Construction, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Legislation, Port, Transport

The paper says it has received confirmation from several independent sources that the overall price tag of the ferry deal is 108.6 million euros. It computed the cost of each ferry basing on the claim of MP Artur Talvik, head of the parliamentary committee investigating alleged corruption by the previous management of Port of Tallinn, that the ferries ordered by the state-owned port company from Poland cost 17.5 million euros more than those ordered from the Turkish shipbuilder.

It has been earlier reported that the total cost of four new ferries is 120 million euros. CEO of TS Laevad Kaido Padar confirmed that the overall cost of the project will not exceed that sum.

"The total cost of the project covers the building of the ferries, construction supervision, delivery of the ships from the shipyards to Estonia, and possible changes made in the course of construction if they are necessary to the contracting entity or result in cheaper subsequent operation, for instance. The development and implementation of the ticket sale system and other expenses related to the launch of the project also have been factored in," Padar said.

The final price of the ferries and total cost of the project will be known by the beginning of October when TS Laevad will start operating the island ferry routes, he said.

According to Padar the company cannot confirm the price of the ferries nor can it disclose the value of individual cost items due to the conditions and terms set out in contracts with the shipyards and other partners. "It goes without saying that we'll do everything we can for the total cost of the project to remain considerably below 120 million euros," he added.