The target of the development project is to rationalise the company‘s sales channels, develop customer management systems, renew the booking system and step up the online booking system, improve customer services and leadership onboard the ships and rationalise the operating of ships.

In January–July 2005, Silja Line‘s market share in passenger services on the main routes Helsinki–Stockholm and Turku–Stockholm was 56 and 57 per cent respectively. By the end of July, Silja Line‘s SuperSeaCat ships employed in the fast services to Tallinn had carried 11 per cent more passengers than during the same period in 2004. Silja is market leader in the fast ferry services with a market share of 38 per cent. The company has a 37 per cent market share in the unitised cargo service between Finland and Sweden. Developing of operations will be concentrated to these core sectors.

The Silja Serenade and the Silja Symphony, employed on the Helsinki–Stockholm line, will be dry-docking at the beginning of 2006 for extensive refurbishment. The newbuilding project for the Turku–Stockholm route proceeds and the intention is to order new ropax tonnage already this autumn.

Silja will dispose of tonnage not serving core operations. The Finnjet‘s service in the Baltic Sea was discontinued in September and the ship was chartered as a lodging vessel to the disaster area in the US hit by the hurricane Katrina. The cruise ship Walrus and the ropax ferry Star Wind will be sold. Various alternatives for the Silja Opera are being considered.

Silja will initiate cooperation procedure consultations in the whole company concerning the consequences for both sea and land personnel of streamlined operations. The land organisation costs are to be adapted to consolidated operations. At this stage the personnel consequences cannot be definitely established, but a preliminarily estimated need for reduction is 100-150 employees, in addition to the consultations already started concerning the Finnjet and the Silja Opera. The need will be specified during the course of negotiations. Silja‘s personnel total about 3,500 employees.