RIGA - Transport Minister Ainars Slesers announced this week that the Estonian shipper Tallink could begin carrying passengers not only from Riga to Stockholm but to Helsinki as well. He said that Tallink could begin direct passenger service between Riga and Helsinki in April next year when the Latvia capital begins hosting the 2006 World Ice Hockey Championship.
If these trips prove to be successful "we could speak about a direct line Riga-Helsinki."
According to preliminary plans, Tallink would provide transport services between Riga and Stockholm with two modern passenger ferries, with each carrying about 1,500 passengers.
But before a final decision is reached, Riga Passenger Port's infrastructure must be improved, Slesers said.
Slesers, who was instrumental in bringing Ryanair to Riga International Airport, has been trying to work the same formula for Riga Passenger Port. At present the ferry service between Riga and Stockholm is provided by Rigas Juras Linijas (Riga Sea Lines), which last year carried 78,292 passengers on this route, up 8 percent from 2003.
Riga Sea Lines' shareholders are Riga City Council, Riga Port and several private businesses.
Overall traffic this year is down , with Riga Port serving a total of 81,371 passengers in the first six months of the year, 24.3 percent less year-on-year, according to port data.
This year 43,511 passengers left Riga port, 21.5 percent less than in the first half of 2004, and 37,860 passengers arrived at the port, 27.4 percent less.
From January-June 2005 Riga port also served 40,937 cruise ship passengers, 42.9 percent less than in the first six months of 2004. In June 2005 Riga port served 31,602 passengers, 30 percent more than in the same month last year.
Riga Port has regular, direct cargo and passenger ferry lines to Stockholm (Sweden) and Luebeck (Germany).
