Shipping & Logistics

Shipping & Logistics

The shipping and logistics business is in a cross sea of ever increasing competitive pressure and a shifting regulatory environment. This presents challenges for the logistics business, but also opportunities for agile and innovative operators.

Our practice is built on a century of serving our clients’ interests at the forefront of this international and multifaceted field. Today, we provide a comprehensive first-tier legal service regardless of whether you are a business that needs support in shipping and logistics issues or a shipping or logistics company that needs support in any field of business law.

We solve problems for major Finnish and foreign shipowners and cargo interests, logistics service providers, insurers as well as the marine industry. We are also Finnish legal correspondents for Nordisk Defence Club.

Latest references

Finnish Climate Fund – Junior financing to Meriaura for the expansion of low-carbon technologies in shipping
We assisted Finnish Climate Fund in junior financing to the shipping company Meriaura for their fleet renewal programme to support the adoption of low-carbon shipping solutions. Meriaura has commissioned two bio-oil-powered hybrid cargo ships with a tonnage of 6,750 from the Royal Bodewes Shipyard in the Netherlands. The ships can achieve emissions reductions of up to 98 % compared to traditional cargo ships powered by fossil fuels. In the emission-intensive freight industry, more efficient vessels powered by renewable fuels have the potential to lead the way to emissions reductions across the sector. Meriaura is a Turku-based maritime shipping company that specialises in the sea transportation of industrial products, raw materials as well as demanding special cargo. The company’s cargo ships operate in Europe, mainly in the Baltic and North Sea. The Finnish Climate Fund is a Finnish state-owned special-assignment company. Its operations focus on combating climate change, boosting low-carbon industry and promoting digitalisation. By the end of December 2023, the Climate Fund has made 24 investment decisions totalling 178.9 million euros.
Case published 26.6.2024
Excelerate Energy – Chartering an FSRU to Finland
We advised Excelerate Energy on the conclusion of a lease agreement with Gasgrid Finland Oy for the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) Exemplar. The Inkoo LNG terminal project will have a significant impact on securing the supply of gas to Finland and Estonia as imports of pipeline gas from Russia cease. The Exemplar is the first FSRU in Finland and the Inkoo LNG terminal project is legally unique. Moreover, the project, which is critical for Finland’s and the Baltics’ gas supply, was completed in an exceptionally short timeframe. Our experts assisted the company in a wide range of areas including contracts, energy legislation, licensing, labour law, taxation and structuring.
Case published 9.6.2023
VR Group – Acquisition of Recycling Logistics Specialist Transitar
We assisted VR Group in the acquisition of Transitar Oy, a transport company specialising in recycling logistics. The deal strengthens VR Transpoint’s position as an operator in circular economy logistics while expanding its road logistics service and transport network in the recycling industry segment. Transitar will continue its operations as its own company as part of VR Transpoint’s road logistics service area. ‘Investing in the circular economy provides significant support to our company’s sustainability programme. The circular economy is a growing trend that depends on functional logistics. Our goal is to offer comprehensive, competitive and flexible circular economy logistics services to enable our customers to succeed sustainably in their core businesses’, says Senior Vice President Martti Koskinen from VR Transpoint. Our team, which includes members from several practice areas, advised VR Group in all legal aspects of the acquisition and in drafting the transaction documentation. Transitar’s turnover is approximately EUR 16 million and the company is one of the largest Nordic companies specialised in recycled materials. The company operates 50 vehicles, 70 trailers and several hundred containers. Transitar was established in 1998. VR Group is a responsible service company operating in the field of travel, logistics and maintenance that is speeding up the journey towards a healthy and carbon-neutral Finland.
Case published 2.7.2021
VR-Group – Tender for HSL Commuter Train Traffic
We represented VR Group Ltd in the first HSL commuter train traffic tender in history. VR Group won the tender and will continue HSL commuter traffic operation and train fleet maintenance until 2031. The contract value is approximately 400 million euros. The contract for commuter train traffic covers all of HSL’s traffic on the Ring Rail Line, on the Coastal Railway from Helsinki to Siuntio and on the main line all the way to Kerava. This means more than seven million train traffic kilometres and more than 70 million journeys a year. VR Group is a responsible service company operating in the field of travel, logistics and maintenance. The group employs 6,000 professionals, with annual net sales of approximately one billion euros. The group primarily operates in Finland, but it also has operations abroad, especially in Russia. VR Group is owned entirely by the Finnish state.
Case published 13.5.2020
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