Estonian ferry operator “Tallink“Ferries in the port of Riga already qualify for 60% discount on port fee discounts,” said Freeport of Riga board representative Liene Ozola.
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She explained that “Port of Riga charges” stipulate that ships of regular transport lines – containers, ro-ro and passengers – receive discounts on port charges at the port of Riga according to the number of entries per year, if a corresponding agreement has been concluded. Such an agreement was concluded with Tallink Latvija already in 2006.
Tallink ferries have so far qualified for Category 5 or 60% port dues rebates on lines with at least 150 arrivals per year, as well as special canal and sanitary rates for ferries with 350 arrivals per year. The line vessels also receive an additional 10% discount on the channel fee for not using the pilotage service.
Ozola emphasized that the Freeport of Riga Authority closely monitors the situation and has been in close communication with the management of Tallink Latvija and Tallink Grupp until now, as well as the Freeport of Riga Board decided in March to support the company by releasing the ship. “Romantika” from the berth fee for downtime during which it is located in the port of Riga.
At the same time, in accordance with the decision of the Freeport of Riga Authority Board, the fifth category port fee discounts were maintained for both liner ships, Romantika and Isabelle, as well as special port fee rates due to Tallink ferries for entrances in 2020 and also in 2021 – Regardless of whether the liner ships reach the required entry thresholds (150 and 350 entries per year), Tallink liners will receive all existing discounts.
Ozola also pointed out that, despite the fact that the line contract only applies to the Riga-Stockholm route, ferries operating on the Riga-Helsinki and Riga-Åland Islands routes are also subject to fifth-category port discounts (60%) and special ports. tax rates.
As reported, Tallink Grupp will start negotiations with the representatives of the Freeport of Riga on the reduction of port dues for the company’s ferries, Estonian public television ETV reported on Thursday.
Despite the spread of the coronavirus, the Latvian state is interested in the continuation of ferry traffic from Riga to Stockholm and Helsinki.
Pāvo Negene ETV, Chairman of the Board of Tallink Grupp, said that Tallink had paid four million euros for the services of the Port of Riga and the terminal last year.
“And if significant relief can be achieved in this respect, it will certainly reduce Tallink’s operational risks,” Negene said.
“In October, we will sit at the negotiating table with the leaders of the Freeport of Riga, discuss how to solve the problem of port dues and reduce prices for Tallink in the future. We are interested in resuming normal traffic between Riga and Stockholm as soon as possible.” Minister of Economics of Latvia Jānis Vitenbergs (KPV LV).
Meanwhile, on Friday evening, “Tallink Grupp” announced that it will suspend the operation of the Riga – Helsinki route from September 28 to the end of October. This decision was made taking into account that the Latvian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (SPKC) has expanded the list of countries with a 14-day cumulative Covid-19 incidence rate per 100,000 population above 16 to include Finland.
Negene said the company was ready to reconsider its decisions if the situation regarding the virus and restrictions changed. “If the events are positive, we will be happy to reopen the route or organize special cruises at the end of the year, which would allow Finnish travelers to enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights in Riga,” said Negene.
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