Origin and impact of supply chain risks affecting supply security

Cargo flows in the Gulf of Finland have grown substantially since the fall of the Soviet Union. The high growth of traffic density in the narrow and shallow shipping lanes has been the centre of attention for some time, and researchers have produced numerous reports warning about the risks involved. Many of these reports have not, however, considered the viewpoint of the practitioners of business life. Therefore, this paper is contributing to this gap by presenting the risks identified affecting the supply chains from their perspective. The study was conducted by interviewing organisations acting as part of a focal supply chain. The main risks identified by the interviewees were the port functions and the sea lanes and land routes near the port. The recognised risks varied significantly between the companies and persons depending on their position in the supply chain.