Finland will open shipping traffic on the channel bordering the Russian Federation on May 26.

Finland has announced the start dates for the opening of the navigation season along the Saimaa Canal bordering Russia — vessel traffic will be carried out from May 26 to December 31. This was announced by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic.

"The decision to open the channel will allow cargo and passenger ships to pass through it," the agency's website says.

At the same time, pleasure craft will not be able to move through the channel across the border, as the Finnish authorities have closed the sea border crossings Haapasaari, Nujamaa and Santio on the Finnish-Russian border.

"Border crossings <...> are border crossing points for pleasure craft, as specified in the Schengen Border Code. Thus, the cross—border movement of pleasure craft along the Saimaa Canal is impossible, despite the opening of the shipping season," the ministry said.

In September 2024, the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications announced that the consultative council with the Russian Federation on the Saimaa Canal had been suspended. The Ministry stressed that due to possible changes in the international situation and the restoration of vessel traffic along the channel, the need to resume the activities of the advisory council could be reviewed.

The Saimaa Canal is 43 km long, and half of it is located on the territory of the Russian Federation. Finland currently leases 19.6 km of the Russian part of the canal. The lease term is until 2063.