HELSINKI AND ITS ARCHIPELAGO (SUOMENLINNA, KATAJANOKKA, VUOSAARI), GULF OF FINLAND

Helsinki: boating safety

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Helsinki is Finland's capital and a busy passenger and cargo port on the Gulf of Finland. Its archipelago of small islands, including the Suomenlinna sea fortress, is popular with boaters and has city guest harbours and many club marinas. Leisure boats share the narrow approaches with large ships.

LIFE IN DANGER AT SEA
Call +358 294 1000
Call MRCC Turku on +358 294 1000. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF 16, or DSC on channel 70.

Finland: all rescue numbers → On the rescue map → Print an emergency card →

Harbour and marinas

Ship traffic in the Helsinki approaches is managed by Helsinki VTS (Fintraffic), working channel VHF 71. The Port of Helsinki listens on VHF 12, phone +358 93 101 621.

Fintraffic · Fintraffic ▾
mastersguide.fintraffic.fi (2026-10-14): “The working channel of Helsinki VTS sector 1 is VHF 71.”
mastersguide.fintraffic.fi (2026-10-14): “Port of Helsinki +358 93 101 621 port.helsinki@portofhelsinki.fi VHF 12”

City of Helsinki guest harbours serve all boaters. Free short-term mooring (2 to 4 hours) is allowed at listed city harbours.

City of Helsinki · City of Helsinki ▾
hel.fi (2026-10-14): “Helsinki’s guest harbours also serve all boaters.”
hel.fi (2026-10-14): “The short-term berthing time is from two to four hours.”

Weather

Turku Radio, Finland's coastal radio station (VHF 16, DSC 70), broadcasts maritime weather forecasts and navigational warnings at 0633 and 1833 UTC.

Fintraffic · Fintraffic · Fintraffic ▾
fintraffic.fi (2026-10-14): “VHF Channel 16 VHF-DSC Channel 70”
fintraffic.fi (2026-10-14): “0633 WEATHER FORECAST, NAVIGATIONAL WARNINGS”
fintraffic.fi (2026-10-14): “1833 WEATHER FORECAST”

Local rules

Speed limit is 30 km/h on the ship fairways leading to the Helsinki ports (out to south of Suomenlinna and Pihlajasaari) and 10 km/h in the harbour basins and on much of the shore and bay areas. Most speed-limit areas also ban making wash.

City of Helsinki · Fintraffic ▾
hel.fi (2026-10-14): “Suurella osalla ranta- ja lahtialueista nopeusrajoitus on 10 kilometriä tunnissa. Useimmilla nopeusrajoitusalueilla on myös aallokon aiheuttamisen kielto.”
mastersguide.fintraffic.fi (2026-10-14): “In the harbour basins in the Port of Helsinki and around Klippan: 10 km/h”

Landing on some islands and bird skerries is completely banned in the nesting season (usually 1 April to 15 August); keep 25–50 m away from these skerries when passing by boat.

City of Helsinki ▾
hel.fi (2026-10-14): “Maihinnousu joillekin saarille ja lintuluodoille on pesimäaikaan (tavallisesti 1.4.–15.8.) kokonaan kielletty. Näihin linnuille tärkeisiin luotoihin tulee myös säilyttää 25–50 metrin etäisyys vesillä liikkuessa.”

Hazards

Large ships use the narrow Kustaanmiekka and Särkänsalmi straits at Suomenlinna and must report to Helsinki VTS 15 minutes before arriving there; meeting and overtaking is permanently prohibited in these straits.

Fintraffic · Fintraffic ▾
mastersguide.fintraffic.fi (2026-10-14): “Vessels must report 15 mins before arriving at the Kustaanmiekka or Särkänsalmi straits”
mastersguide.fintraffic.fi (2026-10-14): “Meeting and overtaking is permanently prohibited in the following areas covered by Helsinki VTS sector 1:”

Hospital and medical

Adult (over 16) emergency care in Helsinki is at Meilahti Emergency Department, Paciuksenkatu 3 (enter on the ground floor of Bridge Hospital), or Malmi Emergency Department. Call the Medical Helpline 116117 (24/7) before going.

City of Helsinki · HUS Helsinki University Hospital ▾
hel.fi (2026-10-14): “Meilahti Emergency Department, Paciuksenkatu 3 Malmi Emergency Department, Talvelantie 6 J”
hus.fi (2026-10-14): “Call the Medical Helpline's toll-free number 116117 before seeking medical attention from the HUS emergency department.”

Arriving from abroad

Under Government Decree 904/2016, Helsinki Coast Guard station (Helsingin merivartioasema) is one of Finland's border crossing points for pleasure craft under the Schengen Borders Code.

Government Decree 904/2016 on border crossing points (Finlex) ▾
data.finlex.fi (2026-10-14): “aluksille ovat Ahvenanmaan, Haapasaaren, Hangon ja Helsingin merivartioasemat sekä Nuijamaan satama ja Santio.”

Frequently asked

Who do I call in an emergency at sea near Helsinki?

Call MRCC Turku on +358 294 1000. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

How do I contact the harbour in Helsinki?

Ship traffic in the Helsinki approaches is managed by Helsinki VTS (Fintraffic), working channel VHF 71. The Port of Helsinki listens on VHF 12, phone +358 93 101 621.

Where do I get the marine forecast for Helsinki?

Turku Radio, Finland's coastal radio station (VHF 16, DSC 70), broadcasts maritime weather forecasts and navigational warnings at 0633 and 1833 UTC.

Read before you sail

Thunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to doPerson overboard: what to doEngine failure: what to do when you lose power

Nearby destinations

Tallinn and the Estonian islands 40 nmTurku and the Archipelago Sea 87 nmMariehamn (Åland) 151 nmRiga 184 nmStockholm archipelago 193 nmGdańsk and Hel 396 nmOslofjord 429 nmGothenburg and Bohuslän 439 nm

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