Oldies appear to replace new ferries

Photo: Erik Prozes

As Regula arrived to do the Virtsu-Kuivastu ferrying this week-end, long were the lines and long were the faces. For a partner, the vessel built in 1971 is getting, from Greece – also a ship rather ancient.

For its second day, one of the two ferries connecting mainland and Muhumaa since 2020 – named Saaremaa – was in maintenance and Regula struggled to do its job. As compared to Saaremaa, it holds significantly fewer vehicles – hence the long queues.

«Yep, this is the kind of ships there is – one is smaller, another bigger. Affects, sure,» said a Kuivastu berth worker yesterday afternoon, asking for anonymity and adding that they do manage to get all the folks across.  

The man admitted the situation was more problematic than the week before. How many kilometres the waiting lines? The man was at a loss to say.

«We can’t see further that Kuivastu Tavern, in the cameras,» explained the port hand. The people in the line, at 5 pm, thought it must have been some six kilometres.

In the summer ahead of us, Ionas (built in 1989) – all the way from Greece – will join Regula to sail the mainland-Muhumaa route. As acknowledged by several people who often cover the distance, the return of the oldies does definitely affect them while they do understand Vjatšeslav Leedo, the owner of Saaremaa Laevakompanii (SLK) servicing the route.

Olari, on his way from Virtsu to Kuivastu in the morning, said he would surely be affected by not having the newer ferries any longer, as he goes back and forth about ten times a month.

«The new ones are comfy and fast. I have sailed on Regula for years, can’t go that same speed,» he admitted, adding that as the new ferries arrived (five years ago – edit) the queues became shorter.

«When we still had these old vessels sailing here, it was pretty bad waiting in the lines at Midsummer Day, to get back to Tallinn. Had to wait for hours,» said the man.

But Olari understands: as the state no longer buys the service from Mr Leedo, the entrepreneur needs to find a new place for the ferries.

«How come they could not agree, at some sensible conditions, to get the existing vessels into state use. Why such stupidity, while we have the vessels, to build new ones. They ought to have arrived at some compromise,» Olari added.

To this, Juhan – headed back to mainland yesterday afternoon – agrees. He said the crossing has been organised very well. «By business logic, Mr Leedo cannot wait around till the state brings its ships and then he needs to set his aside someplace,» mulled the man, admitting that as a passenger he regrets the ferries taken someplace else.

Koit, also sailing towards Virtsu, said Regula failed to take his vehicle at Kuivastu, so he had to wait for the next ferry Muhumaa.  This has not happened for a long time, said Koit.

«Nothing doing, the state hath thus decided, we must suffer. Once the state acts like this, what can the businessman (Mr Leedo – edit)do. He needs to find his own options,» thinks Koit.

Riina and Rain, also frequent ferry travellers, were likewise forced to wait for Muhumaa early yesterday afternoon. Departing at 12:55 pm, Regula had no room for their van – though they were pretty advanced in the waiting line.

«We were thinking: if two small ferries will come instead [Saaremaa and Muhumaa], what shall we do?» related Riina. She said for them this would be a major problem.

«We have done this route for 30 years, over that time I’ve lost two years of my life in the ferry lines, which I might have used someplace else. If this is the way things go, we will have to be queuing at the Liiva Shop (about 5.5 kilometres from Kuivastu – edit) and buying bread for a couple of days,» said Rain.

Repair or Rhine?

On May 14^th, local newspaper Meie Maa said Saaremaa Laevakompanii (SLK) intends to take the ferries Saaremaa and Muhumaa to Germany and replace them with old ferries starting with the Regula built in 1971.

According to several sources, the ferries would go to maintenance first and then to River Rhine. Port of Tallinn board member Allan Kiil said the grapevine says the move will happen before Midsummer Day. To that, SLK chief Tõnis Rihvk replied that the ferries are taking turns in regular maintenance and the talks about Germany are speculation.