The Finnish ports: Public or private service for the community?

Municipalities located on the coast have traditionally owned ports and provided favourable services to nearby industrial companies. Ports have been competitive factors and image creators. The set-up of port ownership and administration is now changing. Publicly owned ports will be corporatized into municipal-owned companies within a few years. There is also a growing trend towards privatization through concession agreements and public-private partnerships (PPPs). Municipalities have to consider the best way to arrange management of port operations and the optimal level of involvement in the port business. These factors can change the patterns of the provision of port services from the perspective of municipality owners, private service providers and customers.