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To the hearing ear, boom of boat engines should be sounding from the west coast, coupled with shrill shrieks of seagulls to the backdrop of wind-driven waters. How sweet the sound as we’re heading toward the Midsummer Day. Or... is it? For some decision-makers, it rather comes across like a roaring thunder, reminding them of the darkness surrounding ferryboat traffic between mainland and isles come the fall of 2016.
Saaremaa and Hiiumaa ferries have dragged up the initial serious testing stone for Reform/Soc Dems fresh coalition. After two years, what boats will be taking us to the other side? Whose will the boats be? Who will be administrating the trips?
This we do not know. Even so, front row seats are available to watch the political point-scoring. Or, rather, the scramble to push the bad ball to the other party court. In Postimees today, the newly appointed Port of Tallinn chairman Remo Holsmer (Reform) tells us how the former economy minister Juhan Parts (IRL) was about to become guarantor for private ferry business.
Former ministers Mr Parts and Meelis Atonen think the current economy minister Urve Palo is putting on a puppet show with the public procurement planned with Port of Tallinn participating. Ms Palo, in her turn, is pointing a finger back towards predecessor who has left her the inheritance of a forced situation where time has run out to build new vessels – or: one might try, but with too much risk involved.
Like a spaghetti western type «Mexican confrontation» where the three involved are pointing gun at the next guy, while all expect someone to please make a mistake. Truth be told, the real players are the current ferry-business-performing Vjatšeslav Leedo, the government fishing for solution in the muddy waters of limited options, and the opposition in whose interests it is to paint the situation in colours even darker than they actually are.
In the political noise, the principal thing may easily be forgotten. For the isles of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, ferryboat link with mainland is vital. This is no convenience service for the islanders; nor is it just another option – like the street-car for Tallinners. The ferries just have to be there shuttling, today, tomorrow, and after 2016 – this is a must.
Surely it’d be prudent and cheaper on the taxpayer for the needed ferries to be state owned. At the moment, the planning feels like trying to read a crystal ball. Some firms have said the boats could be built in two years, but that’s not binding for anyone. Meanwhile, it is daft and damaging to say we’re proclaiming a procurement hopefully won by state-owned Port of Tallinn. For participants at public procurements, options must be equal, on paper and in reality.
The government has no other way out than to disentangle the mess publicly, transparently, and quickly at that. The longer the thing is stretched, the smaller the space to really decide.