Finland's Viking Line Plans to Launch Helsinki–Muuga Ro-Ro Ferry Route in 2027

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 3, Finnish shipping company Viking Line and Germany's TT-Line announced that they will jointly deploy the ro-ro ferry Huckleberry Finn to open a freight and passenger route from Vuosaari Port in Helsinki, Finland, to Muuga Port in Tallinn, Estonia, in the first quarter of 2027. The two companies will each hold a 50% stake, and Viking Line's investment in the vessel is approximately EUR 10 million.

Built in 1988, the Huckleberry Finn has an overall length of 177.2 meters, a moulded breadth of 26 meters, ice class 1A, a service speed of 18 knots, and three vehicle decks. Its freight capacity is 2,240 lane meters, accommodating 535 cars or 142 freight vehicles; its passenger capacity is 400, with restaurants, passenger lounges, and cabins. By comparison, the Finbo Cargo operated by Eckerö Line on the same corridor can carry 95 trucks, 35 cars, and 180 passengers at full load.

Data from the Port of Tallinn shows that the Vuosaari–Muuga route carried 201,000 passengers in 2024, up 18% year on year; vehicle volumes approached 153,000 units, up 23% year on year. Rene Pärt, a member of the Port of Tallinn management board, said freight volumes on the route have grown year by year and are "approaching the limit of what a single vessel can handle," with clear market demand for additional capacity and higher sailing frequency. The Huckleberry Finn's 2,240 lane meters and 400-passenger capacity are a direct means of increasing per-vessel throughput without adding sailings.

The two parties signed a joint operation agreement on October 5, 2026, but will not establish a separate joint venture. Viking Line is acquiring a 50% equity stake in the vessel for approximately EUR 10 million, with the two shipowners holding equal shares and sharing operational responsibility; vessel scheduling, crewing, and maintenance management will be coordinated by both parties, while sales and freight customer networks will each use their existing channels to fill capacity. This arrangement allows Viking Line to enter the Vuosaari–Muuga freight corridor currently dominated by Eckerö Line without bearing the full cost of acquiring a vessel.

Vuosaari is the main freight port area of the Port of Helsinki, while Muuga is the freight port area of the Port of Tallinn located about 15 kilometers from the city center; both focus on ro-ro and container operations rather than city-center passenger ferry terminals. The new route targets the freight corridor rather than tourist traffic, creating direct competition with Finbo Cargo at the same port area level.