sandra

Tallink Transports Highest Number Of Passengers Ever In One Month In July 2019

Tallink Grupp has transported a record number of passengers for the third month running in 2019, a record number of passengers for the month of July and the highest number of passengers in one month ever in the company’s history. The total number of passengers transported on all the company’s routes in July was 1 238 871, which is a 1.2% increase on the same month in 2018.

Tallink also set a new overall passenger records for one month on the Estonia-Sweden routes, where 119 398 passengers were transported, and on the Latvia-Sweden route, where a total of 97 756 passengers were transported in July.

The company additionally set a new record for the number of cargo units transported in the month of July with 29 967 units of cargo transported in the month in 2019, which is a 1.1% increase on the same month last year. Although not a record-breaking figure, the number of passenger vehicles transported by the company also increased in July, with 155 297 vehicles transported on all the company’s routes in July, which is a 1% increase.

A Further EUR 250 Million Allocated For Renovation Of Small Ferries In Italy

The Italian Transport Minister officially communicated that, together with several Regions and the Coast Guard, some EUR 250 million have been allocated for the renovation of the ferries deployed on the short sea shipping routes in the period 2020 – 2030.

Those financial incentives are mainly focused on vessels operating local or regional links and are aimed at making access and maritime transport easier for people with low mobility.

The Transport Minister also specified that these resources are in excess of the EUR 250 million already allocated last year from the former government and also dedicated to new projects of small ferries to be built.

Venice-based ACTV, Palermo-based Siremar and all the operators active in the Gulf of Naples (Alilauro, Navigazione Libera del Golfo, Medmar, Snav, etc.) are among the companies interested in ordering new ships.

Cargotec‘s Macgregor Completes The Acquisition Of The Marine And Offshore Businesses Of TTS Group ASA

Cargotec’s MacGregor business area has completed the acquisition of the marine and offshore businesses of TTS Group ASA. Cargotec announced in February 2018 an agreement to acquire the businesses for an enterprise value of approximately EUR 87 million.

ANEK Lines:  Towards A Challenging September

According to a recent article in the Greek press (*), next September might be extra challenging for Crete-based ANEK Lines.

After restructuring its lending in 2017, ANEK Lines showed -at the end of 2018- negative private capital as well as overdue liabilities to banks.  That means that it is required to proceed into a share capital increase in order to restore the equity between its private capital and its shareholders capital.

Last March, its Board of Directors decided to propose to the General Assembly to increase the company’s share capital up to €20 million by issuing new bonds. But it was finally decided that the General Assembly concerning that issue should be held on September 9, 2019.

However, ANEK Lines is running out of time. With the fuel costs increasing fast (+ 25% compared to 2017), the cash flow reducing in the second half of 2018 and the new stricter rules of the International Maritime Organization pushing, ANEK Lines’ current use is ready to encounter a very difficult period.

On the other hand, according to reports, ANEK LINE’s main creditors are possibly considering exercising their rights in relation to the loans they have issued. Piraeus Bank, which is the second largest shareholder of the Cretan ferry operator, holding 24,18% will play a key role to that development.

We will have to wait for the developments to come….

(*) Source: Capital.gr (6 August 2019)

Post-Brexit Plans Unveiled For 10 Free Ports

The government is planning to create up to 10 free ports across the UK after Brexit. They allow firms to import goods and then re-export them outside normal tax and customs rules.

Seaports and airports will be able to apply for free port status, to be set up after the UK is due to leave the EU on 31 October.

The Tough Part Of Brexit Is Now

This French article is about Brittany Ferries, looking at a 4% drop of passengers.

Brittany Ferries’ President Jean-Marc Roué told Loïg Chesnais-Girard, the President of the Regional Council of Brittany, that “Brittany Ferries is now in the tough part of the Brexit”.

Not only Brittany but also Spain has seen a reduction in pax.

Jean-Mac Roué remains positive. “We took the right decisions and have done the necessary investments. Four new ships will be in service by 2023.”

He also confirmed that BF made an offer to acquire Condor Ferries (operating on nearby Guernsy and Jersey). “But we won’t be the only ones.”

Corsica Linea Ordered A new LNG Ro-Pax

On 25 July, Corsica Linea signed the contract with the Visentini shipyard for a new ro-pax ferry powered by LNG.

Some particulars:

• LNG as fuel to power the engines and generate onboard electricity.
• Length: 206m (the longest ferry in the actual fleet is JEAN NICOLI, with a length of almost 201m).
• Lane metres: 2.560m (VIZZAVONA and PAGLIA ORBA have 2,500m) with extra deck for 150 cars.
• Passengers: 650
• Speed: 23 knots
• Delivery is planned for 2022.
• Financing is done by the investment bank of Groupe Crédit Agricole. Essential for the project was the leadership of the Corsican branch of the bank (Crédit Agricole de la Corse). The French bank has a specific program for “green investments”.
• Scolaro Shipbrokers have been acting as agents of the Italian shipyard.
• Designed by NAOS.
• The plan is to order a second ship within 18 months.

Pierre-Antoine VILLANOVA is a proud CEO: “only three years after its creation, Corsica Linea has followed a strategy where the quality of service, local employment and an environmental transition were the key elements. By choosing LNG as a fuel, we will be part of a movement towards a more sustainable maritime transportation in the Med.”

Corsica Linea also participated at the G7 (see below) and signed the SAILS charter with the other French ferry companies.

Corsica Ferries: 4 LNG/Methanol Conversions And 1 LNG Newbuilding

On 23 July, a group of nine French ship owners have signed a charter, named SAILS. The word stands for ‘Sustainable Actions For Innovative and Low-Impact Shipping’. All major French ferry companies, such as Brittany Ferries, Corsica Linea and Corsica Ferries signed this document which aims at improving the energy efficiency.

In its communication about this agreement, Corsica Ferries said it has set the goal to reduce the emissions by 8%.

To compensate for its emissions, Corsica Ferries supports two green initiatives: a reforestation project in Peru, and the planting of 80,000 tress on Corsica.

By the end of 2020 one ro-pax should benefit from cold ironing in Toulon. By 2021, half of the fleet will be equipped for shore power. The plan is to connect the whole fleet.

Four ferries will be converted to run on LNG/methanol. This is expected to be done by 2024.

One newbuilding, powered by LNG (dual-fuel), is foreseen in 2023.

The New Appeal Of La Méridionale Dismissed By The Administrative Court Of Bastia

The judge of the administrative court of Bastia rejected on July 25 the new appeal filed by the company La Méridionale.

Last June, La Méridionale was officially excluded from the public service contracts for the routes to Ajaccio, Bastia and L’Ile-Rousse.

The vessel that the company presented during the tendering process was not available and had to be changed. The renewed offer did not respect the requirements of the contract, said the judge.