The Finnish National Emergency Supply Agency has reserved €45m to keep ferry cargo traffic going across three trade lanes.

These include Turku-Långnäs-Stockholm (served by Viking Line's Amorella and Viking Grace as well as Tallink's Baltic Princess), Vaasa-Umeå (Wasaline's Wasa Express), and Helsinki-Tallinn (Eckerö Line's Finlandia and Tallink's Megastar).

The move also comes against the background that shipping lines have been cut from passenger traffic revenues following the introduction of national anti-COVID 19 measures.

The support will last three months and will be prolonged if necessary.

"We consider it important to maintain functions that are vital to society in a way that is as close to normal as possible even in these exceptional circumstances. We are grateful for the support we are receiving from Finland's National Emergency Supply Agency. This allows us to maintain some of our normal traffic," Jan Hanses, President and CEO, Viking Line, commented.

Photo: Viking Line