Estonia, Legislation, Port, Tourism, Transport

"Our goal is to ensure high level quality and service reliability in operating the routes to the big islands. Comparison of various alternatives and the experience with the icebreaker Botnica gave us assurance that the most reasonable course of action is to give operating the vessels to Tallinna Sadam subsidiary," said Chairman of the Council of Tallinna Sadam Remo Holsmer.

The four new ferries begin, in accordance with the contract between state and Tallinna Sadam operating the routes between Estonia's mainland and the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa in October 2016.

"With today's decision, Tallinna Sadam can start the preparatory work necessary for the finding the crew and providing service in board the new ships," said Holsmer.

Tallinna Sadam Board Member Allan Kiil commented that the construction of the new ships in shipyards in Poland and Turkey is even somewhat ahead of schedule and everything goes as planned.