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sandra

May 24
2

Port of Antwerp Bruges’ quarterly figures reflect resilience

By | 2024 Newsletter week 21 | No Comments

The total cargo throughput of Port of Antwerp-Bruges amounted to 70.4 million tonnes in the first quarter of this year, a rise of 2.4% compared to the same period last year. In an ongoing complex geopolitical and macroeconomic context, this performance, driven by a return to growth in container throughput, underscores the port’s resilience.

Roll-on/roll-off traffic decreased by 6.9%.

The ongoing congestion at RoRo terminals resulted in a decrease in throughput of all transport equipment (-9%). This is mainly due to lower throughput of used cars (-52.5%), as well as high & heavy (-25%), trucks (-23.9%) and new cars (-5.5%).

Throughput of unaccompanied cargo (excluding containers) carried on RoRo vessels grew by 1.7%. The decline in throughput to and from the United Kingdom (-4.4%) was offset by an increase in throughput to and from Spain and Portugal (+31.5%), Ireland (+6.4%) and Scandinavia (+13.5%).

Read the full report by clicking on the graph.

May 24
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 21 | No Comments

Last week, the Tasmanian government confirmed that Spirit operator, TT-Line, had agreed in March to pay an additional $81 million to Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions, after cost blowout.

This week, it was confirmed the Finnish government had committed to match this amount — and also to underwrite the future financial viability of RMC.

In return, TT-Line removed a key clause from the contract: RMC would no longer have to pay late fees.

Read the full article on ABC.net.au

Photo: RMC

Peel Ports announced plans to explore the first green shipping corridor between the UK and Ireland through a partnership with NatPower Marine. The proposals involve over £100m investment in charging infrastructure for electric vessels, cars, vans, and HGVs at UK and Ireland ports. The initial routes identified are Belfast-Heysham and Dublin-Birkenhead.

May 17
2

Spirit of Britain from P&O Ferries to Irish Ferries

By | 2024 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

Irish Ferries signs a bareboat charter agreement including a purchase obligation with DP World France SAS for the P&O Ferries unit Spirit of Britain.

The RoPax is available for immediate delivery and is expected to enter service with Irish Ferries during June.

The Spirit of Britain will still be used on the Dover – Calais route.  The ship has been acquired for a total consideration of €89.4 million settled through a combination of a two-year bareboat charter set at €20,000 per day and a purchase obligation for €74.8 million at the end of the charter.

The acquisition of the vessel will allow Irish Ferries to move one of the three existing ships on Dover – Calais to replace a chartered vessel (Norbay) currently operating on the Rosslare – Pembroke route.

Source: Irish Ferries

May 17
2

Space charter agreement P&O Ferries – Irish Ferries

By | 2024 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

Irish Ferries has signed a space charter agreement with P&O Ferries on the Dover – Calais route. This agreement will encompass both freight and passenger space sharing on both parties’ vessels.

Irish Ferries expects the agreement to come into effect for its freight customers during this Summer. This will then be followed on a phased basis for the passenger business.

P&O Ferries already had a space charter agreement with DFDS on Calais – Dover.

Source: Irish Ferries

May 17
2

Six electric ferries for the DFDS Dunkerque and Calais Channel routes

By | 2024 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

At the occasion of President Emmanuel Macron’s ‘Choose France Summit 2024’ in Versailles, DFDS announced (and confirmed) its substantial investment (up to €1 billion) in 6 battery electric vessels for its Channel services by 2035.

The first two electric vessels will be in operation by 2030, while the rest is expected to follow before 2035.

DFDS CEO Torben Carlsen met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss electrifying maritime transport on the English Channel.

This will require an intensive collaboration with the authorities and ports in France and the United Kingdom.

May 17
2

Scandlines delivered solid performance in 2023

By | 2024 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

Scandlines maintained 2023 revenue and earnings in line with 2022 levels in a challenging market environment. The ferry operator realised a record peak season for leisure, as an increased number of passengers (+5%) used Scandlines’ services (cars +3%).

Whilst freight volumes were down (-7%) from the record levels of 2022, Scandlines maintained its market share.

Scandlines maintained the positive momentum in 2023 with passengers continuing to return to the two ferry routes after years of negative impact from COVID-19 and related travel restrictions. The positive development drove moderate revenue growth of 1 percent to EUR 466 million and a solid result before tax of EUR 122 million.

Revenue from the two Germany-Denmark routes grew to EUR 369 million in 2023 from EUR 363 million in 2022 based on a solid development in total traffic volume.

Management expects revenue and profits to increase moderately in 2024 subject to realising the anticipated level of positive trends in the macro economy during 2024.

Management also expects a positive effect from the deployment of Scandlines’ new electric ferry on the Puttgarden-Rødby route in the second half of 2024.

The full annual report and the sustainability report for Scandlines Infrastructure ApS can be downloaded here.

May 17
2

Torghatten won the Kjerringøy tender in Nordland

By | 2024 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

Torghatten Nord has won the tender for the operation of the Festvåg-Misten ferry service.

A new 60-car electric ferry is on its way.

“It’s very satisfying to win this tender and to be back on the Mistenfjord from January next year. It is particularly pleasing that we will be introducing a new all-electric ferry on the route starting in 2027,” says Marius Martin Hansen, CEO of Torghatten Nord.

A few days ago, Nordland County Council announced that Torghatten Nord had won the tender. The actual operator is Fjord1.

The tender will start on 1 January 2025, and the contract will last for 10 years.

May 17
2

Hydrogen-powered speedboats will revolutionise the maritime green shift, but the State has to step in

By | 2024 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

The article from Nordland Fylkeskommune (in Norwegian) discusses the development of hydrogen-powered high-speed boats as part of a collaborative project between Vestland, Trøndelag, Nordland, and Finnmark counties. Supported by the Klimasats fund, the project aims to create zero-emission vessels to reduce the high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from current boats. Two innovative designs featuring hydrogen as the energy carrier have been developed. These boats, using SES technology for efficiency, are expected to transform coastal transport, pending state funding for full implementation.

For more details, you can read the full article here.

May 17
2

Brittany Ferries renews its partnership with the École Nationale Supérieure Maritime (ENSM)

By | 2024 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

Brittany Ferries and ENSM are strengthening their long-standing collaboration to boost the maritime economy. By renewing their partnership, they aim to reinforce their relationship and create strong synergies aligned with their mutual values and ambitions.

Key initiatives include:

  • “School in ship” sessions, offering ENSM students real navigation experience aboard Brittany Ferries vessels. In 2023, 55 students participated.
  • Educational visits for ENSM teachers to enhance their skills through onboard exchanges.
  • Opportunities for Brittany Ferries officers to teach at ENSM.

The partnership renewal was signed on 13th May in Saint-Malo.