Finnlines launches new Malmö-Travemünde passenger service

 Ferry Baltic leader Finnlines announced the extension of its new, successful passenger concept to the Malmö-Travemünde route. The service offers three departures per day (except Mondays, 2 departures). The 9‐hour sailing is served by ferries featuring 190 spacious cabins each as well as amenities for passengers.

   The Finnlines’ Malmö-Travemünde ferry line is the only one to Germany that comfortably depart from the very centre of Malmö. As from today, 13 July, in addition to passengers travelling with their cars, motorbikes or campers, the service is also opened to foot-passengers. This new opportunity for the citizens of Malmö and the entire South Sweden has been made possible also thanks to Copenhagen Malmö Port AB that has organised bus transfers to and from the Railway Station of Malmö in conjunction with arrival and departure of all of the Finnlines ferries.

   Especially attractive Summer Prices have been introduced starting from 270 SEK per person one/way (footpax, daytrip, no cabin). Rates for couples and families start from 675 SEK (2 pax + car) and 825 SEK (4 pax + car). This corresponds at a 25% reduction on normal ticket cost.

   Through its subsidiary Rederi AB Nordö-Link operating the Malmö-Travemünde route for ro-ro cargo only, Finnlines has historically supported the local economy by making available a unique tool to Southern Sweden’s importers and exporters. Since last year NordöLink started a pilot project to enlarge the trades to passengers but this has been made a reality only now, under the Finnlines brand and a new management who brings in a strong passenger culture and know-how. Finnlines will therefore be the passenger ferry brand for the Malmö-Travemünde, while for the time being NordöLink will carry on ro-ro cargo business.

   The three vessels operating Finnlines’ Malmö-Travemünde route are the MS Finnpartner, MS Finntrader and MS Finneagle. The first two are Hansa-class vessels, recently converted to better suit the Malmö-Travemünde traffic by adding 150 cabins each. Their total number of passenger cabins is 190. They feature a spacious Passenger Lounge on deck 6, with a bar, kid’s corner, outdoor sun-deck and a big sauna area with swimming pool and jacuzzi. Size of the outside A-cabins is 20 square meters, which no competitor on the South Sweden/Germany trade can offer. The m/s Finneagle is instead a Clipper class vessel, identical to 2 operating on Kapellskär-Naantali.

   Through its subsidiary FinnLink, in fact, Finnlines also operates the Kapellskär – Naantali ferry line that has so far been mainly focused on ro-ro traffic. This is set to change too as in the short term future Finnlines’ Kapellskär – Naantali product will be redesigned to better suits and attracts passengers.

   The enforcement of the new Finnlines passenger concept in Sweden follow similar developments recently completed on the trades between Finland and Poland (Helsinki-Gdynia), Poland and Germany (Gdynia- Travemünde), Finland-Germany (Helsinki-Travemünde)

   Mr. Uwe Bakosch, President and CEO of Finnlines said: “The opening of a full scale 3-times-a-day passenger service, the only one between Malmö and Travemünde is indeed a major development for the entire South of Sweden. What Finnlines offers is a unique, economically convenient, new mean of transport for passengers living in the region of Malmö. Passengers have now the possibility to enjoy short breaks and weekends in Germany at very convenient prices. At the same time the new service will support the Swedish economy by bringing here tourist flows from Germany and the whole Central Europe. Finally, I wish to thank Copenhagen Malmö Port AB (CMP) for their co‐operation in making possible the use of Finnlines’ ferry service to foot-passengers too.

   "We are very satisfied that Finnlines is developing its business in our port and now extends the passenger service to Travemünde, especially when the City of Malmö and our company are investing 900 million SEK in new port terminal facilities for the long term ferry traffic, etc”, says Lennart Pettersson, Deputy Managing Director of CMP.

   "We are very positive to Finnlines concept for passenger traffic, it increases Malmö's accessibility. The German market is one of our largest markets and we have approximately 40 000 German guest nights each year. That means that Germans are the largest group of international hotel guests in Malmö", says Katarina Olsson, Project manager, Malmö Tourism board.

   (Source: Transport Weekly)