03/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a €25 million loan for investment in maritime transport in Estonia, to buy a new ferry for the existing Tallinn-Helsinki route. The EIB believes the loan will help develop the European internal market and promote short sea shipping. It is the first Structured Finance Facility (SFF) loan to be granted in Estonia and allows for risk-sharing as part of a syndicate of banks arranged by HSH Nordbank. The EIB says the new ferry will help meet the EU's coherence objective, matches the EIB's policy for transport and the environment and will help develop 'highways of the sea'. (O.L. /transl.fl)