Turku–Stockholm Green Shipping Corridor among the global front-runners
The Turku–Stockholm Green Shipping Corridor is one of the few routes where ambitious goals have already translated into concrete action. This is highlighted in the newly published Annual Progress Report on Green Shipping Corridors 2025, which tracks the global development of green maritime transport corridors.
In February 2024, the Ports of Turku and Stockholm together with Viking Line signed a cooperation agreement to develop a green maritime corridor between the two cities. The aim is to achieve a fully fossil-free and carbon‑neutral corridor by 2035, making it one of the Green Shipping Corridors defined under the Clydebank Declaration. The route was chosen as a pilot due to its high traffic volumes and its location in an environmentally sensitive archipelago. The cooperation provides a platform for solutions that can progressively reduce emissions and promote sustainable maritime transport.
Of the 84 global initiatives identified in the report, only four have so far reached the so‑called implementation stage, in which emission‑reducing measures are deployed in regular operations. Two of these are located in the Baltic Sea region, including the Turku–Stockholm route, which is regarded as one of the most advanced internationally.
Viking Line has significantly increased the use of biogas in its regular Turku–Stockholm operations. The company’s vessels Viking Glory and Viking Grace now operate with approximately 50% renewable fuel, enabling up to a 90% reduction in climate emissions compared with fossil alternatives.
The report also shows that most of the world’s green shipping corridors are still in early stages. High costs of fossil‑free fuels, regulatory uncertainty and the lack of viable business models continue to slow progress for many initiatives. The success of the Turku–Stockholm corridor is therefore seen as a strong example of what can be achieved when businesses, ports and regulatory frameworks align.
The report emphasizes that the experience gained from the most mature corridors will be crucial for enabling more routes to follow. The Turku–Stockholm route is highlighted in particular as an example of how EU policy instruments, cooperation between ports and shipping companies, and the availability of renewable fuels can help overcome the so‑called “implementation wall” in maritime decarbonisation.
Read the full report on the Global Maritime Forum’s website >>>