The company's fleet also transported 93,565 trucks & trailers, 7% more than in January-September 2022.

"Results for the third quarter exceeded expectations and provide grounds for a continued good full-year forecast. Passenger and cargo volumes continued to rise, despite the lower number of vessels, while the planned sales prices were reached. Bunker (vessel oil) prices have gradually fallen but are still very high compared to before the pandemic and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," Jan Hanses, Viking Line's CEO, commented.

He also highlighted, "Starting in 2024, our traffic will be subject to the EU Emissions Trading System. This means that a cost will be imposed on us that we can only partly adjust to in the medium term through continued energy efficiency work. There are no fossil-free fuels available in quantity and at prices that are economically viable. Implementation of a temporary island exemption for service between Finland and Åland is thus well justified since the transition to fossil-free fuel is determined not by the cost of emission rights but rather by the supply of alternative fossil-free fuels. We do not intend to lower our ambitions to reduce emissions from our service with the implementation of this island exemption. On the contrary, we will use the cost savings to continue our work to make the transition to fossil-free fuels and increase energy efficiency."

"To summarize, I can note that the report period was very strong, even excluding the income effect of the sale of Rosella," Hanses underlined.