OREANDA-NEWS. September 17, 2014. Only one bid was received in the Economic Affairs Ministry's passenger ferry service procurement for the routes between the mainland and Hiiumaa and Saaremaa Islands.

The bid was from the current operator, Vainamere Liinid, owned by Vjatseslav Leedo's Saaremaa Laevakompanii.

The next period for the contract starts on October 1, 2016 and will run for 10 years.

If the bid from the Leedo company does not qualify, the state could negotiate with other potential operators, such as the Port of Tallinn. The state-owned port could not vie for the contract as there was no guarantee that it will acquire the ships it needs by October 2016 after its own ship procurement fell through.

One condition of the operator procurement that closed today was that the winner must have four ferries. Only Saaremaa Laevakompanii meets the condition currently.