All Posts By

sandra

May 07
Love2

Viking Line Slowly Restarts Passenger Services

By 2020 Newsletter week 19

As a result of the Finnish government’s decision on May 4, 2020 to gradually ease some of the restrictions related to the coronavirus, starting May 14 Viking Line will open up passenger service again for essential traffic (travel for work…)

Four of Viking Line’s seven vessels will continue their service between Finland and Sweden, the Åland Islands and Estonia. People will be able to continue travelling as usual between the Finnish mainland and Åland. The new regulations enter into effect on May 14, 2020.

Viking Line’s service until May 31, 2020:

  • Turku – Åland – Stockholm with VIKING GRACE and AMORELLA according to the following timetable.
  • Mariehamn – Kapellskär with ROSELLA on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday according to the following timetable.
  • Helsinki – Tallinn with GABRIELLA according to the following timetable.

Service between Helsinki and Stockholm will be suspended until at least May 31, 2020.

VIKING XPRS, which normally operates between Helsinki and Tallinn, will be out of service until at least May 31, 2020.

May 07
Love2

SPL PRINCESS ANASTASIA as a Floating Hotel – Stop Rumours Says Moby SPL

By 2020 Newsletter week 19

Taking into account the absence of precise deadlines for the resumption of regular ferry services between St. Petersburg and the Baltic Sea ports due to the restrictions imposed by the Government of the Russian Federation and EU countries to fight the new coronavirus infection COVID-19, MOBY SPL decided to temporarily use the SPL PRINCESS ANASTASIA ferry in another commercial project in Murmansk, Russia as a floating hotel.

In a press release, the company says it “may bring a similar passenger vessel as a substitute to continue the operations.”

The company also asks the media to stop speculation, by “only considering the official comments of the representatives of the company MOBY SPL in order to present the correct information.”

May 07
Love2

FERRY FINANCE

By 2020 Newsletter week 19

Brittany Ferries Goes on with the Planned Investments, in Spite Of Challenging Year

At its General Assembly on May 5, Brittany Ferries recalled that tourism is part of its DNA and stressed its major economic contribution to the regions it serves. Chairman Jean-Marc Roué recalled that the history of Brittany Ferries is intrinsically linked to that of the regions it has served, since its foundation. He also said that 2020 will be a challenging year. However, investments will go on as planned:

GALICIA (UK – Spain) to be delivered in July, in service in November

HONFLEUR (France – UK) delayed due to problems of yard in Flensburg

SALAMANCA (UK – Spain) keel laid in April 2020

SANTOñA (UK – Spain) 2023

Before the crisis, the company operated 12 ships on 12 routes, linking  France, UK, Ireland and Spain.

Since March 19, BF only transports goods, with 5 ships on Caen-Portsmouth, Cherbourg-Portsmouth, Santander-Portsmouth, Bilbao-Poole and Bilbao-Rosslare.

Key figures for 2019

Revenue EUR 469 million

Passengers 2.49 million (-4.9%)

Cars 866,000 (-5%)

Freight 202,000 (-1.9%)

Brexit with its uncertainty and repeated delays are the main cause for the trend

May 07
Love2

DFDS Q1 Published – Outlook Mainly Affected by Travel Restrictions

By 2020 Newsletter week 19

Ferry Shipping News already published the Preliminary Results for Q1, a few weeks ago.

The definitive results are now available on the DFDS website.

Outlook

EBITDA before special items for 2020 is likely to be reduced towards DKK 2bn. The outlook – that is significantly more uncertain than usual – builds on a number of assumptions of which key elements are freight volumes and the impact of travel restrictions on passenger route operations and volumes. The current suspension of passenger activity has a significant financial impact that may amount to up to around 60% of the potential decrease in EBITDA in 2020 compared to 2019.

May 07
Love2

Change of Governance and Shareholders at Blu Navy

By 2020 Newsletter week 19

A small revolution took place at the helm of the small Italian ferry company Blu Navy, active on the maritime link between the port of Piombino and Elba.

Last week, during the Board meeting, Luigi Negri and his nephew Aldo resigned respectively from the roles of chairman and CEO. Their positions were taken by Vincenzo Gorgoglione and Gianluca Morace. The former is also the CEO of the Trapani-based Liberty Lines.

It has happened because the shareholders controlling collectively the 55% of the company (*), expressed the intention to change the governance in contrast with the minority shareholders linked to the Genoa-based businessmen Luigi Negri and Giulio Schenone (**).

Earlier this week also emerged that behind the 25% stake controlled by the trust company Monte Paschi Fiduciaria, there is the Messina-based Caronte&Tourist group which was already 50-50 shareholder in the Morace-headed Liberty Lines and in the Sicilian ferry company Siremar.

(*) 55% = 7.5% Associazione Albergatori Isola d’Elba, 7.5% Gianluca Morace, 15% Elbasol and 25% Monte Paschi Fiduciaria

(**) 45% in the hands of Finsea and Bolzaneto Container Terminal

May 07
Love2

NOK 700 million to Secure Fjord Line’s Near Future

By 2020 Newsletter week 19

Almost 90 % of Fjord Line’s revenues disappeared when the borders were closed. After a record year with 1.5 million passengers Fjord Line had to ask the Norwegian State for help, to get over the pandemic.

The state’s cash support scheme, installment deferrals and powerful cost measures ensure that the company can continue its ambitions for the coming years.

Rickard Ternblom is grateful for the support of the authorities, the suppliers and the employees. How the most important season -summer- will look like is unclear. “Regardless, we will get through 2020 and be ready for a more normal year in 2021. We are now on a more secure ground,” says Ternblom.

May 07
Love2

Might Some of Tirrenia CIN’s Vessels Possibly be Sold?

By 2020 Newsletter week 19

Italian financial newspaper MF (Milano Finanza) revealed this week that some of Tirrenia’s ferries controlled by Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione, may be put up for sale in the near future.

They are set to be seized by the Court of Rome following the action taken by the public “bad company” Tirrenia in Amministrazione Straordinaria.

The related revenues would be used to cover the deferred payments (a total amount of EUR 115 million) for the purchase of the former Tirrenia which were not paid in 2016 and 2019.

This potential scenario, if confirmed, would be possible in the coming months when the current public contract and subsidy to support lifeline maritime transportation with Sardinia, Sicily and Tremiti with Moby will expire. It should be mid of July but it is likely that a postponement of few months will be granted to the Vincenzo Onorato controlled group.

In its last available annual report, CIN said that the fleet was valued EUR 265 million (31 December 2018). However, some vessels were dismissed last year (HARTMUT PUSCHMANN, BARBARA KRAHULIK and AURELIA).

With reference to the other ferries still under CIN’s control the values reported at the end of 2018 are as follow: VINCENZO FLORIO (21.2m), BENIAMINO CARNEVALE (2m), RAFFAELE RUBATTINO (23.6m), BITHIA (38.5m), JANAS (38.5m), ATHARA (39.2m), NURAGHES (46.4m), SHARDEN (46.6m) and the high-speed vessel ISOLA DI CAPRAIA (2.8m).

May 07
Love2

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

By 2020 Newsletter week 19

ESPO Proposes a Two-Step Approach on the New EU Transport Strategy

ESPO believes that in the absence of any insight on the duration and impact of the current crisis, it is, at this moment, impossible to set the ground for a long-term EU Transport Strategy.

ESPO proposes a two-step approach:

1) Europe’s first priority must now be to develop a restart and recovery plan which helps to overcome this crisis. It should develop the measures and instruments for Europe’s recovery to put the European economy and society back on track as soon as possible, while guaranteeing this happens in a safe way.

2) In a second phase, when the “new normal” sets in, the discussion should start on a new Transport Strategy, which will set the long-term goals, ambitions and initiatives for the European transport sector. The Strategy should integrate the consequences of and lessons learned from this crisis and should build on the new post-crisis reality.

ESPO and its members are happy to start the reflection with all stakeholders and EU decision makers in view of formulating clear answers to all these questions and setting the ground for a truly forward looking sustainable, connected, efficient and resilient transport system.