The Government of Åland hereby invites interested bidders to participate in this procurement to operate ferry services between Långnäs in Åland and Galtby in Pargas, mainland Finland. The intermediate ports that are served are Överö, Sottunga, Husö, Kyrkogårdsö and Kökar, all in Åland. During the assignment period, the Contractor holds full shipowner responsibility for the traffic and the Contractor shall operate according to the tour lists established by the Customer. The contract constitutes an operating contract, where the Customer provides the ferries, M/S Viggen, M/S Skiftet, M/S Gudingen and M/S Knipan and the Contractor is responsible for the staffing, the daily maintenance work excluding spare parts and to operate the ferries economically so that fuel can be saved.

M/S Gudingen and M/S Knipan are included in the operating contract to drive one ferry according to the timetable and the other in reserve during the high season, about two months, and the rest of the year run other traffic ordered by the Customer.

The contract period is forty-eight (48) months with the client's unilateral option to extend for one plus one year. The planned start of the agreement is 1.10.2023 and the last contract date is 30.9.2027. Exact dates are regulated at the time of signing the contract. The customer must declare in writing the first option for a one-year extension no later than 15.12.2026. If the first option has been taken, there is a second option, of a one-year extension, which must be declared in writing no later than 15.12.2027.