Ice conditions postpone start of hydrofoil and catamaran traffic to Tallinn

The operators of hydrofoils and catamarans between Helsinki and Tallinn have again been forced to postpone the start of this summer's season due to the difficult ice conditions. Before Easter, the shipping companies hoped to be sailing by May Day, but the start of traffic has now been postponed by one more week. The season for faster traffic will begin unusually late this year, as catamarans and hydrofoils have normally begun to traffic in early April. Last year, the season began exceptionally early, with boats sailing in mid-March. In April 2002, some 150,000 trips were made on the hydrofoils and catamarans, which accounted for slightly under ten percent of the total for the entire season. Keijo Mehtonen, the head of Tallink Finland, has calculated that the total loss to the industry due to the delays will be some 50,000 - 60,000 trips. Some travellers have opted for slower boats instead, or postponed their travel plans. May Day is normally a slow time on the boats, but the fact that Easter was missed was a larger blow to the shipping companies. Tallink has switched passengers onto its slower ferries, but on weekends, there has not been enough room for all eager travellers. The head of Nordic Jet Line, Mikael Granrot, estimates that his company has lost 50,000 - 60,000 passengers. The company had taken reservations from the beginning of April onwards. Granrot says the company will lose hundreds of thousands of euros, but the weak dollar and lower price of oil will compensate somewhat.