The Finnish Transport Agency has the statutory duty to ensure the preconditions of winter navigation.

 The Baltic Sea is an inland sea, in which the northern parts freeze every winter. In severe winters, the sea can freeze over. The significance of maritime transport and the demanding conditions of the northern Baltic Sea set specific requirements for the operation of the transport chain.
The eight existing icebreakers keep the seaborne traffic in operation even during extremely severe winters. The traffic flow may be delayed but it will not be interrupted. Because icebreakers keep the Finnish channels open, the European Union has accepted them as part of the TE Network.

Ice fields moved by the wind hamper seaborne traffic.

Ice forming into walls of ridged ice is a greater obstacle to smooth traffic than an even ice cover. South-western winds, prevalent in Finland, pack ice walls around the Finnish port entrances. In these cases, icebreaker assistance is often necessary.

The Finnish Transport Agency and the Swedish Maritime Administration take care of the icebreaker operations in the northern Baltic Sea in close collaboration. In severe winters particularly, the Finnish and Swedish icebreakers divide the duties, thus ensuring optimal traffic flow.

Ice-classification required for vessels

Vessels arriving at or departing from Finnish or Swedish ports must belong to an ice-class, which indicates the vessel's ice-going capability. The vessels in classes 1A Super and 1A with the highest engine output are assisted in any conditions. Vessels in ice-classes 1B, 1C and 2, with lower engine output, are assisted depending on the ice conditions.

For example, a vessel of class 1A Super must have a strong hull and high engine output. The most powerful 1A Super vessels can navigate in most ice conditions without assistance. Other vessels are usually assisted by the opening of the channel ahead of the vessel. In difficult ice conditions, towing is also an option.