The CRIST Shipyard has submitted the most advantageous bid in a tender for the design and construction of a new passenger-car ferry, which will operate connections between Estonian islands. The contract is valued at nearly €50 million, with €28 million to be financed from the EU Modernisation Fund.

The Polish shipyard sought to secure the contract for the construction and delivery of a modern, environmentally friendly vessel powered by electricity from batteries charged from shore. The ferry will be capable of carrying up to 380 passengers and 110 cars or eight trucks. For emergency situations, the unit will be equipped with generators powered by biodiesel.

The plan предусматривает that the new ferry will replace an older vessel named Regula (IMO: 7051058), operating under the Estonian flag and built in 1971. The investment is co-financed with EU funds. Delivery of the vessel is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.

According to Estonian media, before the final contract is signed between the Gdynia-based shipyard and the contracting authority, a standstill period for potential appeals by competitors must elapse; this period amounts to 10 days. In accordance with Estonian public procurement regulations, the winning bidder must also successfully pass verification regarding exclusion grounds prior to contract signature. Only then can the decision on the selected contractor be formally confirmed. Other bidders included Baltic Workboats and UAB Vakaru Baltijos Laivu Statykla.

For the CRIST Shipyard, such contracts provide an opportunity to showcase its capabilities more broadly and demonstrate its competence in constructing a wide range of structures. The yard primarily builds ship hulls for the offshore sector, which are subsequently outfitted by the main contractor. It is also responsible for delivering hull sections for multi-role frigates for the Polish Navy under the Miecznik programme. The ferry contract would mean that, in this case, the yard will act as the main contractor for the Estonian vessel.