
Illustration of the new look © Tallink Grupp
Tallink Grupp's vessel STAR returns to take up service on Paldiski-Kapellskär route from 9 February 2025
FerryTallink Grupp announced that company's passenger vessel STAR, which is returning to Estonia from long term charter to Irish Continental Group plc as JAMES JOYCE, starts operating on the Paldiski-Kapellskär route from Sunday, 9 February 2025. This is a significant step up in service quality on the company’s Paldiski-Kapellskär route, offering car passengers and cargo transporters an opportunity to travel between Estonia and Sweden from different ports almost daily, with up to two daily departures on some days.
“We are pleased to launch STAR, one of our largest cargo capacity vessels, on the route between Estonia and Sweden. Many of our guests will remember STAR well from its previous operations. Returning from Ireland, Star also offers a convenient travel option for car passengers between Paldiski and Kapellskär as well as increases the cargo transport capacity between Estonia and Sweden,” Paavo Nõgene, CEO of Tallink Grupp, said. “We particularly recommend STAR as a comfortable alternative for those passengers travelling by car who prefer to avoid driving through the capitals of Estonia or Sweden. On certain weekdays, it will even be possible to travel between the two countries twice a day, including daytime crossings,” Nõgene added.
Due to port service restrictions, alongside cargo and cargo transporters, STAR will primarily cater to car passengers. The vessel will operate on an intensified schedule, alternating in the opposite direction to the schedule of the company’s cruise ferry BALTIC QUEEN, which sails between Tallinn and Stockholm. This ensures that ferry travel between Estonia and Sweden is again possible almost daily.
The onboard services on STAR include breakfast and dinner at the buffet restaurant, while also a lighter meal concept is available onboard, as well as an enhanced shopping experience than previously on the route. Compared to ro-ro vessels REGAL STAR and SAILOR, which have operated on the route until now, STAR has also notably more public spaces available for more passenger comfort, including a children’s play area, for example.
Before returning to regular service on the Paldiski-Kapellskär route, STAR will undergo the necessary renewal and preparatory work in dry dock at Naantali, Finland.
From 9 February 2025 onwards, STAR will operate exclusively on the Paldiski-Kapellskär route, replacing the vessels SAILOR and REGAL STAR, which previously operated on the route and will now remain on standby for future company decisions.
Prior to starting on the company’s Paldiski-Kapellskär route, from 5 May 2023, STAR was in long term charter to Irish Continental Group plc under the name JAMES JOYCE, providing transportation sevice between Ireland and the UK.
© Shippax
Jan 24 2025
Most read
Rönner Group continues to operate the Flensburg shipyard FSG – SeaRoad ro-ro to be completed
Jan 31 2025
(Updated with interior photos) New Copenhagen-Oslo brand and logo to be revealed early spring
Feb 04 2025
Royal Caribbean Group reports 2024 financial results and announces the launch of the Celebrity River Cruises brand with a 10-ship order
Jan 28 2025
Royal Bodewes shjpyard launched HAWAIKINUI 2 for the Polynesian Navigation Company (SNP)
Jan 28 2025