Estonia, Port, Tourism, Transport

Ave Metsla, board member and head of services at TS Laevad, said in a press release that this summer, the Estonian islands, especially Hiiumaa, are very popular among passengers.

"During the period August 10-16, we served a total of 83,658 passengers on two routes and transported 34,929 vehicles. The number of passengers remained at the same level as last year, but the number of vehicles was 6% higher," she said.

According to Metsla, a record July is followed by a record August on the Rohukula-Heltermaa route -- the number of both passengers and vehicles has been higher than last year for three weeks in a row. "Last week, we served altogether 25,096 or 9% more passengers and a total of 10,004 or 11% more vehicles on the Hiiumaa route than last year," she said.

Since the opening of passenger salons at the beginning of May, the number of passengers on the Virtsu-Kuivastu route reached the level closest to 2019 last week, but the number of vehicles has been higher than last year for three weeks in a row.

"During the period August 10-16, we served 58,562 passengers on the Virtsu-Kuivastu route, which is 4% less than last year, and we transported 24,925 or 4% more vehicles than in the second week of August of the previous year. There have been more cars, trucks and trailers, and fewer buses," Metsla said.

TS Laevad owns five ferries, with Tiiu and Leiger operating on the Rohukula-Heltermaa route and Toll and Piret on the Virtsu-Kuivastu route. The ferry Regula is a replacement vessel and helps to transport people with additional voyages during the most popular times.