Mike Corrigan, CEO of Interferry, Interviews Leaders of the Ferry Industry
Latest interviews:
- Anders Ørgård, OSK Group, Denmark
- Chet Pastrana, Archipelago Philippine Ferries, Philippines
Highlights
- A significant decrease in the number of total ship losses, showing an overall improvement in safety: 41 losses in 2019 against an annual average of 95 losses over the past 10 years
- But… an increase in the number of incidents recorded on board ships (+ 5% compared to 2018)
- An increase in incidents on ro-ro ships (including PCTC)
- Potential effects of the pandemic on investments in safety and maintenance
Transport Malta Is Looking for Ferry Operator
Transport Malta has issued a request for proposals for the introduction of a ferry service in Malta and Gozo. The concession will be for 15 years and will feature ticket booths, departure points and eco-vessels.
A market research conducted by Transport Malta shows that the concession is valued at €115,500,000.
In a very interesting 10-minute radio interview, Incat Founder and Chair Robert Clifford says his company would be able to build 90% of the new ferries with local products at their shipyard in Tasmania’s south.
Hans-Dietmar Hoffmüller, an expert on the traditional ferry line ‘Königslinie’ from Sassnitz to Trelleborg, is concerned about the decision to adapt the train ferry berth for the new fast ferry connection to Sweden.
As a result, rail ferry traffic will no longer be possible in the future, he fears.
Baleària Converts 85,000 Plastic Bottles into Furniture
In a circular economy project, Baleària has reused the plastic equivalent of more than 85,000 bottles to build the furniture for the exterior decks of the ferries BAHAMA MAMA (Dénia-Ibiza-Palma), and ABEL MATUTES (Barcelona, Alcúdia and Ciutadella).
Web Check In / E-Ticket for Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways
Attica Group introduced the e-ticket/boarding pass application on domestic routes, building the new digital age in Greek ferry services.
The goal of this new app is to improve services, make transactions more convenient for passengers, and simplify boarding and travel procedures. Visitors from all over the world, as well as island residents, who travel frequently by ferry, will now have the possibility to make their reservations much easier and receive and store their tickets and/or boarding passes.
Minoan Lines’ KYDON PALACE Introduced on the Piraeus-Chania Line
On July 24, Minoan Lines’ ‘cruise’ ferry KYDON PALACE was introduced on the Piraeus-Chania line, after an inauguration ceremony that took place in the port of Piraeus. She is the fastest, newest and most luxurious ship of the line, while she is also the first ship of the Cretan service to undergo scrubber conversion.
KYDON PALACE will depart, from the port of Piraeus, in July and August, at 16:00 and from the port of Souda at 23:59.
Every Saturday and Sunday she will depart from the port Piraeus at 11:00 and from the port of Souda at 22:30.
Her carrying capacity is for 2.500 passengers (758 beds) and 700 private cars or 113 trucks and 100 cars while she can run at a speed of maximum 31.50 knots.
1000 Finns Visited Saaremaa with Tallink Grupp’s Vessel VICTORIA I on a One-Off Special Cruise
The company’s vessel VICTORIA I left Helsinki on Monday night, 27 July, with just slightly over 1000 Finnish passengers on board, ready to discover the Estonian island gem of Saaremaa.
This is the first time Victoria I is visiting Saaremaa and it is the largest vessel by gross tonnage to ever visit the Saaremaa deep harbour, completed in 2006 and located approximately 40 kilometres from the capital of the island, Kuressaare.
Around 30 coaches were waiting for the passengers at the port to transfer passengers to Kuressaare and to take them on various island tours to visit Saaremaa’s famous landmarks, such as Angla windmills, Kuressaare castle and much more.
Commenting on the special cruise, Tallink Grupp’s CEO Paavo Nõgene said: “If the passenger feedback is positive to this kind of trip and there is more demand for Saaremaa cruises, we will be happy to consider offering these cruises also in the future.”
First Norled Hydrogen Ferry Launched
Norse Shipyard (Turkey) launched NESVIK. Designed by LMG Marin, she is the first of two hydrogen ferries for Norled. The hull will be towed to the Westcon Shipyard for the finalisation of the building.
Bad News for Rauma Marine Constructions, (maybe) Good News for Incat
The Government of Tasmania has decided that State-owned TT-Line Company Pty Ltd should not proceed with the proposed vessel replacement contract with Finnish ship builder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), “due to COVID-19 and its economic implications for the State.”
In 2018, a contract was signed with Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft.
In 2020, it was mutually agreed between TT-Line and FSG that FSG would not build the new vessels. TT-Line signed a Memorandum of Understanding with RMC and commenced contract negotiations and agreed final design specifications.
The TT-Line Board submitted an updated business case following a unanimous Board recommendation that TT-Line sign a new ship construction contract with RMC.
That recommendation was considered and subsequently not endorsed by the Shareholder Minsters.
A Reaction from Incat
Robert Clifford, Chairman Incat, has already announced that his company looks forward to work together with the soon-to-be-established Bass Strait Taskforce.
“With a highly skilled workforce of over 600 people directly employed in Tasmania, and many thousands more supported through sub-contract and supplier arrangements throughout the country, Incat are supportive of keeping Australian dollars within Australia and maintaining and indeed growing the employment opportunities for all Australians during these troubled times.”
A Reaction from RMC
“The situation is naturally unfortunate for RMC, but we are pleased to say that the withdrawal does not cause any immediate re-structuring at RMC,” says Jyrki Heinimaa, CEO, RMC.
RMC is currently building the AURORA BOTNIA ropax for Wasaline. In addition, production of the shuttle ferry MYSTAR for Tallink Grupp, started in April. Furthermore, last autumn, RMC signed a Contract with the Finnish Navy regarding the construction of four multi-role corvettes.
Cochin Shipyard to Build Autonomous Electric Vessels for ASKO
India-based Cochin Shipyard has received the order for two (+2) 67m autonomous electric vessels for emission-free transport of goods across the Oslofjord.
The ships are for Norwegian logistics and supply chain company ASKO. The capacity will be 16 trailers.
The ferries will be managed by Massterly, a company created by Wilhelmsen and KONGSBERG in 2018. It is the world’s first autonomous shipping company.
The project is partially funded by the Norwegian State.
