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sandra

Feb 06
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FERRY FINANCE

By 2020 Newsletter week 6

DFDS: Interim and Full-Year Report Q4 2019

  • Revenue +1% (Q4) +6% (year)
  • EBITDA -9% (Q4) +1% (year)

The UK market for freight and passengers slowed further in Q4 due to Brexit uncertainty. This lowered earnings for several business units, particularly Channel and North Sea.

Logistics Division increased EBITDA 17% in Q4 as contract logistics in UK & Ireland and other activities across the division continued to perform well despite the UK slowdown.

Mediterranean’s revenue development was ahead of expectations in Q4 but a change in the accounting for ferry maintenance and spare part costs added operating costs of DKK 48m. Moreover, port congestion in Trieste lowered the efficiency of train services.
Operational improvements in the route network are on track.

Outlook 2020
Positive impact from the Win23 strategy initiatives
Negative impact: uncertainty about Brexit
Revenue is expected to grow around 4% and EBITDA before special items is expected to be within a range of DKK 3.5-3.9bn (2019: DKK 3.6bn).

Feb 06
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TECHNOLOGY

By 2020 Newsletter week 6

Rauma Marine Constructions to Partner with Aalto University Looking to Cut Emissions and Increase Safety

Rauma Marine Constructions Oy and Aalto University have concluded an agreement on joint research and development efforts. This collaboration aims especially at developing technologies that can improve the environmental and safety aspects of seafaring in order to reduce its carbon footprint, make use of new fuels and further develop maritime safety.

Feb 06
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IN THE MEDIA

By 2020 Newsletter week 6

Interislander to Replace Ferries with Rail-Ready Fleet

Kiwirail has confirmed plans to replace its Interislander fleet with two new larger, rail-enabled ferries.

The new ships will carry more freight, cars and passengers than the current three fleets: KAITAKI, KAIARAHI and ARATERE. At this stage, Interislander will still make up to six sailings a day.

Feb 06
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SHORT NEWS

By 2020 Newsletter week 6

Kerkyra Seaways’s HERMES Set Sail for Greece

On 3 February 2020, Kerkyra Seaways’ HERMES sailed from Mizushima port (Japan) for Greece.

She was purchased by Kerkyra Seaways (Souliotis – Lainas) on October 2019 and she will be probably introduced on the Igoumenitsa – Corfu – Paxoi run after a small-scale conversion.

She was the ex- FERRY TSURUGI of Nankai Ferry and plied on the Wakayama-Tokushima run.

Jan 30
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TOP STORY

By 2020 Newsletter week 5

Brittany Ferries: Rosslare – Bilbao replaces Cork – Santander as key freight route to Europe

Brittany Ferries has announced that it is to move its Ireland/Spain sailings from Cork to Rosslare Europort, with the first sailing due to take place on 28 February.

  • The change is in response to demand from Irish and continental hauliers
  • Company confirms ongoing commitment to Cork – Roscoff, which will continue to be primary tourism route, with 100,000 pax/year.
  • New Rosslare services will include an Ireland-France rotation to Roscoff
  • Rosslare sailings to commence 28 February 2020
  • The new Spanish arrival port from Rosslare will be Bilbao

“This was not a decision we took lightly and follows extensive consultation with our freight customers who sought better road connections and reduced driving distances,” said Christophe Mathieu Brittany Ferries CEO. “We opened the route in 2018 with a two-year trial window. While passenger numbers have been encouraging, the reality is that freight numbers, which are key to route viability, were not sufficiently robust.  However I want to make it clear that we remain committed to Cork, with our flagship PONT-AVEN cruise-ferry service to Roscoff.”

The Cork-Santander route which was launched in 2018 was primarily aimed at the freight market into Europe although it also carried holidaymakers, with an ‘économie’ no-frills onboard experience. The new route out of Rosslare will again concentrate on freight with an option for holidaymakers.

Why Rosslare – Bilbao?

The consensus among hauliers is that Rosslare, with its proximity to Dublin and the east coast road network, is a preferred option.  Equally hauliers operating on the European mainland noted that Bilbao is more attuned to freight traffic and has easier transport links into Europe.

As with the current Cork-Santander sailings, the new Rosslare-Bilbao sailing will be twice-weekly and will incorporate a weekly Ireland/France rotation.

(Source: Brittany Ferries)

Jan 30
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FERRY SHIPPING

By 2020 Newsletter week 5

Delcomar Welcomes the Double-Ended ferry I. MADDALENA in Fleet

Sardinian ferry company Delcomar has just welcomed its recently purchased double-ended ferry, subsequently renamed I. MADDALENA [link: Marinetraffic]

She was acquired last summer in Greece, where was deployed as ARIS III by Nea Psara on the maritime link between Oropos and Eretria and between Perama and Paloukia.

The vessel was built in 2010 by Karagiorgas shipyard and has capacity for 600 passengers, 105 cars and 20 trailers.

The investment for Delcomar was around EUR 6 million and the ship is now active on the La Maddalena – Palau routes in Sardinia.

Franco Del Giudice, chairman of Delcomar, commented the new entry in the fleet highlighting that “I. MADDALENA is the most modern ship deployed on the short sea routes in Italy”.

Jan 30
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New Project Submitted by Corsica Linea and La Méridionale

By 2020 Newsletter week 5

Corsica Linea and La Méridionale have finally agreed to join forces for the public service contract for maritime services between Marseille and Corsica, from 1 January 2021 till 31 December 2027.

Right on time, because the deadline was 14 February 2020.

In this common project, Corsica Linea would have an exclusivity for the port of Bastia (source: Le Journal de la Marine Marchande). Remember, before, La Méridionale used to operate ropax PIANA on this route.

Since 10 January a strike is immobilising all Marseille – Corsica ferry operations. The unions want to have guarantees for jobs at La Méridionale, and they want the ships to be able to sail on the two main routes, Ajaccio and Bastia. The strike is also related to the countrywide protest against Macron’s pension reform plan.

From what we understand, this year’s public service contract, which runs until 31 December 2020, will be divided in two periods, from now until end of April, and from May until the end of the year. For the second part a new tender will be issued.