Estonian Logistics Cluster won the Grand Prix of the Logistics Project of the Year 2011 for the development and successful completion of the cruise ships turnaround project in cooperation with the Port of Tallinn, Tallinn Airport and CF&S Estonia. The objective of the logistics project was to make Tallinn the start and end points of Baltic Sea cruises, thus bringing more turnaround tourists to Tallinn. The profitability of providing services to turnaround cruise tourists is higher than average for the trade, tourist and transport sector. In ship cruises, turnaround is an arrangement where passengers arrive at and leave from a destination which is the start as well as end point of a cruise. The cruise company Happy Cruises finished a cruise in Tallinn, took the passengers to the airport and received new passengers at the airport, who were next cruise tourists. Turnaround took place in Tallinn 5 times; 7204 cruise passengers were serviced. Based on the analysis conducted by the Port of Tallinn, the total turnaround turnover exceeds the turnover of ordinary cruises 2.3 times (purchases from companies by the cruise company, passenger expenditures in the city) and 3.6 times compared to purchases solely made by the cruise company from other companies (port, pilotage, airport dues and Maritime Administration fees, transport, sightseeing tours, luggage handling, agency fees, shipchandler's services, etc.). Due to the successful implementation of the project this year, we expect up to 20,000 turnaround tourists in 2012. The turnaround project was performed by the Port of Tallinn, Tallinn Airport and CF&S Estonia (engaged in ship's agency and passenger luggage transport) who cooperate in Estonian Logistics Cluster. According to Andres Valgerist, who accepted the award on behalf of Estonian Logistics Cluster, this was an obvious example of cluster cooperation, when due to joint activity the targets are achieved that companies will not attain if operating alone.
Two awards of similar importance (the second and third place are traditionally not distinguished in the competition) went to Estonian Railways for opening Koidula frontier railway station and to Girf for the development of the electronic border crossing system GoSwift jointly with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and ERAA. The largest infrastructure facility of Estonia today, modern Koidula frontier railway station that cost 70 million EUR and was opened this year, will increase the railway capacity, competitive edge of the logistics corridors that pass through Estonia, and efficiency of cross-border movement of goods by consolidating border crossing related procedures and goods handling and rolling stock maintenance related functions into one station. From now on, all cargo groups can be transported across the border again. After the opening of Koidula station Tartu was released from the status of a frontier station, due to which the city's safety and security related risks considerably decreased. The frontier station reunited Tartu-Valga-Koidula railways sections on the territory of Estonia, and this will provide new opportunities for cargo and passenger transport within Estonia as well as between the neighbouring countries and will contribute to the development of local life.
Illimar Paul
Chief Organiser of Competition, Manager of Sensei OÜ
Tanel Raig
Chairman of the Judging Panel
Further information:
Illimar Paul
50 999 00
