AS Tallink Grupp with its group companies AS Hansatee Cargo and Tallink Silja Oy won the fairway dues dispute against Finnish state


Tallinn, 2015-02-27 13:46 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AS Tallink Grupp  with its group companies AS Hansatee Cargo and Tallink Silja Oy won the fairway dues dispute against Finnish state

With its judgement from 27 February 2015 the Helsinki District Court compelled Finland to refund to the shipowners the fairway dues, charged in excessive extent in the years 2001-2004, with interests.

The Finnish Act on Fairway Dues, as it was applied before the 1st January 2006, was contrary to EU legislation and to the principle of nondiscrimination, whereby the freedom to provide cross-border services was violated. Based on that act higher dues were charged from the ships in international maritime transport than from those in domestic transport. Finland amended the act under the influence of the European Commission.

In the process the claims of 52 Finnish shipowners and of the foreign shipowners were determined against the Finnish state on the above bases and altogether 91 million euros was ordered for their benefit of which AS Tallink Grupp will receive 13,2 million euros, AS Hansatee Cargo will receive 0,4 million euros and Tallink Silja Oy will receive 20,5 million euros.

         Harri Hanschmidt
         Head of the Finance Department
         
         AS Tallink Grupp
         Sadama 5/7. 10111 Tallinn
         Tel +372 640 8981
         E-mail harri.hanschmidt@tallink.ee