Juha Majanen from the Ministry of Finance on Sunday told the Finnish news agency that ministries and government agencies may have to lower their headcount significantly to reach the government-imposed savings target.
The early arrival of winter and the cold snaps of January have contributed to making the ice surface off the coast of Helsinki unusually smooth this winter.
Finland s Icebreaking Season is Underway
Maritime Activity Reports, Inc.
(Photo: Arctia Ltd.)
Icebreaking operations have commenced in Finland, with two icebreakers presently deployed in the Bay of Bothnia, where ice has begun to form at the head end and along shipping lanes.
On December 25, by decision of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, the icebreaker Kontio was deployed, followed by icebreaker Otso on January 8. First assistance restrictions for sea areas entered into force on December 27.
“Based on long-term forecasts, we would seem to have a mild winter ahead of us, or, in terms of surface extent 70,000–100,000 square kilometers,” estimates Senior Ice Expert Jouni Vainio from the Finnish Meteorological Institute.