Saimaa Canal to remain closed from Jan 1 to May 17

The Saimaa Canal will be closed on January 1 at 23.00 o´clock, said a press release issued by Finnish Transport Agency.

Next winter four new lower gates will be installed on the canal. According to the work schedule, the canal will be opened on May 17.

Finland’s most important canal is the 42.9 kilometres long Saimaa Canal, which connects Lake Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland. Out of 42.9 kilometers, a total of 23.3 km situated on the Finnish and 19.6 km on the Russian side of the border.

The eight locks of the Saimaa Canal are operated via remote control centres at Mälkiä and Brusnitchnoe.

The maximum vessel size permitted is: length 82.5m, beam 12.6m, draught 4.35m and height of mast 24.5m.

The natural open water season in southern Lake Saimaa and in the Saimaa Canal is on average 211 days.

Since many of the vessels navigating in the canal and in Lake Saimaa have been surveyed for winter traffic, the navigation season has lately been as long as 9.5-10 months; from the beginning of April to the end of January.

During the navigation season Saimaa Canal, as well as the rest of the canals in the deep channels, are open 24 hours a day.