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TS Laevad

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Not to be confused with TS Shipping, another subsidiary of the Port of Tallinn
TS Laevad OÜ
IndustryMaritime transportation
Founded19 June 2014
Headquarters
Tallinn
,
Estonia
Area served
West Estonian archipelago
Key people
Indrek Randveer (CEO)
€36.66 million (2023)[1]
ParentPort of Tallinn
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

TS Laevad ("TS Ships") is an Estonian ferry company which operates two routes between the Estonian mainland and the islands of Hiiumaa and Muhu in the Baltic Sea. Muhu is connected by a causeway to Estonia's largest island, Saaremaa.[2]

The company is a fully owned subsidiary of the Port of Tallinn (Estonian: Tallinna Sadam, "TS"),[3] which is in turn 70 percent owned by the Estonian state.[4] The state subsidises the ferry routes with a sum of over €20 million per annum.[5]

The company operates five ice class ferries, four of which were purpose-built, with a new environmentally friendly vessel expected to be delivered in 2027.[6]

Routes

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Two routes across the Väinameri are operated by TS Laevad.

Route Destination island Crossing time Departures (summer)
Rohuküla–Heltermaa Hiiumaa 1 hr 15 mins 1½ hour interval
Virtsu–Kuivastu Muhu for Saaremaa 25 mins 35 min interval

History

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Contract period 2016–2026

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Leiger in Rohuküla, 2018

TS Laevad replaced the previous operator, SLK, on 1 October 2016[7] after submitting a public procurement bid 64 million euros less than its predecessor.[8] It was originally contracted to operate the routes until 30 September 2026.[9]

As none of TS Laevad's new ferries were delivered in time for the start of the company's contract, three vessels from Vjatšeslav Leedo's Saaremaa Shipping Company (SLK) were chartered as an interim solution. The Sefine Shipyard in Turkey and the Remontowa shipyard in Poland paid TS Laevad a total of nearly €11 million in late fees.[10] All four new ferries were in service by the end of April 2017.[11]

In 2019 the ferry Tõll had batteries installed which were expected to reduce the vessel's diesel consumption by 20%. It thus became the first hybrid passenger vessel in Estonia.[12]

In 2022, the company's ferries carried a total of 2.3 million passengers and 1.1 million vehicles. 72 percent of total passengers sailed on the Saaremaa route, with the remainder on the Hiiumaa route. The busiest month was July, with 394,000 passengers. The least busy month was February, with 96,000 passengers.[13]

All five ferries have an onboard shop operated by R-Kiosk Estonia AS. In addition, the four larger ferries have a "Take Off" restaurant operated by Baltic Restaurants Estonia AS.[14]

Contract period 2026–2033

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In April 2024, TS Laevad won a public tender to operate the Saaremaa and Hiiumaa routes from 1 October 2026 until September 2033.[15] The company was the only bidder in the tender.[16] Under the terms of the new contract the company's profits will be capped, after concerns on the islands of seemingly excessive profits.[4]

The Ministry of Regional Affairs stated its intention to introduce new environmentally friendly vessels on the routes from 2033.[17]

Incidents and disruptions to service

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Piret in ice conditions, February 2019. The company's ferries have a 1A ice class, operating in ice with a thickness of up to one metre.

On 28 July 2017, the ferry Tiiu struck the seabed twice and sustained hull damage en route from Rohuküla to Heltermaa. The incident was caused by a controls failure on autopilot. While Tiiu underwent repairs at Turku Repair Yard in Finland she was replaced by the chartered Hiiumaa for a period of six weeks.[18]

In the spring of 2018 ferry services to Hiiumaa were periodically suspended due to low water levels in the Väinameri. The minister responsible, Kadri Simson, blamed the cancellations on inadequate dredging in the Rukki Channel, through which ferries pass between Rohuküla and Heltermaa.[19]

From mid-March to early May in 2020, TS Laevad reduced the frequency of its services due to the coronavirus pandemic. Travel to the islands was restricted to residents only, and the number of passengers reduced by 92 percent compared to the previous year.[20]

On 22 July 2021 Tõll collided with the berth at Kuivastu Harbour causing damage to the berth, the ferry and some vehicles on board including that of Estonian president Kersti Kaljulaid.[21] Tõll was out of service for over two weeks during the peak summer season causing queues of up to two hours. The company stated that the collision was caused by a technical failure resulting in a loss of engine power as the ferry approached the berth.[22][23]

Future developments

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The Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs is assessing the option of building a bridge or tunnel connection between the mainland and Muhu across the Suur Strait. It is expected to be determined by 2026 whether a bridge, tunnel or continued ferry operation will be the preferred option.[9][24]

Ferries of TS Laevad

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Ferry Usual route In service Shipyard Home port Capacity Propulsion
MS Leiger Rohuküla–Heltermaa
(Hiiumaa route) 		2016– Sefine shipyard, Turkey Heltermaa 700 passengers,
150 cars 		Diesel
MS Piret Virtsu–Kuivastu
(Saaremaa route) 		2017– Remontowa shipyard, Poland Kuivastu 700 passengers,
150 cars 		Diesel
MS Tiiu Rohuküla–Heltermaa
(Hiiumaa route) 		2017– Sefine shipyard, Turkey Heltermaa 700 passengers,
150 cars 		Diesel
MS Tõll Virtsu–Kuivastu
(Saaremaa route) 		2017– Remontowa shipyard, Poland Kuivastu 700 passengers,
150 cars 		Hybrid
Electric/diesel
MS Regula Reserve ferry 2016– Meyer Werft, Germany Roomassaare 400 passengers,
105 cars 		Diesel

See also

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  • Kihnu Veeteed – The main operator of domestic ferry services to Estonia's smaller islands

References

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  1. ^ Dun & Bradstreet credit reports. TS Laevad OÜ.
  2. ^ Praamid.ee. (Official website of TS Laevad OÜ).
  3. ^ Port of Tallinn. The subsidiary company of Port of Tallinn, TS Laevad OÜ, has published a call for tenders to purchase ferries.
  4. ^ a b ERR News. TS Laevad island ferry profits to be capped.
  5. ^ ERR News. Ministry plans to buy up majority of island ferries.
  6. ^ ERR Novosti. Государственный флот объявил тендер на строительство нового парома для маршрута Виртсу-Куйвасту (The State Fleet has announced a tender for the construction of a new ferry for the Virtsu-Kuivastu route).
  7. ^ ERR News. Saaremaa Shipping Company to cover for overdue TS Laevad ferries in €5.5m delay.
  8. ^ ERR News. Supreme Court rejects domestic ferry service procurement complaint.
  9. ^ a b ERR News. Economic affairs minister applies for long-term island bridge link plan.
  10. ^ Postimees News. Late delivery leaves ferry operator in the black.
  11. ^ ERR News. Fourth and final new ferry to enter island service on Friday.
  12. ^ Offshore Energy. Estonia’s first hybrid ferry starts service.
  13. ^ Praamid.ee. TS Laevade aasta 2022.
  14. ^ Praamid.ee. Possibilities onboard.
  15. ^ ERR News. TS Laevad awarded larger islands ferry connection tender to 2033.
  16. ^ ERR News. Just one bid entered for Western Estonian islands' ferry link tender.
  17. ^ ERR News. Call launched to find ferry operators for Estonia's main island routes.
  18. ^ Insurance Marine News. Marine accident round-up : 4th August 2017.
  19. ^ ERR News. Hiiumaa ferry woes continue, Simson points finger at Michal.
  20. ^ Praamid.ee Uudised. TS Laevade 2020 kokkuvõte – olulisimad teod ja saavutused.
  21. ^ ERR News. Ferry hits berth at Kuivastu Harbor.
  22. ^ ERR Uudised. TS Laevad: Tõllul ei olnud jõudu pidurdamiseks, laevajuht tegi kõik õigesti.
  23. ^ Baltic Times. TS Laevad carries record number of 102,851 passengers last week.
  24. ^ Postimees Majandus. Sild, tunnel või parvlaevad – selgus Suure väina püsiühenduse osas saabub 2026. aastaks.
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