Narva River passenger ferry service at risk as riverboat Caroline proves too big for port

A passenger boat service that began on the Narva River five years ago, on the Estonian border with Russia, may be shut down. The riverboat Caroline has turned out to be too large for the Port of Narva, which puts further operations in doubt.

Caroline made its last trip of the season from Narva to Narva-Jõesuu in late September. The vessel is now docked at the Port of Sillamäe, and it is unclear where it will go next or where it will spend the winter.

Port registration does not match

The Estonian Transport Administration inspected the port and concluded that Narva's port is registered as a small craft harbor, while Caroline is not a small vessel. Kert Süsmalainen, head of the administration's waterways and ports department, said the port must change its registration and the harbormaster must hold a license for operating larger vessels, not just a small craft operator's license.

According to the administration, the vessel had used the port without problems before because of an oversight by the port operator. Five years ago the boat's length was measured at the waterline, but its actual length exceeds the permitted limit by 120 centimeters.

City seeks a quick fix

The City of Narva is trying to resolve the matter quickly. The port's registration has already been amended, and a passenger waiting area is planned. However, finding a qualified harbormaster could be difficult.

Caroline's owner, Kaspar Eisel, said there are no people with such qualifications in Narva and that language proficiency is a further obstacle. He is concerned that if a harbormaster is hired solely because of his vessel, the person's entire annual salary will probably be passed on to him through port fees, which raises the question of whether the finances can work.

Passenger numbers have fallen

Running the boat on the Narva River is becoming harder financially. In its early years it carried around 10,000 passengers per season, but this summer the figure fell to just under 3,000.

Whether Caroline will operate on the river next summer, and under what conditions, will be decided in negotiations with the management of Narva's river port.