South Greenlandic businesses want a piece of the service contracts for passenger transport, which according to the Greenland Government will be re-tendered in connection with the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq.

Although Disko Line maintains that the service contracts for passenger transport in South Greenland are valid until 2030, Naalakkersuisoq for Infrastructure Aqqaluaq B. Egede, Inuit Ataqatigiit, reports that a proposal will be presented for political discussion on revising the service contracts in South Greenland, prior to the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq.

Although the Disco Line

This is a unique opportunity to get a piece of the service contracts for local businesses, says Minik Serano Frederiksen, a tourist operator and member of the municipal council of the Municipality of Kujalleq.

Although Disko Line maintains that the service contracts for passenger transport in South Greenland are valid until 2030, Naalakkersuisoq for Infrastructure Aqqaluaq B. Egede, Inuit Ataqatigiit, reports that a proposal will be presented for political discussion on revising the service contracts in South Greenland, prior to the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq.

Although the Disco LineAnnouncement

This is a unique opportunity to get a piece of the service contracts for local businesses, says Minik Serano Frederiksen, a tourist operator and member of the municipal council of the Municipality of Kujalleq.

Conflicting statements

Naalakkersuisoq for Housing, Infrastructure and Outlying Areas, Aqqaluaq B. Egede IA, has informed Inatsisartut member Anders Olsen, Siumut, in a paragraph 37 response, that a process is underway to revise the service contracts for passenger transport in South Greenland, as a result of the opening of the airport in Qaqortoq, and that a proposal will be presented for political discussion on this. In addition, the Nalaakkersuisoq website states that the service contracts have been entered into for a ten-year period, except in South Greenland, which will be re-tendered in connection with the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq.

However, Noélle Simoud, Commercial Director, Disko Line A/S, states and maintains that the current service contract applies until the end of 2030 for all areas, namely Disko Bay, Central Greenland and South Greenland.

– From the time the new airport in Qaqortoq comes into use until December 31, 2030, a previously agreed revised timetable will be used, along with a previously agreed adjustment of the subsidy, informs Noélle Simoud.

She emphasizes that Disko Line provides scheduled services in all areas, and that there is no differentiation between local and guest services.

– In addition to our established timetables, we also carry out charter sailings – and in this we also do not differentiate whether the charter tasks are used for locals or guests. We believe that those who visit our country and use the scheduled boats help to increase the frequencies between the different routes.

– The more travelers, the more daily and weekly departures. This helps create greater flexibility for locals – also to the benefit of the individual traveler, patients, business owners, etc.

– However, it is important to point out that Disko Line does not disregard scheduled services over charter tasks, she states.

When Maliina Ittuk arrives in South Greenland, it will sail scheduled services until the airport in Qaqortoq is completed. Here it will operate scheduled services twice a week, with the remaining time available to cover any weather-related challenges or cancellations and delays. Noélle Simoud states that Maliina Ittuk, like the rest of Disko Line’s fleet, will be available for charter by locals or guests as long as it is not on scheduled services.

A growing industry

The tourist company Serano Boat Tours was founded in 2021 and is owned by Minik Serano Frederiksen. The growing company, which already has a vessel in the form of a Poca 770, which can take twelve passengers, recently acquired a similar vessel. According to Minik Serano Frederiksen, who is also a member of the municipal council of Kujalleq Municipality, there are good future prospects for the tourism industry in South Greenland.

– The tourism industry in South Greenland is a growing industry, and it is especially the cruise ships that keep us and other local vessel owners busy during the summer months.

– This year alone we have around 7,000 bookings for our two vessels, and the busy season will run until October, he says.

Serano Frederiksen therefore believes that there is an economic basis for ever-increasing investment in tourism in South Greenland.

Disko Line truer

According to the cooperation agreement in the current Naalakkersuisut coalition, based on the new traffic structure, the service contracts will be looked at with a view to revising them in favor of locals, and it is also emphasized that operators of service contracts do not compete against private companies both in the tourism area and in connection with other services.

Minik Serano Frederiksen supports this political guideline as he fears that there is a great risk that Disko Line will outcompete local tourist operators in South Greenland, as long as there is a possibility that Maliina Ittuk, which has room for 113 passengers, as well as the rest of Disko Line’s fleet can be chartered by tourists, among others.

– It is not appropriate that Disko Line, which has a service contract with the Self-Government worth millions, can rent out its large fleet to tourists, among other things, and thus compete against the local small tourist operators, he says.

Minik Serano Frederiksen, who is also co-founder of Nanortalik Lodge ApS, fears that unequal competition will arise if this continues, and that in the worst case, it will force local small tourism operators to go out of business.

Willing to bid

The political announcement that the service contracts for passenger transport in South Greenland will be re-tendered in connection with the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq is a source of joy for the owner of Serano Boat Tours.

According to Minik Serano Frederiksen, an increasing number of South Greenlandic self-employed entrepreneurs have begun to prepare for the future ahead of the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq, and he believes that it would be natural for local forces to bid for the service contracts for passenger transport, if this becomes relevant.

Although Disko Line maintains that the service contracts for passenger transport in South Greenland are valid until 2030, Naalakkersuisoq for Infrastructure Aqqaluaq B. Egede, Inuit Ataqatigiit, reports that a proposal will be presented for political discussion on revising the service contracts in South Greenland, prior to the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq.

Although the Disco Line

This is a unique opportunity to get a piece of the service contracts for local businesses, says Minik Serano Frederiksen, a tourist operator and member of the municipal council of the Municipality of Kujalleq.

Although Disko Line maintains that the service contracts for passenger transport in South Greenland are valid until 2030, Naalakkersuisoq for Infrastructure Aqqaluaq B. Egede, Inuit Ataqatigiit, reports that a proposal will be presented for political discussion on revising the service contracts in South Greenland, prior to the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq.

Although the Disco LineAnnouncement

This is a unique opportunity to get a piece of the service contracts for local businesses, says Minik Serano Frederiksen, a tourist operator and member of the municipal council of the Municipality of Kujalleq.

Conflicting statements

Naalakkersuisoq for Housing, Infrastructure and Outlying Areas, Aqqaluaq B. Egede IA, has informed Inatsisartut member Anders Olsen, Siumut, in a paragraph 37 response, that a process is underway to revise the service contracts for passenger transport in South Greenland, as a result of the opening of the airport in Qaqortoq, and that a proposal will be presented for political discussion on this. In addition, the Nalaakkersuisoq website states that the service contracts have been entered into for a ten-year period, except in South Greenland, which will be re-tendered in connection with the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq.

However, Noélle Simoud, Commercial Director, Disko Line A/S, states and maintains that the current service contract applies until the end of 2030 for all areas, namely Disko Bay, Central Greenland and South Greenland.

– From the time the new airport in Qaqortoq comes into use until December 31, 2030, a previously agreed revised timetable will be used, along with a previously agreed adjustment of the subsidy, informs Noélle Simoud.

She emphasizes that Disko Line provides scheduled services in all areas, and that there is no differentiation between local and guest services.

– In addition to our established timetables, we also carry out charter sailings – and in this we also do not differentiate whether the charter tasks are used for locals or guests. We believe that those who visit our country and use the scheduled boats help to increase the frequencies between the different routes.

– The more travelers, the more daily and weekly departures. This helps create greater flexibility for locals – also to the benefit of the individual traveler, patients, business owners, etc.

– However, it is important to point out that Disko Line does not disregard scheduled services over charter tasks, she states.

When Maliina Ittuk arrives in South Greenland, it will sail scheduled services until the airport in Qaqortoq is completed. Here it will operate scheduled services twice a week, with the remaining time available to cover any weather-related challenges or cancellations and delays. Noélle Simoud states that Maliina Ittuk, like the rest of Disko Line’s fleet, will be available for charter by locals or guests as long as it is not on scheduled services.

A growing industry

The tourist company Serano Boat Tours was founded in 2021 and is owned by Minik Serano Frederiksen. The growing company, which already has a vessel in the form of a Poca 770, which can take twelve passengers, recently acquired a similar vessel. According to Minik Serano Frederiksen, who is also a member of the municipal council of Kujalleq Municipality, there are good future prospects for the tourism industry in South Greenland.

– The tourism industry in South Greenland is a growing industry, and it is especially the cruise ships that keep us and other local vessel owners busy during the summer months.

– This year alone we have around 7,000 bookings for our two vessels, and the busy season will run until October, he says.

Serano Frederiksen therefore believes that there is an economic basis for ever-increasing investment in tourism in South Greenland.

Disko Line truer

According to the cooperation agreement in the current Naalakkersuisut coalition, based on the new traffic structure, the service contracts will be looked at with a view to revising them in favor of locals, and it is also emphasized that operators of service contracts do not compete against private companies both in the tourism area and in connection with other services.

Minik Serano Frederiksen supports this political guideline as he fears that there is a great risk that Disko Line will outcompete local tourist operators in South Greenland, as long as there is a possibility that Maliina Ittuk, which has room for 113 passengers, as well as the rest of Disko Line’s fleet can be chartered by tourists, among others.

– It is not appropriate that Disko Line, which has a service contract with the Self-Government worth millions, can rent out its large fleet to tourists, among other things, and thus compete against the local small tourist operators, he says.

Minik Serano Frederiksen, who is also co-founder of Nanortalik Lodge ApS, fears that unequal competition will arise if this continues, and that in the worst case, it will force local small tourism operators to go out of business.

Willing to bid

The political announcement that the service contracts for passenger transport in South Greenland will be re-tendered in connection with the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq is a source of joy for the owner of Serano Boat Tours.

According to Minik Serano Frederiksen, an increasing number of South Greenlandic self-employed entrepreneurs have begun to prepare for the future ahead of the opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq, and he believes that it would be natural for local forces to bid for the service contracts for passenger transport, if this becomes relevant.