Krogerus advises Viking Line and Eckerö Group in public service obligation matters before the Market Court

Krogerus successfully advised shipowners Eckerö Group and Viking Line at the Market Court in matters involving public service obligations imposed by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) to secure emergency supply and transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Traficom tendered public service obligations concerning sea traffic on various routes in autumn 2020 and spring 2021 through public procurement procedures, several of which were won by Viking Line and Eckerö Group companies. A competitor challenged the tenderings by a series of appeals, citing allegedly unjustified requirements and other errors in the procurements. We advised Eckerö Group on three routes and Viking Line on five routes between Finland, Sweden and Estonia.

In its decisions at the end of March 2022, the Market Court rejected all appeals, finding that the procurements had been lawfully conducted in the circumstances created by the pandemic.

The Krogerus team comprised of Partner Leena Lindberg and Partner Simo Autio.