The Helsinki District Court ruled today that the Finnish state should refund 52 foreign and Finnish shipowners, including Finnlines, Tallink, Viking Line and ESL Shipping.

In this massive filing against Finland, the shipowners 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