Saimaa Canal open as of 26 May 2025

The Saimaa Canal delegates have decided that the sailing season in the canal will start on 26 May 2025 and last until 31 December 2025.

Each year, the delegates agree on a protocol on the length of the sailing season and the date on which it will open for traffic. The decision is made according to the Saimaa Canal lease agreement, which is an international agreement approved by Parliament.

The infrastructure of the canal will be put into operation with this decision. The decision to open the canal allows cargo and passenger ships to pass through the canal. However, the traffic is subject to government decisions and the sanctions imposed by the EU. 

Under the government decision currently in force, the border crossing points of Haapasaari, the port of Nuijamaa and Santio on the border between Finland and Russia are closed for maritime traffic. These are crossing points for pleasure craft referred to in the Schengen Borders Code. For this reason, leisure boats cannot cross the border and use the Saimaa Canal even though it has been opened for the sailing season. Applications for international protection may be submitted at other border crossing points that are still open for air and maritime traffic.

Transport operators must notify the Finnish Border Guard of the beginning of cross-border traffic no later than four months before beginning the operation.

The Saimaa Canal is 43 kilometres long. Nearly half of the Canal runs through an area leased from Russia.

Inquiries:

Minna Kivimäki, Permanent Secretary, Finland’s Saimaa Canal Delegate, tel. +358 29 534 2389, 
[email protected] 

Seppo Kykkänen, Head of the Saimaa Canal Delegate’s Office, tel. +358 29 534 2580, [email protected]

Inquiries concerning the Finnish Border Guard
[email protected]