All Posts By

sandra

Jun 18
Love0

Public Consultation Launched In Italy Over Territorial Sea-Land Continuity Towards Main Islands

By 2020 Newsletter week 25

Italy’s transport ministry announced to have launched a public consultation on passenger and freight transport services to and from the main islands (Sardinia, Sicily and Tremiti) for the definition of public service requirements. The notice is addressed to consumer, cargo user, business associations and stakeholders in general.

“This Ministry is in the process of investigating the conditions necessary to ensure the territorial continuity service relating to the service of transport of passengers and goods with the major and minor islands and to define any measures to be taken” is written in statement from the ministry.

“It’s necessary to proceed to consult the main associations and representative bodies of companies operating in the logistics and freight transport sectors, in order to directly acquire indications, observations and proposals in the context of the investigation aimed at ensuring the best possible organization of the services in question, taking into account all the interests involved” it’s also reported. The deadline for submitting comments is June 25.

Public subsidies granted to Tirrenia – Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione (Onorato Armatori group) should expire on next July 18, but the Italian government recently decided to extend them for a maximum of 12 months.

Jun 18
Love0

Viking Line To Launch Cruise Service From Helsinki To Mariehamn

By 2020 Newsletter week 25

Viking Line will place GABRIELLA in service for cruises from Helsinki to the Åland Islands three days a week beginning July 1.

Day trips to the popular summer town of Mariehamn will give passengers the chance to get to know Åland’s sights and attractions. Viking Line, which has its roots in the Åland archipelago, has daily service to Åland with six vessels. The range of routes available is now being expanded by offering Finnish residents an attractive and safe travel option to become familiar with the beautiful archipelago and this summer paradise in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

Jun 18
Love8

A-Ships Management’s GOLDEN BRIDGE On The Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Brindisi Line

By 2020 Newsletter week 25

A-Ships Management decided to introduce its GOLDEN BRIDGE on the Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Brindisi line from July 3, 2020.

Having no other charter proposal for her due to Covid-19, A-Ship Management made this smart move. Last summer, the impressive ship was chartered to FRS Iberia and served the Motril-Melilla line.

The launch of the former Japanese ferry seems to be the Greek response to the Grimaldi Lines ferries CORFU and FLORENCIA.

At the same time, A-Ship Management‘s move seems to be a new attempt from the Greek side to return on the route, even seasonally, after the exit of Agoudimos Lines and Endeavor Lines.

Jun 18
Love0

BLUE STAR PATMOS Returns After A 4-Month Stay At Palumbo Yards

By 2020 Newsletter week 25

On June 15, 2020 BLUE STAR PATMOS left Valletta for Greece.
After a 4-month stay at Palumbo Shipyards, the “blue” ship came back fully repaired and with scrubbers installed.
She arrived there in early March. However, Covid-19 had significantly extended her stay at the Maltese shipyard.

BLUE STAR PATMOS is expected to be introduced on the afternoon Paronaxia route (Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Santorini) from 2/7 to 7/9, with an extension to Evdilos (Ikaria) and Karlovasi (Samos), 3 times a week.

Jun 18
Love0

Coastal Shipping Financial Support And Port Investments Are The Hellenic Ministry Of Shipping’s Main Priorities

By 2020 Newsletter week 25

On June 10, 2020 the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Mr Giannis Plakiotakis stated during a press conference that the Ministry’s main priorities remain the financial support of Coastal Shipping as well as the utilization of Greece’s ten major ports.

As far as the financial support to the country’s ferry operators is concerned, he noted that the Ministry of Shipping is in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and they are preparing a joint proposal to the European Commission, in order to compensate the ferry operators that were financially affected by the pandemic, with community funds.

At the same time, he added that the development of ferry connections is a strategic choice for the government, which is also considering further support for coastal shipping.

Referring to the ports, he stressed that the plans for their development are proceeding normally, as the interest of the investors remains strong. It is noted that the American interest in the port of Alexandroupolis is intense and the procedures will begin immediately, while the Grimaldi Group has expressed interest for the port of Igoumenitsa.

Jun 18
Love0

Ropax OSLOFJORD To Move To Langesund-Hirtshals Route

By 2020 Newsletter week 25

Because of Covid-19, the route between Sandefjord (Norway) and Strømstad (Sweden) has been suspended until further notice.

The route will resume when Norwegian authorities allow quarantine-free traffic to Sweden.

From June 18, route vessel OSLOFJORD will be moved to operate on Langesund – Hirtshals, with daily departures in both directions.

Jun 18
Love0

Stena Line Announces New Measures To Ensure Safe Ferry Travel This Summer

By 2020 Newsletter week 25

With the potential easing of lockdown restrictions and the re-emergence of non-essential travel, the Swedish ferry company Stena Line has announced a set of safety measures aimed at ensuring ferry travel is the safest form of public transport. Social distancing, fog machines, fresh sea air inside the ships and the recommended wearing of face coverings, are all seen as key to reassuring customers about the future of ferry travel as countries reopen their borders in the coming weeks.

Jun 18
Love0

FERRY FINANCE

By 2020 Newsletter week 25

A Strong Irish Continental Group Cancels Its Newbuilding

1)

In a statement, Irish Continental Group said that Covid-19 makes it difficult to estimate the full year financial impact on the Group.

Reason is the significant reduction in current passenger traffic and forward bookings for what is normally the peak Summer passenger season for ICG’s Irish Ferries services.

“It is very difficult to estimate the full year financial impact on the Group, as the reduction in passenger revenue will be material. In the period from 1/1 to 6/6 car volumes are down 62% with total passenger volumes down 60%.

The impact of Covid-19 on roro has been limited.  Roro volumes are down 4%, container volumes are down 13% with container lifts on ICG terminals down 14%.

2)

In the statement, ICG also talks about the Public Services Obligation (PSO) model from the Irish Government. “This was not an approach that we recommended as we believe this model was liable to create distortions in the marketplace and could be open to legal challenge. For both these reasons we decided not to participate in this PSO model, but we committed, without any Government support, to continue operating our lossmaking routes which provide a vital lifeline service to our Island.

3)

ICG announced it has terminated its newbuilding contract with the German shipbuilder FSG.

4)

The Group is in a strong financial position to weather this Covid-19 storm.