Eckerö Line is celebrating 30 years! Here are the highlights of their journey!

MS Finladnia ferry. Source: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Eckerö Line began operations on August 26, 1994 as Eestin Linjat, operating on the Tallinn-Helsinki route with MS Alandia ferry. In 1995 Eckerö Line moved to the Western Harbour of Jätkäsaari, where they still operate today.

Since 1998, with the introduction of MS Nordlandia, Eckerö Line have become a leader on the Helsinki-Tallinn route, offering the largest ship with a capacity of 780 cubic meters and room for 2,000 passengers and 400 cars.

In 2004, after Estonia joined the EU, Eckerö Line introduced the MS Translandia, a ship focusing on cargo. In 2010, the development of Muuga port was initiated to become one of the largest cargo ports in the Baltic Sea.

MS Finlandia, introduced in 2012, reduced travel time to 2.5 hours, significantly increasing Eckerö Line's market share on the Helsinki-Tallinn route. In 2019, MS Finbo Cargo began operations between Vuosaari and Muuga, reducing truck traffic in city centers of capitals of Finland and Estonia.

From 2020, MS Finbo Cargo has been using shore power in Tallinn, reducing climate emissions by up to 50-80%. Another shore power system was introduced in the port of Helsinki in 2023.

In 2023, Eckerö Line exceeded 2 million passengers per year and shipped 2.8 million linear meters of cargo.

MS Finlandia underwent a modernization in 2024, which helped to reduce fuel consumption by 6%.

The company's emphasis on Finnish values, equality and employee welfare translates into the highest customer experience ratings in the Baltic Sea. From one ship and daily sailings to the current 12 daily runs, Eckerö Line has continuously expanded its fleet and services, remaining a key player in the ferry crossing market.

Fun facts:

In 1994, when Eckerö Line began operations in Tallinn's Old Port, there was no road leading to Terminal D, where the operator was operating at the time. In just three weeks, a 300-meter road was built and Eckerö Line was able to start operating this route.

The MS Translandia was the first ship designed to carry cargo, but trucks still had to reverse into the ship. Fortunately, the drivers were skilled. The MS Translandia had a great suite, and during the famous “No More Mr. Nice Guy” tour, Alice Cooper rented an entire cargo ship for himself and his crew on the Tallinn-Helsinki route.

Source:
[Eckerö Line Cargo]