Estonian SLK set to order new passenger ferry
The Saaremaa Laevakompanii (SLK), BLRT Grupp and Swedbank concluded a preliminary contract for building the fourth large new passenger ferry for the Estonian mainland-islands ferry lines, Baltic Cource reports citing LETA.
The new 90-m-long ship will be able to accommodate 160 cars and 400-600 passengers.
SLK council chairman Vjatseslav Leedo said that the new ship will be similar to the three brands new ships that the company has already bought in the past couple of years, Muhumaa, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.
Leedo said that the three new ships took the ferry traffic quality between mainland and islands to a new level and now the company needs to address market demand with new capacities. Leedo said that the real shipbuilding might start in the next two or four years.
The protocol of intentions includes an option for two more ferries with increased icebreaking capabilities.