The 2020-established Holland Norway Lines will bareboat charter the ferry as of March 2022 for launching the Kristiansand-Eemshaven route.

The agreement includes the option to prolong the period by one year and then another 12 months.

After her charter in the Mediterranean, plying between France and Morocco (Sète-Tanger Med), Romantika is currently serving as a hotel during the COP26 global climate conference in Glasgow. She is expected to return to Tallinn in mid-November.

Before the pandemic, Romantika had been operating across the Riga-Stockholm crossing, together with Tallink & Silja's Isabelle. The company intends to re-open the route in spring 2022, but only with Isabelle.

"This is the sixth charter agreement we have managed to secure this year for our vessels that are still waiting for travel restrictions to ease and the pandemic situation to improve," Tallink Grupp's CEO Paavo Nõgene said.

He furthered, "Considering there are many vessels idle in ports around the world waiting for work, this is great recognition for us as a company and our fleet. It means our vessels that are in great condition, the right type for transporting both goods and people, efficient and with excellent technical crew, are sought after around the world."

Nõgene also stressed, "While the recovery from the pandemic is likely to take a number of years and it is unlikely we will be able to return to pre-COVID routes and schedules in the near future, it is positive that we are able to secure work for our vessels and crew where possible."

Photo: Marko Stampehl/Tallink Grupp