AS Tallink Grupp and Aker Yards have signed a shipbuilding contract for a new large cruise ferry. The vessel worth approx. 180 million euro will be delivered in spring 2009. The new cruise ferry, with a code name of Cruise 5, will be a new development of the 2006 delivered MS Galaxy and her sister vessel which is currently on construction and due for delivery in 2008. The project is planned to be financed from long-term debt. The loan which is preliminary agreed with Danske Bank will be guaranteed by Finnvera, a Finnish Export Credit Agency. The 212 metres long and 29 m wide vessel will be one of the biggest and fastest cruise ferries in the Baltic Sea, having capacity for 2,800 passengers and with a speed of 24.5 knots. The guiding principle in designing the vessel has been paying attention to the comfort and luxury of present- day passengers. There will be maximal use of high-tech solutions onboard. Over 900 cabins, several restaurants and places to entertain of various style and class as well as a remarkable conference centre with over 450 seats make the new ship a multi functional sea-based hotel with excellent ambience. To take into consideration the different possibilities of the market development during the next few years when the ferry is being built AS Tallink Grupp does not want to assure in more detail the route that will be operated by Cruise 5. There are possibilities for many scenarios both on the current routes as well as on the potential new routes including the replacing of some of the current vessels and the further switch of the rest of the fleet between the routes resulting from this. The sister vessel of Galaxy, which is currently being built, is planned to start operations on Tallinn-Helsinki route when delivered in 2008 and our 2006 delivered MS Galaxy would then move to Turku-Stockholm route. Janek Stalmeister Financial Director AS Tallink Grupp tel.: + 372 6 409 800 email: janek.stalmeister@tallink.ee