A Successful Debut for the Helsinki-Gdynia-Travemünde Line
12,000 passengers and 3,000 commercial vehicles booked in one month
Helsinki, 8 July, 2009 ‐ The new Finnlines’ Motorways of the Sea for cargo and passengers linking Finland, Poland and Germany inaugurated on 2 June 2009 have proven to be successful since their very debut.
In only one month, in fact, the Helsinki/Gdynia/Travemünde connection has attracted about 12,000 passengers who have booked for travelling until 31 August, with some 5,000 of these who have already sailed in June taking advantage of the very competitive low cost fares launched by Finnlines to support the start‐up. Additionally, in the first month of operation there have been booked some 3,000 commercial vehicles with drivers and cars. In addition steady flow of existing trailers is being transported.
Both the Helsinki‐Gdynia and Gdynia/Travemünde services feature three departures per week in each direction. Transit time is extremely convenient indeed: less than 19 hours between Gdynia and Helsinki and only 15 hours to link Gdynia and Travemünde. These two services are both really unique: the Helsinki/Gdynia line is in fact the only passenger service between Poland and Finland while the Gdynia/Travemünde is the first Motorways of the Sea between Poland and Germany: a relaxing, safe, cost effective and environmentally friendly infrastructure to reduce the pollution, risks for drivers and cargo as well as congestion on Europe’s motorway network.
“The first, positive, results of the new Helsinki/Gdynia/Travemünde line shows that forward thinking allows for new innovation and creates possibilities to generate new business even in a difficult economic environment”, said Uwe Bakosch, the new Finnlines President and CEO “It is also important to underline the good response to the new competitive low cost concept for passengers that Finnlines has been focusing on for the last few months”, he noted.
The quality of the ships is a key to deliver a superior service for both cargo and passengers. The Helsinki/Gdynia and the Gdynia/Travemünde routes are performed by the ‘Star Class’ ferries, the world’s largest Ro/Ro passenger ferries: MS Finnstar, MS Finnmaid, MS Finnlady, MS Europalink, MS Nordlink. These ships are five identical huge Super A Ice‐Class ferries built in 2006 and 2007 being able to transport up to 4,200 lane metres of trucks, trailers and busses as well as 110 cars and up to 500 passengers in 200 passengers cabins. With a length of 218 metres and a width of 30.5 metres, the Star Class ships have a 25‐knot speed.
On each ship up to 500 passengers can enjoy the sea trips relaxing, having fresh and tasty buffet‐meals in the restaurant, a drink in the Bar Navigare or a coffee and sandwich in the Café Verde and enjoying a fantastic sea‐view whilst travelling. The saunas separate for men and women, are both equipped with Jacuzzis also allowing for a fantastic sea‐view whilst relaxing. The 200 passenger cabins have a size ranging from 10 to 38 square metres and are equipped with TV and modern bathrooms. Meals can be purchased in advance as a package for the entire trip or onboard, paying each time for single meal.
For additional information: www.finnlines.com or mail to: press@finnlines.com (preferably in English)
Finnlines Passenger Services
Kaj Takolander, E. V. Pres., Passenger Services
kaj.takolander@finnlines.com
Tel: +358 10 343 4429
Finnlines Freight Services
Staffan Herlin, E. V. Pres., Mark. & Sales
staffan.herlin@finnlines.com ‐ Tel: +358 10 343 5257
About Finnlines;
Finnlines is a leading shipping operator of ro‐ro and passenger services in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finnlines is a part of the Grimaldi Group, one of the world's largest operators of ro‐ro vessels and the largest operator of Motorways of the Sea in Europe for both passengers and freight. Based in Naples, Italy, the Grimaldi Group has a turnover of 2.5 billion Euros and operates 120 vessels. In addition to Finnlines, it also comprises the following brands: Grimaldi Lines (Italy), Atlantic Container Line (Sweden) Minoan Lines (Greece), Malta Motorways of the Sea (Malta).