Introducing the project crew – Estonian State Fleet

Estonian State Fleet (ESF) is a public entity, established on the 1st of January 2023 with the purpose of consolidating and aggregating the over 250 state owned vessels to perform piloting and specialized maritime tasks such as hydrographic suveys and buoy laying. The also fleet includes, among mentioned, seven ferries which are operated to ensure the connections with small islands such as Kihnu, Ruhnu and Vormsi. ESF is responsible for developing the existing ferry fleet to be in line with the environmental targets and finding new technological alternatives to reduce CO2 emissions, as well as tendering for newbuildings and propose new or alternative routes for more efficient inter-island transport.

The project team for REISFER includes Margus Ansip, a project manager and superintendent, Evelin Karofelt, project assistant and procurement expert, and Valter Jääger, technical manager and superintendent.

Although, the ferries are operated through public procurement agreements by private companies, ESF as the owner of the vessels will carry out the procurements and install the energy saving and emission-cutting equipment, such as replacing the onboard conventional lighting to LED lighting, install new propellers and fuel monitoring systems.

Estonian State Fleet sees the biggest benefit of the REISFER project in the co-creating of knowledge, sharing best practices, and learning not only from the fellow project partners, but also from other players on the field.