Tampere accepts bid for Nordic region’s largest inland shipping company

Tampere has accepted an offer for Suomen Hopealinja Oy, described as the Nordic region’s largest inland shipping company, and will begin negotiations on a final share sale, Yle reports.

The city aims to secure passenger boat services on Lake Pyhäjärvi and ensure the continued operation of Viikinsaari, an island used for recreation. Under the offer, Hopealinja’s operations, vessels and Viikinsaari would remain under one operator. The prospective buyers have also proposed developing services on the island and making it more attractive.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the bidder’s identity yet, but the information is expected to be released separately soon. The bidder also wants to buy the city-owned buildings on Viikinsaari and lease the land for 30 years. The property sale and lease are being prepared separately, with decisions to follow later.

Hopealinja operates five inland vessels and carries about 100,000 passengers a year. Its routes include services on Lake Pyhäjärvi to Viikinsaari, Visavuori and Hämeenlinna, as well as routes on Lake Näsijärvi to Virrat. In August, it appeared certain that the company’s vessels would stop operating on Lake Pyhäjärvi.