Editorial: deep dealings in shallow waters

Photo: Urmas Nemvalts

In the ideal Estonia, simple stuff might as well be solved. The ideal Estonia could be characterised by absence of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa ferry connection debates all but drowning us every once in a while.

Getting ferried to the isles would then be at least as enjoyable as it currently is, but without the feeling of some troublesome secret lurking underneath. Like a fight that unseats a minister; or a mess that mesmerises politicians, officials and the public like no other everyday organisational issue.

Before Midsummer Day, editorial of Postimees said that «the government has no way out but to untangle the ferryboat knot publicly, transparently and – fast.» Alas, they took no notice! As we read today, the waters have gotten muddier yet, a far cry from anything «public» and «transparent».

We hear «all party blame» towards the rest. Once the parties cool down, PR-people hired by (ship-owners and) operator throw in something spicy or stir the wood under kettle. 

Important herewith to also underline that Vjatšeslav Leedo with co-workers and partners have, over the decades, created a transport company quite decent in its services and one would not wish for us sink downwards from that.

Without a shadow of doubt, Mr Leedo’s firms are the best ferrymen in Estonia but there’s the rub: they are the only ones around as well. Competition absent, also absent is the unseen hand of the free market.

Why isn’t some Norwegian or other ferry operator coming around to compete? Our straits are shallow. But, as a rule, a vessel is the steadier the deeper it sits in the water. This very peculiarity serves to set limits to competition round here.

For a consumer, Mr Leedo and partners are doing a job not bad at all. The issue is: how many millions of euros should the taxpayer throw at them for that. It’s not that this businessman is a baddy; it’s the lack of competition. The only way to bring in the unseen free market hand, thus, is for Estonian state to own ferries fit for our shallow waters, and to seek out competing operators to keep ‘em sailing.