As requested in the tender documents, we bid for three different alternatives with the following amounts (all in 2011-values to be adjusted on an annual basis):
1. Alternative 1 with daily sailings; NOK 750 million
2. Alternative 2 with daily sailings during summer and five sailings per week during winter: NOK 730 million
3. Alternative 3 with five sailings every week all year round: NOK 580 million

This has been an extremely tense process. Twice, the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications postponed the deadline since one or more of Hurtigruten's competitors requested more time or more information. There is no doubt that we are not the only ones to have taken this matter incredibly seriously.

Our tender reflects our belief that there would be competition, and that price would be crucial in determining who would win.

Although it now turns out that no more tenders have been submitted after all, this does not mean that Hurtigruten will instantly be awarded the contract. The matter now lies with the Ministry of Transport, who will go through our tender in detail and may well require clarification on certain points.

However, we have passed an important milestone, and the prospects are now good for us to take forward the Hurtigruten tender that the Norwegian coast both needs and deserves, says CEO Olav Fjell.