Viking Line starts partnership with Gotlandsbolaget

#NordicNews on ship traffic and Sweden

Viking Line to cooperate with Gotlandsbolaget in future

Viking Line and Gotlandsbolaget (Gotland Company) will establish a joint venture. The mission of the new organisation is to develop and offer cruises with M/S Birka Stockholm between Stockholm-Mariehamn and Stockholm-Mariehamn-Visby.

Acquired by Gotlandsbolaget in March 2023, M/S Birka Stockholm was purchased by Gotlandsbolaget for EUR 38 million and will sell its 50 per cent share of the vessel to Viking Line for EUR 19 million.

Both shipping companies have roots in Gotland and Åland and will use their expertise to offer a cruise service from Stockholm to Mariehamn and Visby, and possibly also destination cruises in the Baltic Sea region. The launch is scheduled for spring 2024.

The M/S Viking Cinderella currently operates between Stockholm to Mariehamn. It will be transferred to the Helsinki-Mariehamn-Stockholm route in spring 2024.

The cooperation is intended to further improve the cruise offer from Stockholm. The initial contract for the partnership is for five years with the possibility of extension. The new venture will be a major investment in shipping on the Baltic Sea. Planning for the start of operations is already underway. The company is also working on offering an attractive new product.

The establishment of the new company is subject to the approval of the Swedish Competition Authority. The new company is to be based in Stockholm and will be headed by CEO Susanne Kaarnimo-Knight.

More on Viking Line and Gotlandsbolaget.

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