Severe ice conditions in the Baltic Sea can quickly bring maritime operations under pressure. Many of our vessels are unable to break through ice, preventing them from reaching ports on time. Even with icebreaker assistance, delays are often unavoidable.
Such situations are difficult for everyone involved. The logistics chain is pushed to its limits as schedules shift, ports face congestion, and inland transport must constantly adapt. It is a clear reminder that modern supply chains remain vulnerable to mother nature.
We are also experiencing increasingly extreme weather patterns, with shorter intervals between severe events. Whether driven by climate change or natural variation, volatility is becoming a defining factor in logistics planning.
Most importantly, safety must always come first. Seafarers are particularly exposed during harsh winter operations, working under demanding and sometimes hazardous conditions. Delays can be managed, injuries cannot.
When the ice eventually recedes, it leaves behind an important lesson: resilience and preparedness are essential in an unpredictable world.
