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sandra

Nov 11
0

Interview with Cpt Yiannis Nikolitsis, Managing Director of Dynamic Co

By | 2022 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

Dynamic Co is a leading Greek company that provides worldwide superior quality Marine and Industrial services with unprecedented professionalism. Within 30 years’ time they have managed to become an innovative expert in Ship Repairs, Heavy Industry Repairs and Sea Services offering a wide range of services with unsurpassed quality. Performance that ranks them among the best companies globally.

FSN discussed with Managing Director Cpt Yiannis Nikolitsis the evolution of his company through the years, as well as his future plans.

Read the interview on our website
Nov 11
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Grimaldi Line’s EUROPA PALACE transferred to the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Brindisi line

By | 2022 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

Beginning of November, Grimaldi Lines transferred RoPax EUROPA PALACE from the Patras – Igoumenitsa – Ancona line, to Patras – Igoumenitsa- Brindisi line to enhance its presence between Southern Italy and Greece.

 

The large ship will sail along with her fleetmate IGOUMENITSA adding some significant freight capacity to the specific line.

The ship has a carrying capacity for 1,800 passengers and 2,600 lane meters. Figures that are added to the 800 passengers and 3,120 lane meters of RoPax IGOUMENITSA, which is already active on that line.

By that move, the Italian Group focuses more on the Port of Igoumenitsa (soon to be privatised), with the Egnatia Motorway as major asset, connecting the western with the eastern markets more effectively.

Nov 11
0

Ferry traffic in Greece: 13% decline in passenger traffic – 3% increase in truck traffic in 2022

By | 2022 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

According to some intermediate data (till the end of October) released in the Greek press about the domestic and international ferry traffic performance in 2022:

  • -13% passengers
  • -3% cars
  • +3% trucks
  • The increase in the truck traffic is due to the intense reconstruction of the islands as well as the larger needs of the islands because of the increased number of tourists.
  • The decrease in passenger traffic is due to the domestic tourism decrease, since the expensive accommodation and high ticket prices prevented Greeks from choosing the islands for their summer holidays.
  • Ticket prices increased by 25%, covering only the Ferry operators’ extra fuel costs.
Nov 11
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Zeno d’Agostino elected as chair of ESPO

By | 2022 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

ESPO’s General Assembly unanimously elected Zeno D’Agostino as its new Chair.

Mr D’Agostino is President of Port Network Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea since 2015 and has a long-standing career in transport and logistics. He succeeds Annaleena Mäkilä who chaired the organisation during the last two years.

The General Assembly also re-elected Daan Schalck, CEO of North Sea Port as Vice Chair.

Ansis Zeltiņš, CEO of the Port of Riga, becomes the second Vice Chair.

Nov 11
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Steel cutting for the second Caronte & Tourist ferry at Sefine shipyard

By | 2022 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments
  • Turkish shipbuilder Sefine (Yalova) and Bluestone Group celebrated the steel cutting ceremony for a new double-ender ferry ordered by Caronte & Tourist.
  • Expected to be delivered in H1, 2024.
  • LNG-ready engines, batteries, and solar panels.
  • Will be deployed on the Strait of Messina, between the Italian ports of Messina and Villa San Giovanni.
  • Capacity for 1,500 passengers, 602 of which can be accommodated in sheltered seating areas.
  • She will be the second newbuild supervised on behalf of Caronte & Tourist by Bluestone, a provider of technical services for the maritime industry which has been awarded a contract for plan approval and construction supervision.
Nov 11
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Port of Ystad: Continuous good development 2022

By | 2022 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

Port of Ystad continues to strengthen its position as one of the biggest ferry passenger ports in Sweden. This summer is no exception.

The development this year is still prosperous even if the cargo seems to slow down a bit due to the rising inflation and, not least, the war in Ukraine.

On the other hand, the passenger volumes keep on rising with a development this year, until and including September, of +12,3%. For personal cars the development is +9,3% and the number of ship calls is up +2,5%.

Nov 11
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Valenciaport approves construction and operation of new public passenger terminal

By | 2022 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

The Port of Valencia and Baleària will invest 100 million euros in the new passenger terminal.

  • It will be developed by the company Balearia, which will incorporate the experience of Global Ports Holding (GPH) for the management of the cruises.
  • The project totals a public/private investment of EUR 99.1. The Port Authority of Valencia will invest 61.8 million and Baleària 37.3 million.
  • It will occupy an area of 100,000 m2 to serve cruise ships, regular passenger lines and ro-ro traffic.
  • The new terminal guarantees that 100% of the electrical energy necessary for its operation will be produced in the facilities themselves and will be of renewable origin and the electrification of the docks.
Read more on valenciaport.com
Nov 11
0

SHORT NEWS — WEEK 45 — 2022

By | 2022 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

Former Brittany Ferries ropax CONNEMARA might be going to Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries. That is at least the rumour.

Levante Ferries reduces their new Thessaloniki – Izmir route from 3 to 2 departures per week! See timetable.

There are plans to restore the Świnoujście-Malmö ferry connection. According to media reports, Finnlines ferries will call Świnoujście seven times a week.

Currently, you can sail from Świnoujście to Ystad (Polferries and Unity Line) and Trelleborg (TT Line).

Louis Dreyfus Armateurs has been carrying out tests with a fuel composed of 100% HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils – from the recycling of used vegetable oils).

The tests have been going on since several months on roro CIUDAD DE CADIZ, on behalf of customer Airbus Industries.

New York Cruise Lines and (Swedish) Green City Ferries AB announced a collaboration to launch the first high-speed zero-emissions electric ferry to the New York Harbor. With a targeted launch date of Spring 2024 for the introduction of this first-of-its-kind vessel into New York Harbor, the two companies will usher in the new era of cleaner and more efficient marine transportation.

Nov 05
0

Brittany Ferries: long routes have surged forwards but Channel is a concern

By | 2022 Newsletter week 44 | No Comments

Brittany Ferries has published figures outlining passenger and freight performance for its financial year (November to October).

FREIGHT

Freight struggled to recover 2019 levels: -27% on UK-France routes, and -22% on UK-Spain. Brexit border controls have played a role in this trend.

Freight France-Ireland and Ireland-Spain are welcome exceptions to the downward trend.

Brexit opportunities: new services have been launched connecting France directly with Ireland, exploiting what operators call The Brexit by-pass. Volumes have risen more than six-fold to 9,587 units.

Ireland-Spain has also posted positive results. Freight volumes rose 172% to 13,644 units, with an accelerating trend towards unaccompanied or driverless loads. These now comprise 45% of the total carried.

PASSENGER

Volumes on Channel routes are a concern. The post-Brexit imposition of passports for French passengers visiting the UK has dramatically hit this side of the BF business. “What is needed now is a concerted push from tourist bodies in France and the UK to boost tourism volumes,” says CEO Christophe Mathieu.

Long routes have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers.
This has helped Brittany Ferries record a positive financial performance for the year.

“While our long routes have surged forwards, the Channel is a real concern for Brittany Ferries and our partners,” said Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu.

Brittany Ferries says it is optimistic for the year ahead. Forward reservations are positive, and there are no barriers to passengers crossing borders, as there were in France at the beginning of 2022.

Fleet renewal continues apace

  • Launched in March 2022, Salamanca is the first of four Brittany Ferries vessels to be powered by LNG as part of investment in fleet renewal. She will operate throughout the winter and into next summer on the Cherbourg and Bilbao to Rosslare routes. The aim is to grow by 50,000 the number of holiday makers sailing between Ireland and Spain.
  • A second LNG-powered vessel called SANTOÑA will join the fleet in March next year. She too will be based in Portsmouth.
  • SANTOÑA will be followed by two LNG-electric hybrid vessels in 2024/2025, replacing two of the longest serving ships in the fleet BRETAGNE (1989) and NORMANDIE (1992). The hybrids will call Portsmouth home, and will serve St Malo in Brittany and Caen in Normandie.
Nov 05
0

Brittany Ferries fleet: 100% French flag

By | 2022 Newsletter week 44 | No Comments

The French version of the press release has an important note about the French flag. Brittany Ferries insist that the entire fleet is now flying the tricolor.

When it launched the first direct route linking Ireland to Spain in 2018, Brittany Ferries had committed that ships operating on this route would fly the French flag.

Since 2 November 2022, Brittany Ferries’ newest vessel, SALAMANCA, replaces CONNEMARA (flag: Cyprus) on the Rosslare/Bilbao and Rosslare/Cherbourg routes.

SALAMANCA flies the French flag and will be operated by French sailors. It will operate two weekly connections between Rosslare and Bilbao and one crossing between Rosslare and Cherbourg.

Recently, BF Chairman Jean-Marc Roué, expressed his deep concern about the social dumping on the Channel. “If Brittany Ferries were to operate under the social conditions of some other operators, its wage bill would fall from 80 million to 30 million euros per year,” he said. (Le Marin, in French)