Pihlajasaari: Accessibility

Pihlajasaari is right now a challenging destination from the point of view of accessibility. We are currently doing accessibility development work, so that in the future Pihlajasaari would be more accessible also to people using mobility aids. Please don´t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the accessibility of the vessels or the island destination. Our staff members are trained to help, when necessary, passengers with mobility aids to get on board and disembark. 

Kuva: Sanna Kalmari

Personal assistants

Pihlajasaari is a disability card destination. A personal assistant traveling with a person requiring an assistant may enter the vessel without charge, when the person requiring the assistant has a disability card marked with an “A”. Guide- or assistance-dogs are welcome onboard our vessels and the island, with the exception of the beaches and kids play areas. Prams and wheelchairs are currently not available for hire in Korkeasaari.

Departure piers and vessels on the Pihlajasaari route

The ferry service to Pihlajasaari is operated from Merisatama and Ruoholahti. The ferry service from Merisatama to Pihlajasaari is mainly operated with a waterbus M/s Ilves, and from Ruoholahti to Pihlajasaari with a waterbus M/s Chapman, but exceptions are possible. The harbour and pier area at Merisatama is much more accessible than the one at Ruoholahti, as the ramps leading to the Ruoholahti pier are steep. Below you can find more detailed information about accessibility at the pier areas and on our vessels. Tickets for the water bus can be purchased from the online shop or from the vessel.

Merisatama (address Merisatamanranta 10): arrival and pier area

There are no designated accessible parking spaces near the pier area. You can find more detailed information about parking in the area in the City of Helsinki’s Service Map.  The best location for pick-up and drop-off traffic is in the front of nearby Cafe Ursula.

The area in front of Merisatama pier is even and mainly asphalted (picture 1). At the top end of the ramp leading to the pier there is a threshold, which is approx. 9 cm high (the exact height depends on the sea level) (picture 2). The vessel is also equipped with a separate wheelchair ramp, which, when necessary, can be placed over the threshold to enable easy passage over the threshold with any mobility aid.

Boarding waterbus:

The waterbus is boarded via a gangway that is 90 cm wide. The gangway is steeper than recommended. There are low thresholds at both ends of the gangway, each measuring approx. 3-5 cm.  The vessel is also equipped with a separate wheelchair ramp, which, when necessary, can be used together with the actual gangway to make the passageway between the vessel and the pier more gentle (picture 7). The entrance deck of the waterbus accommodates larger mobility aids and a turning circle of more than 150 cm in diameter. There are stairs to the other decks. Passengers can purchase refreshments on the accessible deck of the vessel. There is no accessible toilet on board.

Ruoholahti (address Kellosaarenranta 10): arrival and pier area

There are no designated accessible parking spaces near the pier area. You can find more detailed information about parking in the area in the City of Helsinki’s Service Map.

The access to the pier area is via ramps, which are covered with cobblestones. There is place for pick-up and drop-off traffic to stop near these ramps.

The waterbus is boarded at the bottom level of the pier, which can be reached via steep ramps (steeper ones than recommended). The ramps are not unitaries: there is a gap in the middle of the ramps. (picture 3).

Boarding waterbus:

The waterbus is boarded via a gangway that is 90 cm wide (picture 4). The gangway is steeper than recommended. There are low thresholds at both ends of the gangway, each measuring approx. 3-5 cm. The vessel is also equipped with a separate wheelchair ramp, which, when necessary, can be used together with the actual gangway to make the passageway between the vessel and the pier more gentle (picture 7). The entrance deck of the waterbus accommodates larger mobility aids and a turning circle of more than 150 cm in diameter. There are stairs to the other decks. Passengers can purchase refreshments on the accessible deck of the vessel. There is no accessible toilet on board.

Pihlajasaari: arrival and pier area

On Pihlajasaari, right after the concrete pier area, begins a soft sandy section. If you require any further information about accessibility at the destination, you may contact the maintenance staff on Pihlajasaari island by phone: +358 9 310 71518 or +358 9 310 715 19.

The concrete part of Pihlajasaari pier is accessible with mobility aids. Usually waterbus Chapman operating between Ruoholahti and Pihlajasaari arrives to this part of the pier.

After the concrete part of Pihlajasaari pier the pier area continues as a floating dock, which can be reached via a ramp. However, at the bottom end of the ramp leading to the pier there is a threshold, which is approx. 14 cm high (the exact height depends on the sea level). The vessel is also equipped with a separate wheelchair ramp, which, when necessary, can be placed over the threshold to enable easy passage over the threshold with any mobility aid. Usually waterbus Ilves operating between Merisatama and Pihlajasaari arrives to this part of the pier, but the vessel can also arrive to the concrete part of the pier, when necessary, if the weather is good enough to allow it. Please don´t hesitate to call us: +358 10 205 1880, if you have any access requirements related to your arrival in Pihlajasaari.

Boarding waterbus:

The waterbus is boarded via a gangway that is 80 cm wide (picture 4). The gangway is steeper than recommended, and the steepness depends on the sea level. There are low thresholds at both ends of the gangway, each measuring approx. 3-5 cm. The vessel is also equipped with a separate wheelchair ramp, which, when necessary, can be used together with the actual gangway to make the passageway between the vessel and the pier more gentle (picture 7). The entrance deck of the waterbus accommodates larger mobility aids and a turning circle of more than 150 cm in diameter. There are stairs to the other decks. Passengers can purchase refreshments on the accessible deck of the vessel. There is no accessible toilet on board.

1. The harbour and pier area at Merisatama

3. The pier area at Ruoholahti is challenging from the point of view of accessibility

5. An aerial picture of the harbour and pier area at the destination Pihlajasaari

7. The vessels are also equipped with a separate wheelchair ramp, which, when necessary, can be used together with the actual gangway to make the passageway between the vessel and the pier more gentle. | Picture: Sanna Kalmari

Preserving the unique nature of our archipelago is important to us, and our vessels operating on this route are solely fuelled with
renewable fuel oil. As pioneers we want to take part in developing low-emission solutions. By using renewable fuel oil we reduce our carbon footprint on the route in question by up to 90% compared to fossil fuels.

We recommend arriving at the Market Square by public transport, if possible. You can find more information in HSL’s Journey Planner >>