Port of Tallinn opens eco-friendly terminal

The new facility follows the UN’s sustainable development goals to strike a balance between the needs of cruise operators and local communities

The Port of Tallinn, which handles more than ten million passengers each year, has opened a new, environmentally sustainable cruise terminal providing a direct connection to old and new entertainment venues and tourist attractions in the Estonian capital. This is the most modern and multifunctional terminal in the region, built to reduce the negative impact of port activities on the environment, states the port authority in a press release.

Environmentally sustainable

According to Valdo Kalm, Chairman of the company’s Management Board, cruise tourism is on course for recovery after Covid-related restrictions were lifted for the summer. He said that the Port of Tallinn is helping cruise operators to provide an environmentally conscious service to passengers and that the new terminal will make short visits to Tallinn as smooth as possible.

The Port of Tallinn has been guided by the UN’s sustainable development goals and has taken painstaking steps during construction to ensure the environmental sustainability of the new terminal. The facility derives its energy from solar panels and will be heated by sea power through a heat pump, which will allow the building to host events, concerts and conferences outside the cruise season. Also installed are LED lighting, a temperature-controlled ventilation system and a natural smoke and heat extraction system.  

Replacing buses with walking tours

The new terminal makes Tallinn’s tourist offer more accessible. The Port, in collaboration with the City of Tallinn, is implementing a project which encourages shore excursion companies to ditch tourist buses for walking tours and motivates cruise tourists to visit attractions other than the Old Town.

A useful addition to this project is the new massive seaside promenade, built alongside the new terminal building for arriving cruise passengers. It will provide cruise guests with a direct link to the Tallinn Culture Kilometre – a 2,5 km long walkway through the historical part of Tallinn's seaside.

The new promenade is equipped with a playground, outdoor gym, cafes and restaurants, seating areas, and offers new viewing angles on the Old Town. The whole outdoor area is open to the general public, as a balance has been sought between the needs of cruise tourists and those of local communities.

Three new attractions

The promenade allows tourists to explore both the UNESCO World Heritage site in the Old Town and more easily reach fresh food and drink spots along the seafront. Three new main attractions are lying in wait for visitors: the Patarei Sea Fortress (a large historical fortification hosting bars, food trucks, and open-air events), the Seaplane Harbour (a three-level naval museum displaying historical ships and submarines in an 8000 sq m hangar), and Noblessner (a popular seaside cultural area dotted with high-end restaurants, museums and bars).

The Port of Tallinn says it is committed to leading the way to the sustainable terminals of tomorrow. For the 2021 cruise season, the authority has penned its Sustainable and Safe Port promise, which can be found on the Port of Tallinn website.