Silja Europa   Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org

Estonian listed ferry group Tallink and Bridgemans Services Ltd. have entered into a charter agreement to charter Tallink's cruise ferry Silja Europa to Australia from August 2014 as an accommodation vessel.

The period of the charter is at least 14 months with an option to extend up to 48 months.

For Tallink, the deal means that M/S Baltic Queen which is operating on Tallinn-Stockholm route will change to Tallinn-Helsinki route on 7 August 2014 and M/S Romantika which is operating on Riga-Stockholm route will change to Tallinn-Stockholm route. M/S Isabelle will continue the service on Riga-Stockholm route.

Tallink said that the charter of Silja Europa and ships route changes will bring the necessity to lower the number of employees. Respective discussions with employee unions have been started.

The above transactions will improve the Group’s operational efficiency and profitability. When compared to 2009 built Baltic Queen the older Silja Europa has higher operating costs, especially when considered in relation to the new sulphur regulations in 2015.

Toomas Hõbemägi
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