Tuule Liinid selected as operator of four ferry routes
The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture has selected Tuule Liinid OÜ as the new operator of four ferry routes following a tender. As ERR News reports, the carrier will serve connections between the mainland and the islands of Kihnu, Manilaid and Vormsi, as well as the route between Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The new operator will begin work after the current contracts expire next year.
Routes and contract terms
Tuule Liinid OÜ will take over the Kihnu–Munalaiu, Manilaid–Munalaiu, Rohuküla–Sviby and Sõru–Triigi routes. The contract for the connection between the mainland and Kihnu will remain in force until September 30, 2032; the mainland–Vormsi route until October 14, 2032; and the Saaremaa–Hiiumaa line until October 31, 2032.
Kihnu Veeteed AS currently operates the Kihnu–Munalaiu and Manilaid–Munalaiu routes. Its contract expires on September 30 next year. The current agreements for the Rohuküla–Sviby and Sõru–Triigi routes also expire next year, on October 14 and October 30 respectively.
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Cost and reserve vessel
The annual value of Tuule Liinid's bid for all routes is €7.4 million excluding VAT and generally corresponds to current costs, the ministry said. When evaluating applications, officials considered not only the price but also the characteristics of the reserve ferry and other quality criteria.
The company received the maximum number of points, including for the capacity and ice class of the reserve vessel, as well as for offering a paid internship. According to Andres Ruubas, head of the ministry's public transport department, the new reserve ferry will be able to operate in ice conditions and adverse weather, which should make connections with the small islands more reliable.
The new reserve vessel will be able to carry 27 passenger cars, seven more than the current reserve ferry Reet. This nearly matches the capacity of the state ferries Kihnu Virve, Ormsö and Soela, each of which can carry up to 32 cars.
