Fincantieri and JSW Steel Join Forces To Build a New Shipyard in Piombino

By 2020 Newsletter week 38

(geen foto beschikbaar)

Earlier this week, JSW Steel presented a new investment plan for the steel plant based in the port of Piombino, where a new shipyard is also expected to be realized.

Fincantieri and JSW signed an agreement aimed at exploring the possibility to create a shipbuilding site for new ferries, offshore units and other maritime installations.

It’s unclear at the moment if and how this new shipyard would be related with the newly built Piombino Industrie Marittime which is indirectly participated by Fincantiei through San Giorgio del Porto.

The investment fund Creon Capital has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with JSW Steel Italy Piombino, Piombino Logistics and GSI Lucchini Spa, aiming for the development of a sustainable energy industry in Italy. Together with local partners, the fund proposed to start working on an investment plan that should upscale the Tuscan region of Piombino into a cluster for hydrogen, renewable energy, LNG, and logistics.

FERRY PORTS

By 2020 Newsletter week 38

Port of Calais No Longer Wants to Pay

The port of Calais CEO Jean-Marc Puissesseau says he no longer wants to pay the cost of checking lorries bound for the U.K. for migrants.

This costs the French Channel port EUR 8 million a year.

In a letter to the French prime minister he asked the government to review the Le Touquet agreements (*), and “send the bill to the UK, which is now out of the EU.”

(*) Juxtaposed controls, a reciprocal arrangement between Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom whereby border controls take place before boarding the ferry, rather than after disembarkation.

IN THE MEDIA

By 2020 Newsletter week 38

Public Service Contract for Corsica: What’s Up?

In January 2020, Corsica Linea and La Méridionale submitted a joint application for the public service contract for the links with Corsica. (Ferry Shipping News)

This new contract should start on 1 January 2021 (until end of 2027), but so far, no decision has been taken.

Two ongoing investigations are disrupting the decision schedule:

  1. Investigating the creation of a SEMOP (a company owned 50.1% by Corsican authorities and 49.9% by private operators). French Competition Authority is investigating its impact on competition and will deliver its advice to the Government in October.
  2. Investigation launched by the European Commission on 28 February 2020, about the allocation to Corsica Linea of rotations between Marseille and Bastia, Ajaccio and L’Ile-Rousse as part of the ongoing contract. European Commission must deliver its conclusions by the end of 2020.

Viking Line’s CEO: “All Ships Are for Sale if the Price is Right”

By 2020 Newsletter week 38

The pandemic-related financial problems of shipping companies may lead to the sale of ferries and the permanent deterioration of Finland’s maritime connections.

Viking Line’s CEO Jan Hanses talks about overcapacity in the Baltic and Viking Line’s attempt to sell ferries (with interest from the Med).

Government communications receive harsh criticism from Tallink’s CEO Margus Schults. “The messy communication about the restrictions has been going on the whole summer. People do not dare to travel, even if it would be allowed and safe.”

SHORT NEWS

By 2020 Newsletter week 38

BLUE STAR CHIOS Sent to Lesbos to Host Asylum Seekers

September 10, 2020. Blue Star Ferries BLUE STAR CHIOS arrived in the port of Sigri (Lesbos) in order to host 1,000 asylum seekers after the destruction of the Moria facility.

The ship was about to stop service and undergo scheduled repairs. However, the sad incident at Lesbos sends her there to work as a hotel ship following a temporary plan of the Hellenic government. More asylum seekers will also be hosted by the Hellenic Navy ships for a while.