Estonia, Financial Services, Port, Transport

On the other hand, the port operator company is squeezed by the state that this year withdrew over 400 mln kroons from the state-owned firm and next year expects most likely 300 mln kroons of dividends.

“We are of position that port fees should stay unchanged in 2010,” said Tallinna Sadam finance manager Marko Raid. “The price lists of Finnish and Swedish ports don’t show cheaper levels,” he said.

Deputy CEO of Tallink Andres Hunt sent a letter to the minister of economic affairs and communications Juhan Parts last week, asking for lower port fees by 15 percent. “Year after year the port fees have increased while in recent years the fee rates of Tallinna Sadam exceed already the rates of Stockholm and Turku ports,” wrote Hunt. Tallink paid the port over 246 mln kroons in the past two years as port fees and 10 mln kroons as rental and utility fees. Tallink’s cargo transport income fell at the same time by 920 mln kroons, average price of ship ticket fell by a tenth and expenditures of passengers on board ships by 6%.

Competing Viking Line and Eckerö Line expressed support to Tallink. “Viking Line faces talks with Tallinna Sadam at the beginning of 2010 and we want the price to go down,” said Viking Line Eesti board member Inno Borodenko. “As compared to Stockholm and Helsinki, Tallinn’s prices are too high.”

“For us the Tallinn and Helsinki port fees are equal but Tallinn’s fees could be by 10-15% cheaper,” said Eckerö Line Estonian branch head Katrin Sirk Aun, adding that Nordic clients come to Tallinn mainly because of cheaper goods and services.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications did not want to comment on the situation, saying just that it is sorry that due to a mistake of an official, Tallink’s letter containing business secrets became public.