted free transportation on its passenger-freight vessels to Ukrainians leaving their homeland due to the ongoing war.
In the Mediterranean, Grimaldi is cooperating in the free transport of hundreds of Ukrainian children and families to hosting regions in the West Mediterranean. Finnlines and the Grimaldi Group companies are also offering several zero and near-to-zero sea freight transports to forwarders bringing aid to Ukrainian refugees in Eastern Europe. (sh)