Baltic Scandinavian
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Our Mission

We providing superior freight forwarding solutions including air, ocean, and customs brokerage and logistics services.
  • History
  • Services
  • Sustainability

Baltic Scandinavian is the leading carrier of dry bulk cargo in the Baltic Sea region. Its competitive advantage lies in ensuring the transportation of products and raw materials for industries and energy production year-round, even in challenging weather conditions.

The company’s operations in the Baltic and North Seas are primarily based on long-term agreements and well-established customer relationships. As a specialized service, Baltic Scandinavian also loads and unloads large ocean liners directly at sea.

With an experienced crew both on board and ashore, along with a versatile fleet designed for the demanding conditions of the Baltic Sea, the company guarantees reliable, high-quality service in all circumstances. Its ice-strengthened vessels can safely access most shallow-drafted ports in the region. Additionally, all ships are equipped with cranes, enabling independent cargo handling both at port and in open sea.

The combined fleet of Baltic Scandinavian and its Swedish subsidiary, AtoB@C Shipping, consists of approximately 40 vessels with cargo capacities ranging from 4,000 to 25,000 dwt, providing a total deadweight capacity of over 330,000 tons. With over 70 years in business, Baltic Scandinavian operates as a subsidiary of the Finnish conglomerate Aspo Plc.

Contact our chartering team Full fleet list

Our fleet

M/S Viikki

25,500 dwt

M/S Haaga

25,500 dwt

M/S Alppila

20,500 dwt

M/S Eira

20,500 dwt

M/S Pasila

13,500 dwt

M/S Tali

13,340 dwt

M/S Rautaruukki

445 dwt

M/S Steel

431dwt

Barge Board

14,002 dwt

Barge Botnia

14,002 dwt

Our History

The foundation for Baltic Scandinavian was laid in the summer of 1949, when Polttoaine Osuuskunta, the predecessor of today’s Aspo Plc, purchased its first vessel, *Arkadia*, for a part-owned company called Laivanisännistöyhtiö Arkadia. Polttoaine Osuuskunta was originally a cooperative established by housing companies in Helsinki to purchase coal and coke for central heating systems in apartment buildings. Given its substantial imports of coal and coke, Polttoaine Osuuskunta saw the financial benefits of operating its own vessel. The acquisition of *Arkadia* was a success, and in 1950, a second vessel was acquired, leading to the establishment of a new subsidiary, Etelä-Suomen Laiva Oy, to handle shipping operations. The company soon expanded to offer sea transport services to other businesses. Some of our longest-standing customer relationships began in those early years. These partnerships were strengthened further in the 1960s through numerous long-term freight agreements. By that time, the energy sector had become one of our major clients, and we were also transporting raw materials for the steel industry. As our customers grew, so did we, with the Baltic Sea becoming our core market.

Our Drive and Vision

Initially operating with second-hand vessels, Baltic Scandinavian placed its first orders for newbuildings in the 1970s, starting with the 1971-built *Eira*. By 1980, the company welcomed its largest vessel to date, *m/s Kontula*, increasing its total tonnage to 100,000 dwt.

On December 21, 1994, the company name was changed to the more internationally recognized Baltic Scandinavian. The letters “ESL” in the original name were honored, as the company had already gained significant recognition under that abbreviation. In 1994, Baltic Scandinavian transported approximately 5.5 million tons of cargo, with coal accounting for 80% of the total.

In 2002, the company acquired Travans, a pusher transportation company primarily involved in limestone transport. Travans operated two pushers and two barges in the Baltic Sea region, aligning with Baltic Scandinavian’s strategy to reduce its dependence on coal, which still made up nearly 70% of its transport volume in 2001.

In late 2003, Baltic Scandinavian made a significant advancement when it signed a contract with Rautaruukki for the transportation of raw materials to Rautaruukki’s steel mills. While Rautaruukki was not a new client, as the company had previously transported cargo to its mills in Raahe and Koverhar, this agreement marked a major step forward. As part of the contract, Baltic Scandinavian purchased two pushers and five 13,500 dwt barges from Rautaruukki for €23 million. The shipping volume under the agreement was estimated at 5-6 million tons annually, boosting the company’s turnover by €20 million. The contract, which primarily involved transporting iron ore pellets and limestone, greatly reduced the company’s reliance on the steam coal trade.

New business segment and new vessels

The company ventured into the coaster trade in 2017 by adding four time-chartered 3,000 dwt vessels to its fleet. This expansion was followed in 2018 by a significant milestone when Baltic Scandinavian acquired the Swedish company AtoB@C Shipping. Baltic Scandinavian operated around 30 vessels in the 4,000-5,000 dwt range, primarily carrying steel and forest industry products, marking a major diversification into smaller vessels. In the same year, the company took delivery of *Viikki* and *Haaga*, eco-smart bulk carriers specifically designed for Baltic Scandinavian’s operations. These new vessels, powered by LNG, significantly reduced CO2 emissions by up to 50% compared to the previous generation of ships. With nearly 30% of European short sea tonnage being over 30 years old, there is an urgent need for fleet modernization. Baltic Scandinavian is addressing this challenge by constructing twelve 5,350 dwt plug-in hybrid vessels, which will be the most efficient and environmentally friendly in their size class.

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