HELSINKI: The Finnish state has been ordered by the Helsinki District Court that it should refund 52 foreign and Finnish ship-owners, including Finn Lines, Tallink, Viking Line and ESL Shipping.
In this massive filing against Finland, the ship-owners claimed the Finnish Act on Fairway Dues, as it was applied before 1 January 2006, was contrary to EU legislation and to the principle of non-discrimination.
The cases referred to the period between 2001 and 2004 when higher dues were charged from the ships in international maritime transport than from those in domestic transport.
Finland argued that only the EU’s Court of Justice had the jurisdiction to rule over the case.
Court documents say the Helsinki Court dismissed the plea contrary to the country’s constitution.
Finn lines will be paid EUR 17m, Viking Line will get EUR 12.4m, ESL will be refunded EUR 3m, while Finland will pay Tallink-related companies around EUR 34m.
But the latest judgment is not considered to be definite as the Finnish state has the right to appeal against it.
