According to preliminary data released by Statistics Finland, the size of the Finnish merchant fleet in April 2023 was 1,245 vessels, with the regular merchant fleet accounting for 671 vessels. The number of small vessels was 285, and the gross tonnage of the entire registered merchant fleet was 1,986,502. This represents an increase of two vessels in the regular merchant fleet compared to the situation at the beginning of the year.
The biggest category by gross tonnage in the regular merchant fleet was ro-ro passenger ships, while passenger ships represented the majority of vessels in this fleet. Ro-ro cargo ships and ro-ro passenger ships accounted for 67% of the tonnage of the entire regular merchant fleet. Meanwhile, the majority of vessels in the Register of Merchant Vessels were other dry cargo ships, ro-ro cargo ships, and special purpose ships, with ro-ro passenger ships and ro-ro cargo ships representing 72% of the volume of the entire register.
In total, 102 vessels were entered in the Register of Merchant Vessels in April 2023. Of the gross tonnage of the entire registered merchant fleet, the gross tonnage of the regular merchant fleet accounted for 94%, and vessels entered in the Register of Merchant Vessels for 86%. The gross tonnage of ro-ro ships was 67% of the tonnage of the entire regular merchant fleet.
It is worth noting that the number of vessels in the Register of Merchant Vessels had decreased by two compared to the situation at the turn of the year. Additionally, nearly 160,000 persons living in Finland have dual nationality, according to separate data released by Statistics Finland.