Speaking on state broadcaster ERT, the Minister of Tourism Harry Theoharis evaluated the situation and whether or not it will affect Greek tourism.
Since the middle of May 2019, the Japanese built roro AYSHE of Kostas Agapitos is laid up at the Perama repair zone.
In 2014 she was chartered to the Turkish ECOL for the Turkey – France (Sète) run, a route that was fit exactly to her characteristics and potentials.
However, her charter expired last May and the large roro was laid up in Greece. Since then she was put up for sale but without success so far, which means that a great ship may end up to the scrapyard.
On February 14, 2020 ropax MYKONOS PALACE of Minoan Lines was renamed FESTOS PALACE.
The large ship will be introduced on the Piraeus – Heraklion line.
Barcelona, RoPax and RoRo Port
Armas’ VOLCAN DE TINAMAR alongside the terminal at Barcelona’s World Trade Center. She serves the route Palma de Mallorca – Barcelona.
GNV ATLAS passing the W-Hotel, on her way to Nador
EUROCARGO CAGLIARI looks quite small when seen from the highest deck of COSTA SMERALDA
EUROCARGO CAGLIARI looks quite small when seen from the highest deck of COSTA SMERALDA
Drapetsona, Like a Ferry Museum
Drapetsona in off-season is like a museum for veteran ferries. Captain Apostolos Kaknis was so kind to send us this amazing panoramic picture.
We split the full panoramic image in three pieces to make it easier to recognise the ships. This is not a quiz and nothing can be won.
CalMac Crew Praised for Berthing Lurching Ferry at Ardrossan
The crew of a CalMac ferry have been praised for their skill as dramatic footage showed the vessel struggling to berth in stormy seas
Corona Crisis Communication
For those present, do you remember last year’s super interesting session about crisis communication, on the second day of the Ferry Shipping Summit?
This session with lot of examples of bad communication was given by Cor Radings (crisis media management network MTI) and Dan Bridgett (Head Communications P&O).
On 30 January 2020, I was onboard COSTA SMERALDA when the ship was quarantined for 12 hours. We spent a full day in the port of Civitavecchia, waiting to get the permission to disembark.
One of the Asian passengers developed some fever the night before disembarkation. As soon as the case was discovered, the required precautionary procedures were immediately taken. The relevant authorities were informed and, on arrival of the ship in the port of Civitavecchia they carried out all the checks required.
Because of one single Instagram picture showing the ship in Civitavecchia, I was found by newspaper journalists, radio- and TV stations.
This was a very enriching experience. I wrote an article about this. You can find it on LinkedIn.
On 30 January 2020, I was onboard COSTA SMERALDA when the ship was quarantined for 12 hours. We spent a full day in the port of Civitavecchia, waiting to get the permission to disembark.
One of the Asian passengers developed some fever the night before disembarkation. As soon as the case was discovered, the required precautionary procedures were immediately taken. The relevant authorities were informed and, on arrival of the ship in the port of Civitavecchia they carried out all the checks required.
Because of one single Instagram picture showing the ship in Civitavecchia, I was found by newspaper journalists, radio- and TV stations.
This was a very enriching experience. I wrote an article about this. You can find it on LinkedIn.
Later on, a Princess cruise ship was quarantined in Japan. In my opinion Princess Cruises did a good job by communicating through social media.
Two examples can be seen here on YouTube:
Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz
Princess Cruises EVP Rai Caluori
This is not for me to judge, but some journalists think more could have been done. The main critic was that nobody wants to give answers.
The Importance of a Media Strategy
In this year’s Ferry Shipping Summit, we are again going to have a panel debate about media strategy.
Theme: Climate and environmental media strategy for the ferry and port industry.
Moderator: Cor Radings, Managing partner MTI
Panel:
Johanna Boijer Svanström, SVP Corp. Communication Viking Line
Dan Bridgett, Group Head Communications P&O
Ariadne Psimara, New Business Development Manager Attica Group.
Fjord Line’s New Catamaran FSTR Launched
Fjord Line’s brand new high-speed catamaran ferry, FSTR, has been launched from Austal’s shipyard on the Philippines (Balamban, Cebu).
The ship will replace HSC FJORD CAT for the route between Kristiansand and Hirtshals, and will double the capacity of the fastest route between Norway and Denmark.
The fast vehicle-passenger ferry, to be known as FSTR, is the largest aluminium vessel ever launched in the Philippines – and the largest by volume ever constructed by Austal.
The vessel is now in the final stages of fit out, prior to delivery to Fjord Line in Q2.
FSTR (Hull 419) is capable of transporting 1,200 passengers at up to 40 knots and features Austal’s largest ever vehicle-carrying capacity constructed to date, with a beam of 30.5 metres enabling 404 cars to be carried across two decks. The ship features several key design innovations that enhance operating performance and passenger comfort, including a new, optimised hull form that will minimise fuel consumption and wake wash when operating on the Skagerrak Sea between Hirtshals and Kristiansand.
In Saint-Malo, Brittany Ferries has moved its offices from ‘Gare Maritime de la Bourse’ (ferry terminal) to Parc Atalante, some 7km south.
New offices have been built, with a surface of almost 1,000m2.
The building includes a training center:
- Education of crew for the use of LNG
- Education for certain jobs, such as security officer
- New firefighting techniques
- HR
‘Brittany Ferries Atalante’ has been officially opened on 7 February. Present were, amongst others, Jean-Yves Le Drian, minister of European and Foreign Affairs, and Amélie de Montchalin, his secretary of state.
Tirrenia CIN Closed the Catania – Naples RoRo Link Due to Insufficient Demand
As from this week, Tirrenia – Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione (Moby group) is no longer operating the regular roro line between the ports of Catania, in Sicily, and Naples, in Campania. The announcement was sent to the road haulers last week.
“This line was opened in June 2018 following the request coming from the market and Tirrenia has strongly supported it with important investments. Today we are forced to interrupt the operation in the light of the lack of sufficient traffic to support the line economically. The other maritime connections will continue as planned” the company said.
On the Catania – Salerno route Grimaldi Group will remain the only player active, while Cartour currently deploys a roro ship on the Messina – Salerno link.
A new shipping company called Atlantis Seaways has just launched a roro line between Libya, Italy and Slovenia.
Some details were released by the Italian general agent, the Venice-based general agent Agencies, which announced that it is a new regular service calling at the port of Khoms, Misurata, Salerno, Venice and Koper.
The frequency is every 18-20 days. Two loops, one in the Thyrrenian Sea and the other one in the Adriatic Sea, will be alternated.
The vessel deployed is the roro MY ROSE [link MarineTraffic] with a capacity for 1,500 lane metres.
Depending on the success of the line and the demand from the market a second ship and further calls in Northern Italy (Genoa), in Spain and in Turkey (Izmir) may be introduced in the future.