Estonia selects new operator for four small-island ferry routes

Estonia's Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture has selected a new ferry operator through a public procurement process to serve the mainland connections with Vormsi, Kihnu and Manilaid, as well as the route between Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, for the next five years.

The new contract for the mainland–Kihnu route runs until September 30, 2032, the Vormsi route contract until October 14, 2032, and the Saaremaa–Hiiumaa contract until October 31, 2032.

The winning bidder is Tuule Liinid OÜ, which already operates the Ruhnu–Munalaid, Ruhnu–Pärnu and Ruhnu–Roomassaare routes.

Handover after current contracts expire

The existing contract with Kihnu Veeteed AS for the Kihnu–Munalaid and Manilaid–Munalaid routes expires on September 30 next year, the Rohuküla–Sviby contract expires October 14, and the Sõru–Triigi contract expires October 30. The new operator will take over each route once its current contract ends.

Bids were assessed not only on price but also on the characteristics of the proposed replacement ferry and other quality criteria. Tuule Liinid earned the maximum score for factors such as the vessel's capacity, ice class, and its offer of a paid internship position.

The total annual cost of Tuule Liinid's bid for all the routes, excluding VAT, is about €7.4 million, roughly in line with current spending, the ministry said.

Andres Ruubas, head of the ministry's Public Transport Department, said the key change is that the new replacement vessel will handle harsh weather better, including the ability to operate in ice, providing more reliable links to the small islands. Compared with the current replacement ferry Reet, the new vessel will carry seven more passenger cars, for a total of 27 — close to the capacity of the state-owned ferries Kihnu Virve, Ormsö and Soela, which can carry up to 32 cars.