"When presenting last year's financial results, we assured our investors and customers of our commitment to maintaining flexibility and responding to market demand. STAR I is an excellent vessel that has served us well, and there has been repeated interest in acquiring it. A favorable set of circumstances created the right moment for the sale while allowing us to continue passenger services with an equivalent vessel – SUPERFAST IX, which returned last year from a long-term charter in Canada. Keeping a vessel idle is not a sustainable option for the company in the long run," said Paavo Nõgene, Chairman of the Management Board of AS Tallink Grupp.

With the arrival of SUPERFAST IX on the Paldiski-Kapellskär route on April 12, the route schedule and onboard services will remain unchanged. Ticket prices will also not be affected by the vessel replacement.

"We will do everything necessary in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition to the new vessel. Changes have already been made in the ticket sales and booking systems. We can assure our customers that the vessel change will not result in any decline in service quality – SUPERFAST IX is a modern and comfortable vessel. The onboard retail and catering services from Star I will be transferred to SUPERFAST IX. Since the Paldiski-Kapellskär route also operates overnight, it is good to know that SUPERFAST IX offers more spacious cabins. Additionally, the vessel has more room for cargo transport," Nõgene noted.

The sale transaction will not have a significant impact on Tallink's financial results but will help optimize the company's operations. Tallink will transfer STAR I to Irish Continental Group in the coming weeks.

SUPERFAST IX was built in 2002 in Kiel, Germany. Tallink purchased the vessel in 2006, and it initially operated under the Estonian flag on the Rostock-Paldiski-Hanko-route, later serving the Helsinki-Rostock-route. In recent years, the vessel has been operating in Canadian waters under a charter agreement.