The spare vessel M/S Kökar, which was brought to the rescue from Turku, will take tourists on cruises and ice rafting until Sampo is operational again.
M/S Kökar, which replaced the broken tourism icebreaker Sampo, has started its cruise in the Red Sea.
M/S Kökar, acting as a reserve vessel, makes 1-2 cruises almost every day, according to the schedule originally planned for Sampo.
M/S Kökar can take 150 tourists on board, while Sampo’s cruise usually accommodates 180 tourists. Due to the smaller size of the ship, groups on some cruises have had to be rearranged.
Along with the cruise, tourists still have the opportunity to visit the interior of the icebreaker Sampo.
– Most of the customers have understood the situation well, even though they haven’t been able to get on Sampo’s cruise yet, says Barria.
The spare parts needed to repair Sampo have been procured and the platform is currently being repaired. According to the estimate, Sampo’s repairs can be done by mid-January.
– This is also a disadvantage for trade relations. The cost estimate for Sampo’s repair is still open, but the biggest losses come from canceled cruises, said Löppönen.
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