Founded in 1869, the Port of Kemi is the northernmost all-purpose port in the EU. It handles two million tons of maritime imports and exports annually – primarily chemical forestry products like pulp and cardboard, alongside industrial equipment and components for wind turbines.

In 2021, the port began a major expansion project to support the construction of Metsä Group’s Kemi Bioproduct Mill and serve the growing industrial base across northern Finland. The expansion included a complete renewal of access control.

“Security is one of our core values. Global circumstances make strict security procedures vital for critical supply and logistics hubs,” explains Markku Rautio, CEO of Port of Kemi. “Our requirements were clear: 24/7/365 access management, tracking, and documentation. After a thorough risk and system analysis, we chose Visy because it best matched our demands.”

The port’s perimeter includes four vehicle gates and two pedestrian access points, all managed by Visy Access Gate. The system handles access control and permitting, traffic event documentation, and reporting.

License plate recognition software controls vehicle entry – only valid permit holders gain access. Vehicles without plates, such as machinery, are recognized via RFID readers.

Planning began in 2022; implementation was complete by autumn 2023. The renewal updated nearly all system components with lightweight, durable hardware. Vehicle gate triggers use Visy’s Virtual Trigger software instead of ground-installed laser scanners and loops, reducing infrastructure complexity.