Transport
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Hiiumaa Ferry Link Faces Crisis Amid Extreme Low Water, Ice
Estonian ferry operator TS Laevad has canceled multiple crossings to the island of Hiiumaa and restricted heavy vehicle traffic after water levels dropped to a critical -44 centimeters, compounded by severe ice conditions.
- —Ferry company TS Laevad canceled several evening ferry crossings on the Rohuküla-Heltermaa line between the mainland and Hiiumaa due to critically low water levels and ice conditions.
- —The ferry Regula experienced significant delays and cancellations, including its Friday evening departures, due to the challenging environmental factors.
- —The ferry Leiger, which had a fuel system malfunction on January 25th, is set to return to the Rohuküla-Heltermaa line for the weekend, but will undergo scheduled dry-docking on February 1st.
- —TS Laevad is implementing restrictions on the number of heavy vehicles that can be loaded onto ferries to manage the low water levels, with further deterioration of conditions anticipated.
- —Electronic tickets for canceled Regula voyages are being honored as priority tickets for Tiiu ferry crossings.
Recap
The disruption on the Hiiumaa ferry line reveals the acute vulnerability of essential island infrastructure to extreme environmental conditions. The operator, TS Laevad, is caught between unprecedented low water levels and a tight maintenance schedule for its fleet, creating a logistical bottleneck that threatens the island's supply chain. With forecasts predicting no immediate relief, the situation underscores a growing risk for regions dependent on maritime transport links.