The Gotland traffic will be operated with three ships, Swedish flag and Swedish collective agreement. Now the work continues to develop Gotland traffic to make Gotland an even more attractive place to visit, live and work.

"Traffic between Gotland and the mainland is part of our identity, and we are extremely happy and proud to have won renewed trust from the Swedish Transport Administration. We have received award decisions, and now contract writing follows. Our journey towards climate-neutral crossings now continues with next-generation ships and reduced emissions," says Håkan Johansson, CEO of Gotlandsbolaget.

Gotlandsbolaget and Destination Gotland have worked intensively to produce a competitive tender.

"I would like to express a big thank you to all employees who worked intensively to develop a competitive tender, despite the difference in tax conditions that currently prevails between Sweden and our neighbouring countries. We have a good dialogue with the Swedish unions, and it is a matter of course for us to prioritize Swedish collective agreements on board our ships, and we will also continue to operate under the Swedish flag", says Marcus Risberg, CEO of Destination Gotland.

In order to meet the different tax conditions that prevail today, the winning bid is based on a Swedish flag and Swedish crew with Swedish collective agreements, and a Danish subsidiary, Alvina Shipping, that will be responsible for financial and strategic management.

The government is working to develop the Swedish tonnage tax, which could mean that Swedish shipping gets equal terms with international shipping companies. Gotlandsbolaget looks with confidence at the possibility that Gotlandstrafiken will be included in its entirety in the developed Swedish tax system. If the government makes this decision, responsibility for financial and strategic management will also be placed on Gotland.

Marcus Risberg continues "We look forward to continuing to work for and with the Swedish Transport Administration and the people of Gotland under the Swedish flag but are also humbled by the task we have before us. The security issue in the Baltic Sea, but also the climate, has a major impact on our operations and Gotland, and we take our responsibility very seriously."

The local anchoring on Gotland is and has always been important and does not diminish because the tender was submitted by a Danish subsidiary. Gotlandsbolaget also recently acquired a line between Oslo and Copenhagen.

"Gotland is the place we call home, as we have done since 1865. Gotlandsbolaget was started by the Gotlanders coming together to ensure traffic between Gotland and the mainland, and just as that heritage is our history, it is also part of our future, which today's announcement confirms", concludes Håkan Johansson.

The new agreement takes effect on 1 February 2027.