A strong result for Wasaline – continued reduction in environmental impact and a record year in the passenger segment

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During the financial year, further measures have been taken to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. Emissions of CO2 have decreased by 23%. During the year, the use of LNG increased. In the autumn, Aurora Botnia operated one day a week with certified Biogas. Utilization of the battery technology was also optimized. All of this contributed to this decrease.

Since the start of traffic of AURORA BOTNIA in 2021, Wasaline has reduced its CO2 emissions by 29% per trip and in 2023 CO2 emissions were reduced by 23%.

The passenger side showed an increase compared to 2022, despite that the bookings decreased significantly in the last quarter due to the recession.

Passenger volumes increased by 4.4% and turnover by 5.4%.

Departures increased by 2.7% to 1,164 departures.

Cargo lost volumes. Mainly it was imports to Finland that decreased. All shipping to Russia was cancelled and demand for paper decreased, which led to the amount of cargo units falling by 5.9%

The result before appropriations and taxes amounted to +3.2 million (2022 +3.3 million).

TRAFFIC STATISTICS

(numbers) 2023 2022
Departures 1 164 1133
Passengers 279 590 267 757
Passenger Vehicles 63 647 55 661
Cargo units 20 886 22 191

 

KEY FIGURES

(1000 €) 2023 2022
Revenue 29 107 29 293
Operating profit 2 902 3 292
Operating profit % 10,0 % 11,2 %
Equity ratio 61,7 % 63,05 %

European Commission closes State aid investigation into Danish and Swedish public financing of Øresund fixed rail-road link

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The European Commission has concluded that the State guarantee model granted by Denmark and Sweden for the construction of the Øresund fixed rail-road link does not constitute new aid within the meaning of EU State aid rules.

The Commission has also found that part of the tax support implemented by Denmark constitutes new aid that is disproportionate and therefore not compatible with the Treaty. Denmark must now recover the incompatible aid, including interest.

In October 2014, following a complaint by a ferry company, the Commission found that Denmark and Sweden’s support to the consortium owning and operating the Øresund fixed rail-road link, Øresundsbro Konsortiet I/S, was in line with EU State aid rules.

Denmark and Sweden’s support took the form of a State guarantee on the loans taken out by the consortium to finance the link. Denmark also provided the Danish parent company of the consortium, A/S Øresund, with special tax treatment as concerns depreciation of assets and fiscal loss carry forward.

In September 2018, the General Court partially annulled the Commission’s 2014 decision on procedural grounds.

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