Finferries and Åland Islands government discuss joint shipping venture Ålands Skärgårdsrederi Ab

Finferries, a state-owned ferry operator in mainland Finland, has entered discussions with the Åland Islands regional government to establish a joint shipping company. The new entity will be named Ålands Skärgårdsrederi Ab, marketed as Axferries. Both Finferries and the Åland regional government will each hold a 50% stake in the company.

The initiative gained momentum following the bankruptcy of Nordic Jet Line last summer, which primarily operated in Åland’s waters, during the peak of the summer season. Ansgar Ab, a subsidiary partly owned by Finferries, stepped in to organize transportation at short notice. “A call came on Friday, and by Monday we were already managing operations. It was almost a magic trick,” said Håkan Fagerström, CEO of Finferries and chairman of Ansgar Ab.

After this incident, Finferries has maintained close communication with the Åland regional government, leading to a growing mutual trust, according to Fagerström. Discussion has emerged around creating a single strong service provider in the region, with competitive bidding for routes.

Concerns have been raised about the implications of this joint venture. Veronica Thörnroos, a former regional minister and leader of the newly established Pro Åland party, has publicly questioned the motivations behind the merger, suggesting it might involve more than just cost savings. She believes the regional government should maintain control over local waters.

In contrast, Fagerström expressed his disbelief at the criticisms. “It nearly made me choke on my coffee,” he remarked.

The joint venture promises significant advantages, such as shared resources and reduced costs from maintaining a common inventory, which he suggests could lead to more efficient operations and better service in the long term.