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sandra

Apr 26
1

The future of the Channel Islands ferry services might look different

By | 2024 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

DFDS has asked Incat to conduct a design study for a hybrid-electric ferry intended to be deployed for the Channel Islands, if DFDS wins an upcoming tender for the future ferry services on the Islands.

The 72-metre ferry, which will have the option to convert to fully electric, is suited to a number of ferry routes across Europe, says Incat (press release Incat).

The design study will analyse various specifications incl. capacity, propulsion, layout of passenger areas, etc. In terms of propulsion, DFDS expect to focus on a hybrid solution until sufficient charging infrastructure is available in the relevant ports.

“We know that battery electric or electric-hybrid propulsion coupled with lightweight aluminium on shorter sea routes will be the ideal choice to cut emissions, and it’s great to see major operators such as DFDS sharing in our goal to shape the future of decarbonisation in maritime transport.”

Incat CEO Stephen Casey

“The hybrid electric ferry will be part of our vision for the future ferry solution for the Channel Islands. Electrification of short sea routes is the future, and with the design study we can fast-track the green transition ushering in a new era of low-emission maritime transport. This will not be easy. We need to ensure a sufficient power supply on land and infrastructure to accommodate recharging facilities in ports. But I am confident that we can work together with the ports, governments, and communities on the Channel Islands to make this happen.”

Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS

About the tender for ferry services to the Channel Islands:

  • The tender has not been launched yet, although it was expected in April.
  • In January the governments of Guernsey and Jersey announced they were looking for expressions of interest for ferry companies to run services to the islands.
  • Current operator is Condor Ferries(see route map). It has an agreement with Jersey and memorandum of understanding with Guernsey to provide services until 2025.
  • Condor Ferries has Brittany Ferries as shareholder, and Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu is interim CEO for Condor Ferries too.
  • Last year DFDS RoRo Finlandia did berthing trials in St Peter Port and St Helier.
  • This month, Brittany Ferries’ RoPax Barfleur did similar trials.
  • People at a small public meeting organised by DFDS said they wanted a reliable ferry service to the UK on a conventional ferry, and that Saint-Malo is the preferred port on the French side. (source: BBC)
Apr 26
1

RoPax Galaxy returns on the Brindisi-Valona line

By | 2024 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

It is reported that A-Ship Management’s RoPax Galaxy will serve on the Brindisi – Valona line as from May 1, 2024.

The ship (1979) was chartered to Caronte & Tourist from March 2023 to December 2023 and served on the Porto Embedocle – Lampedusa route, replacing successively the Italian company’s ferries during their annual refit.

Galaxy underwent her annual maintenance refit at Perama Repair Zone from February to April 2024. She is currently at the Port of Brindisi.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Apr 26
1

P&O Ferries must navigate legal changes

By | 2024 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

President of Brittany Ferries, Jean-Marc Roué, has posted on his X-account a screenshot of a letter written by “Philcrew Management PTE Ltd” to the seafarers of the Dover-Calais ships. Philcrew is a maritime crew management company for P&O Ferries.

The subject is the new French law that obliges ferry operators between the UK and France to pay their crew at least the French minimum wage. This law applies to all ships making at least 120 calls a year in French ports. The law comes into force in June 2024.

Under the new regulation, the maximum duration of embarkation is up to 14 days. It also specifies that the duration of the consecutive rest on land will be at least equivalent to that of the embarkation.

The Philcrew letter states, “We expect that our crew scheduling model will soon be adjusted to provide for 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off to accommodate the new French law requirement.

“The upcoming changes in regulations directly affect our operations and crew arrangements, particularly impacting our crew members from Asia and those required to undertake extensive travel periods.”

Link to the relevant document about the social dumping. (in French)

Note: In July 2023, a voluntary charter for the protection of seafarers in the cross-Channel sector has been signed by DFDS, Condor Ferries, Stena Line and Brittany Ferries.

Apr 26
1

Brittany Ferries will shortly confirm details of a third weekly return-ferry-crossing connecting Rosslare and Cherbourg

By | 2024 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

The service will depart Rosslare on a Tuesday destined for Cherbourg, complementing weekly departures on Cotentin and Salamanca. That means Brittany Ferries will offer three weekly departures from Rosslare.

“We still have some work to dot the I’s and cross the T’s for the ship and schedule,” explained Kristof Wuytack, freight director Brittany Ferries. “However we want to be sure we hit the ground running when the ship first arrives in port. This positive step continues to strengthen our offer to the Irish market, as growth in freight traffic on Ireland to France routes continues post-Brexit.”

In addition to services operating from Rosslare, Brittany Ferries operates two weekly Cork-Roscoff rotations. The company has massively grown the direct Ireland-France market since 2021 and has re-affirmed its commitment to freight and passenger traffic.”

Apr 26
2

Tallink Grupp takes another step towards more sustainable vessel operations with nauticAi electronic logbooks

By | 2024 newsletter week 16, 2024 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

Tallink Grupp has recently rolled out nauticAi’s electronic logbook solution across its entire fleet, following a successful prototype development and pilot process of the system on the company’s Paldiski-Kapellskär cargo vessel Sailor in 2023.

The new solution enables the company’s vessels to log a whole range of data electronically instead of physical traditional paper logbooks, including fuel consumption data, garbage data, ship’s radio watch data, ballasting operations, fuel bunkering operations and so much more. The new electronic solution shares data with on shore back-office support functions, making real-time vessel and voyage data available for everyone who needs it in the company for better ongoing monitoring and operational efficiencies and improvements.

Apr 26
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

Were Scotland’s new gas-powered ferries a bad choice? That is the question asked by the BBC, in a very comprehensive article.

Grendi Group has finalised the purchase of the former RoRo Wedellsborg, owned by Navco, 51% owned by Grendi Trasporti Marittimi and 49% by Finaval.

The third ship in the Grendi Group’s fleet will be called Grendi Futura.

Corsica Marina Secunda, is she the last survivor of the Rickmers series of ferries?

She was spotted in Toulon (La Seyne). A few days ago Moby Vincent was beached (ex Stena Normandica), and Sardinia Vera (ex Stena Atlantica) is awaiting her fate in the port of Vado Ligure.

Corsica Marina Secunda, is she the last survivor of the Rickmers series of ferries?

She was spotted in Toulon (La Seyne). A few days ago Moby Vincent was beached (ex Stena Normandica), and Sardinia Vera (ex Stena Atlantica) is awaiting her fate in the port of Vado Ligure.

Apr 19
1

DFDS March volumes: passengers boosted by Easter

By | 2024 newsletter week 16 | No Comments

March volume numbers are compared to 2023 impacted by most of the Easter holiday period falling in March this year compared to April in 2023. In general, this increases passenger volumes and decreases freight volumes compared to 2023 for the month.

Ferry – freight:

  • Total volumes in March 2024 were 2.7% above 2023 and down 2.5% adjusted for the addition of Strait of Gibraltar routes in 2024 and closure of the Calais-Tilbury route in 2023.
  • North Sea volumes were below 2023 driven by lower UK volumes following a reduced number of sailings due to weather conditions and the Easter timing difference versus 2023.
  • Mediterranean volumes were above 2023 driven by higher volumes on all routes.
  • Channel volumes were below 2023 as Dover Strait volumes were reduced by the Easter timing difference versus 2023.
  • Baltic Sea volumes were above 2023.
  • For the last twelve months 2024-23, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 3.6% to 39.3m from 40.8m in 2023-22. The decrease was 4.4% adjusted for the addition of Strait of Gibraltar routes and the Calais-Tilbury route closure.

Ferry – passenger:

  • The number of passengers in March 2024 were 83.1% above 2023 and up 38.4% adjusted for the addition of Strait of Gibraltar routes. The adjusted increase was driven by the Easter timing difference.
  • The number of cars were 67.5% above 2023 and up 29.6% adjusted for Strait of Gibraltar.
  • For the last twelve months 2024-23, the total number of passengers increased 21.6% to 5.0m compared to 4.1m for 2023-22. The increase was 12.7% adjusted for the addition of Strait of Gibraltar routes.
Apr 19
1

Turkish NGO to launch a relief convoy to Gaza – three ships purchased

By | 2024 newsletter week 16 | No Comments

Local media report that a Turkish NGO called The IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has decided to acquire three ships and launch a relief convoy to Gaza.

IHH currently operates relief voyages from Turkey to Egypt for cross-border transport into Gaza, but this new mission is advertised as an all-water route. It would be the second time that the conservative Islamic group has tried to transit through the Israeli naval blockade around Gaza – and the first time ended in violence.

IHH has acquired three vessels for its “Freedom Flotilla,” reflagged them and changed their names.

It is planning to depart for Gaza by the end of this month with:

The NGO has launched a fundraising appeal to help pay for the vessels and their cargo.

Apr 19
1

Moby and Ichnusa Lines to jointly operate between Sardinia and Corsica again

By | 2024 newsletter week 16 | No Comments

The Region of Sardinia announced that Moby and Ichnusa Lines have been authorized to jointly operate exclusively on the line between Sardinia and Corsica from April 1st to October 31st. This means there will be no change in the summer of 2024 on the maritime link between Santa Teresa di Gallura and Bonifacio.

In more detail, for the upcoming summer season, Moby will be responsible for 62.5% of the total number of scheduled trips, while the remaining 37.5% will be carried out by Ichnusa Line. The Sardinia region requested a minimum of 4 pairs of trips per day with a ferry having a minimum transport capacity of 200 passengers and a garage with at least 190 lane meters, 50 of which are to be used for the transport of commercial vehicles.

The vessels deployed will be the Ichnusa (capacity of 350 passengers and 50 cars) and the Giraglia (400 passengers and 100 cars) for Moby.