The Finnish shipping company Eckerö Line is procuring another cargo ship, which will start operating from Vuosaari harbour to Tallinn's A terminal in June. The vessel will sail under the Finnish flag and carry car passengers in addition to cargo. The new, twice-daily ferry service will provide travellers with an affordable option for moving between Finland and Estonia. The introduction of the new vessel will further increase the volume of cargo and cars transported by Eckerö Line, which has grown strongly in recent years. The new vessel’s operation expected to reduce truck traffic in central Helsinki. Taru Keronen, Managing Director of Eckerö Line, believes in the strong growth of the Helsinki – Tallinn route. “We see great potential in the route and want to be involved in its development. Our cargo figures have been growing well in recent years, and more and more passengers are taking their cars when travelling to Estonia. We are now introducing a completely new solution to the route, which will accelerate the shift to Vuosaari for heavy traffic and create a new alternative for cargo and car travel, ”says Keronen. Vessel to create jobs in Finland and Estonia The new vessel will be registered under the Finnish flag. Eckerö Line is the only shipping company that operates under the Finnish flag on the Helsinki-Tallinn route. Its second vessel, m/s Finlandia, also sails under the Finnish flag. The ship will dock in May and start operating in June. Opening the new route will create new jobs for Vuosaari and Tallinn harbours and onboard the new ship. “The new vessel creates about 80 new jobs in Finland and Estonia,” says Taru Keronen. Two miles of cargo and over 350 seats The new vessel is owned by Rederi Ab Eckerö, the parent company of Eckerö Line. The ship was built in 2000 in Spain and last operated by P&O Ferries between Liverpool and Dublin. It has a 366-passenger capacity and features a small shop, comfortable passenger facilities, a café and a seating area, and cabins. It will transport freight slightly more than Eckerö Line’s already operating passenger vessel m/s Finlandia. “We offer a fast and practical alternative for cargo to the busy city centre of Helsinki. The number of our cargo departures will increase to ten per day as we bring together the cargo carried by the new vessel and m/s Finlandia, ”says Markku Onniselkä, Eckerö Line's freight director. The new vessel is set to operate two round trips daily, and the journey from Vuosaari to Tallinn will take three hours. The vessel’s name will be announced after its registration.