A Port founded by the Decree of the Imperial Majesty

The Port of Kemi was established the moment the declaration for the manifestation of the City of Kemi was uttered in 1869. At first, the Port of Kemi was situated in the place of today's inland port. At the same time, Kemi received staple rights, enabling the city to engage in foreign trade.

This gracious decree from the Imperial Majesty granted the city the right to collect wood, i.e. burgess money, plot taxes, port-, bridge-, and cargo fees, as well as harbour and weigh house taxes. Today's fees under public law are based on these charges.

Under the city’s staple rights ordinance, the city was to establish "a customs house with a packing warehouse, weigh house, docking- and storage warehouse." The city was thus obligated to build the type of infrastructure around which harbour operations, similar to that of the present day, developed.

The privilege rights were not repealed until 1.1.1995 after which only the Council of State had the right to grant permission to establish a new harbour in Finland.

Construction of the Ajos deep-water harbour began in 1939.

Navigation in winter is demanding for both the harbour and the ships. Establishing sea harbours to suit Finland's conditions has always required large investments and exertion. For a long time, the ice conditions limited the year-round use of the harbour. Kemi's harbours have been in use year-round since 1971.