Ferry Passengers to Remain in Cars to Reduce Virus Risk?
Condor are exploring the possibility of passengers remaining in their vehicles on shorter journeys on their fast craft when passenger sailings resume.
Freight Management Association of Canada (FMA) is warning that shortages of food, merchandise and vital chemicals could result if Oceanex Inc. continues to reduce its services to St. John’s.
What’s more, FMA also says ferry operator Marine Atlantic “would not be a viable alternative” to the carrier.
The FMA expressed its sobering views in a letter late last month to federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau, after Oceanex decided to reduce the number of weekly sailings into St. John’s from three to two.
With a massive decrease in passenger numbers, Marine Atlantic could soon face a formidable financial crunch — a situation that could lead to ticket increases or a reduction in service.
Hurtigruten has laid off 3,000 employees, taken 14 out of 16 ships out of traffic and lost all passengers and revenue during the corona crisis.
The company asked for State aid, without success.
Hurtigruten’s CEO Daniel Skjeldam says that the State only wants to give loan guarantees to companies with a healthy credit score.
However, because of the corona crisis, Hurtigruten’s score has been lowered. Daniel Skjeldam says this is not right. “It is the credit score before the corona crisis that must be used.”
On April 30, 2020, Saos Ferries STAVROS was introduced on the Rhodes – Symi – Halki – Tilos – Nisyros – Kos line, plus 3 trips a week on the Rhodes – Kastelorizo run. The small vessel served for many years the Alexandroupolis – Samothraki run. However, in August 2019 she and her smaller running mate SAONISSOS halted service unexpectedly, due to serious engine failures- causing a serious problem on the Samothraki line in the middle of the summer season. The ship was eventually repaired, renamed and started hopefully a new career at another part of Greece.
- Stena Line’s new STENA ESTRID is being taken off the Holyhead to Dublin route for repairs after suffering engine problems. On May, 3 she arrived at the layover berth at Loch Ryan Port where she will undergo maintenance for up to 6 weeks. Relief vessel STENA NORDICA picked up the schedule.
- On the ferry between Kalundborg and Ballen (DK), Samsølinjen has reduced the number of passengers by half. This is done in order to create the necessary distance between the passengers. In a campaign, the ferry operator asks local passengers to book a seat in advance, instead of the usual showing up.
- P&O Ferries have sent their ferries PRIDE OF BURGUNDY and PRIDE OF CANTERBURY for lay-up in the port of Leith, Edinburgh.
- Consultant firm PwC has been called in to advise on UK taxpayer support of P&O Ferries.
- Former Brittany Ferries BAIE DE SEINE has been returned to DFDS and sails as SIRENA SEAWAYS on Klaipeda – Karlshamn.
- On April 30, 2020 Ventouris Ferries’ RIGEL VII was finally introduced on the Bari – Durres line. The new flagship of the Cypriot based ferry operator has first completed successfully her sea trials -on the Saronic Gulf- and then sailed to Albania (Durres). She was purchased from Japan in December 2018.
The Birth of AURORA BOTNIA
Production of Wasaline’s new ropax ferry continues uninterrupted at Rauma shipyard
“We are starting to put together the last blocks and the construction of the hull, as well as the fitting of the machine rooms and car decks, is proceeding at a rapid pace. A total of seven of AURORA BOTNIA’s blocks will be delivered from Gdansk in Poland, of which three arrived at the end of April. We are currently fitting the blocks that were delivered,” says Johanna Kaijo, Project Manager of the newbuilding NB6002.
The next significant phase in the construction of Aurora Botnia is the launch of the vessel in the autumn.
In August 1997 –high season– I travelled on several of the Moby Line ferries, from mainland Italy to Sardinia, Corsica and Elba.
Several of the ships have left us years ago.
SARDEGNA BELLA (built 1967 as STENA BRITANNICA)
This elegant passenger ferry will certainly look familiar to many of our industry professionals. Built as STENA BRITANNICA, she has been sailing on the Kattegat, in Alaska, the Baltic Sea, the English Channel, and last but not least in the Mediterranean Sea.
She sailed for companies as Sally AB and Sally Line, Viking Line, Brittany Ferries, North Sea Ferries, SOL Lines, Moby Lines etc..
She was broken up in 2001.
MOBY BLU (built 1965 as FREE ENTERPRISE II)
Another veteran is Townsend’s FREE ENTERPRISE II, built in The Netherlands.
After a long life on different Channel routes, the small ferry (by today’s standards) was sold in 1982 to Navarma and subsequently left for the Med.
In 2003 she was scrapped in India.
MOBY BLU (built 1965 as FREE ENTERPRISE II)
Another veteran is Townsend’s FREE ENTERPRISE II, built in The Netherlands.
After a long life on different Channel routes, the small ferry (by today’s standards) was sold in 1982 to Navarma and subsequently left for the Med.
In 2003 she was scrapped in India.
Post Corona Era: What Can We Expect for the Ferry Shipping Industry?
Last week we asked 20 leading ferry and port executives to answer anonymously a simple poll about the future of our sector.
DFDS Optimises Seaways Following Changes in Northern Baltic Market Conditions
The schedule on the Estonia-Sweden route (Paldiski-Kapellskär) has been improved by offering both freight customers and passengers more attractive evening departures and morning arrivals through the week. Evening departures in both directions will now be possible every day by the addition of a second vessel.
This improvement is enabled by a halving of sailings between Paldiski and Hanko (Finland) following reduced demand on this route. This allows the ropax SAILOR on the route to be deployed on both Paldiski-Hanko and Paldiski-Kapellskär. On the latter it will sail in addition to OPTIMA SEAWAYS.
In addition, a freight agreement has been entered into with Eckerö Line on the freight route between Muuga (Tallinn) and Vuosaari (Helsinki). (vessel: FINBO CARGO)
The agreement starts from the end of April 2020.
With these changes, a total of 30 departures per week between Estonia and Finland can be offered to DFDS’ customers.
On Friday 24 April 2020, FSG went into self-administration.
German insolvency law offers companies the option of restructuring in insolvency procedures under their own management. This is so-called self-administration.
Owner Lars Windhorst said the yard would continue to build ships. Together with management and employees, he sees a future for the company. Now a sustainable concept has to be found.
A new managing director has been appointed. It is Martin Hammer (LinkedIn), who is expected to come up with a plan in four to six weeks. He think work can restart in early summer.
The problem seems to be the reluctance of the State Schleswig-Holstein to support the yard with guarantees. “Taxpayers’ money should not be risked for a company that is in trouble,” said Minister of Economics Bernd Buchholz. “First the yard needs to get out of the insolvency, then we can talk.”
Mr Windhorst told the German press that “investing money in a contract where you know you will lose money is not a responsible thing to do as an entrepreneur.” He added that a ship can only be built, “if we can assume that no money will be lost here.” He did not mention which ferry he was talking about. (Brittany Ferries? Irish Ferries?)
The contract for two ferries for Spirit of Tasmania have been cancelled earlier.
From what Ferry Shipping News understands, it seems the yard is negotiating an order for 4 roro ships from previous owner SIEM.
