City-owned Suomen Hopealinja to Close After 2026, Cutting Viikinsaari Ferry Service

Suomen Hopealinja Oy, wholly owned by the City of Tampere, will cease commercial operations after the 2026 season. The decision ends the company’s regular ferry links to Viikinsaari. Some staff have already been notified and a number of permanent positions are expected to be laid off in summer 2026. The board has been appointed to manage the wind-down, Tampere said.

The board concluded that long-running financial problems and the failure to find a buyer or investor make continuation unsustainable. The shutdown will create direct losses and financial risks for the municipality: the company’s shares (book value €0.22 million) may lose value, there is a significant credit loss risk on municipal loans, and outcomes will depend in part on whether the vessels can be sold.

Viikinsaari island remains city-owned, but without a functioning ferry from the Laukontori harbour many island services and traditional events cannot operate. The city said it will explore smaller-scale, market-based and entrepreneur-led solutions while aiming to manage the closure responsibly and protect the city’s interests.

The decision comes amid broader municipal financial pressures: an audit earlier this year raised concerns about the city’s and its subsidiaries’ financial performance the May audit and Tampere recorded a sizeable deficit in the 2025 accounts the council’s June financial statement.