Fast-growing Tallink expands fleet; new cruise ferry to enter service in 2009 – 06/05/08

An artist’s impression of the new Tallink cruise ferry, which comes into operation in 2009

ESTONIA. Tallink Group has started construction of a new cruise ferry that will enter service next year, with a strong focus on retail and commercial services.

The keel was laid in late April for the new ship, which belongs to the same series as the M/S Baltic Princess, the cruise ship that comes into service this summer. The new €180 million vessel, as yet unnamed, has 927 cabins and accommodates up to 2,800 passengers.

Tallink/ Duty Free Sales Purchasing Director Magnus Skj̦rshammer told The Moodie Report that the new ship will have similar retail space to the Baltic Princess, which houses a 1,200sq m shopping area Рcomprising a main shop and several boutiques Рplus restaurants and a conference centre.

Once the Baltic Princess comes into operation Tallink will reorganise its ships across its key routes.

Skjörshammer said: “This summer when we receive M/S Baltic Princess, it will be placed on the - Helsinki route. For this reason we will move M/S Galaxy, which is there at the moment, to our Turku ()- route, replacing M/S Silja Festival, which in return will be transferred to the Stockholm- route. Our Riga route saw the largest increase in terms of passenger numbers last season.”

Russian passengers are becoming a more important feature of the passenger mix, with accompanying high spends on board. “The Turku-Stockholm route has the highest number of Russian passengers, and this is one of the reasons that the newer M/S Galaxy will be transferred there,” said Skjörshammer. “Around 12% of the passengers on that route are Russians, and this number is expected to grow significantly.”

About Tallink AS Tallink Group is one of the leading shipping companies on the , operating seven different shipping routes under the brands of Tallink and Silja Line. The company owns 19 vessels.

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