Dufry Group has signed a new long-term concession contract with P&O Ferries to operate shops under the World Duty Free brand on board 15 vessels.
The transfer of the operations with a total of 19 shops across a retail space of 3,600 m2 will be phased from April to May 2019.
Besides operating all shops, World Duty Free will be responsible for the refurbishment of the stores and for implementing state-of-the-art shop design to provide a tailored assortment proposition for each route.
Kefalonian Lines announced officially its withdrawal –after 5 years- from the Ionian Sea. The company decided:
This decision, is certainly not serving the Ionian island’s interests, however, the fierce competition in combination with the sustainability reasons presented by Kefalonian Lines, leave Levante Ferries free to dominate the Ionian Sea.
Some interesting facts though are:
Levante Ferries is expected to spend almost EUR 10 million for the purchase and conversion of Kefalonian Line’s, NISSOS KEFALONIA.
The ship is expected to return fully upgraded on the Killini – Zakynthos and Killini – Poros route before summer.
SOL Adds The Finnish Port Of Pietarsaari / Jakobstad To Its Network
Swedish Orient Line announced that the Finnish port of Pietarsaari / Jakobstad will be approached once a week by the THULELAND and TUNDRALAND ro-ro ferries, extending the shipping company’s line network.
The route includes calls in Lübeck, Zeebrugge and Tilbury. The new route supports the export of paper products of the Finnish company BillerudKorsnäs from its plant in Pietarsaari as well as other import and export cargo from the region.
Start: January 2019
China’s mega project, the New Silk Road, is to intensify international trade between Asia and Europe in the long term through a stronger infrastructure. The project also offers new opportunities for the Port of Cuxhaven. Due to the increasing demand in the United Kingdom for goods from China, DFDS has now established the last link of the transport chain between Great Britain and China via Cuxhaven. DFDS organises and carries out the onward road transport to the Cuxport terminal of goods arriving from China in Hamburg by rail, as well as the following sea transport from Cuxhaven to Immingham.
Work is underway for the imminent provision of LNG bunkering facilities at Marseille Fos following a feasibility study initiated by the port authority.
In late 2017 the authority set up a working group to examine relevant logistical options for supporting the promotion of LNG as an environmentally friendly marine fuel. The group included interested shipowners, the managers of the two LNG terminals in Fos – Elengy and Fosmax LNG – and supplier Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions.
A master plan developed earlier this year detailed the investment schedule and possible operational methods that would enable implementation within a short time frame, with two solutions confirmed as feasible:
Preparations have now started with this timescale in mind. Fosmax LNG is investing to adapt its Fos Cavaou terminal to receive small LNG refuelling carriers from next summer in a service offering 50 slots per year. Meanwhile Elengy is planning an extension at the Fos Tonkin terminal that will provide 100 loading slots per year for small refuelling vessels from 2021.
The foundation stone for the construction of a new flyover at the Port Polnocny has just been laid.
The Port of Gdansk Authority is carrying out the largest investment programme in its history. One of its elements involves the expansion of the road and railway network at the Port Polnocny, to cope with the incredible traffic growth.
Irish Continental Group: Containers Are Doing Better Than Ferries
Irish Ferries, the ICG ferry division had a difficult year with the problems with ULYSSES and the late delivery of the W.B. YEATS.
This is in contrast to ICG’s other divisions –containers and terminal lifts–, which did perform well.
Some data:
-7.2% cars 1 January – 31 October (-7.3% loss in sailings)
-11.2% cars since 30 June
-0.8% ro-ro freight units 1 January – 31 October (-4.1% cruise ferry sailings)
-5.6% ro-ro freight units since 30 June (reason: significant disruptions to the schedules on the Dublin Holyhead route due to technical difficulties affecting the flagship vessel ULYSSES).
The W.B. YEATS, currently under construction in Flensburg will be ready for delivery during early December.
-6.7% total revenues ferry division €172.1 million (1 January – 31 October)
€4.9 million of the decrease is attributable to lower external vessel charter earnings following the disposal of the KAITIKI and the JONATHAN SWIFT.
The Ferry Operations Division has produced positive results for the Stena AB Group.
EBITDA, excluding net gain on sale of assets, increased compared to last year due to continued increased volumes for cars (3%), freight (3%) and passengers (2%)
Stena RoRo secured long term charters for three ro-pax newbuildings:
STENA CARRIER has been sold and delivered in August 2018.
STENA FREIGHTER has been sold and delivered in October 2018.
Global Eagle Entertainment Wins Luxury Cruise Contract
Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. has been selected by French luxury expedition cruise company Ponant to provide new technology, entertainment and television for its entire fleet, including the five vessels still under construction.
“PONANT customers demand the best amenities on board and we are proud to be a valued partner that helps to enrich time during each voyage,” said Global Eagle Senior VP Maritime Ole Sivertsen. “As each new ship goes to sea, it will have the newest technology and premium entertainment to ensure great experiences on board.”
Global Eagle delivers more than 10,000 terabytes of content annually to more than 1,000 sea vessels and more than 1 billion passengers. The company is among the world’s largest providers of connectivity-driven content to cruise lines, ferries, commercial shipping and airlines, with customers including NCL Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and P&O Ferries.
Two Strategic Partners Interested In Uljanik Shipyard
Croatian minister of economy Darko Horvat said that currently two serious strategic partners were interested in Uljanik’s Pula shipyard: Fincantieri and Ukraine Smart Holding Group.
The clock is ticking for the yard: by mid-December an automatic launch of a bankruptcy procedure will be activated, when the 120-day deadline expires. The minister believes a bankruptcy can be avoided.
Brodosplit might also be interested in investing in the ailing Uljanik Rijeka shipyard, eventually together with Fincantieri.
