The Greek Shipowners Association for Passenger Ships (SEEN) called for the Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) to reconsider its 24-hour strike announced for 3 September, as it is expected to cause severe disruption to ferry transport in Greece.
In a letter to PNO, the association underlined that some 180,000 passengers, 50,000 vehicles and 3,000 trucks are expected to travel that Monday.
French ports were excluded from European Commission plans for a new shipping route linking Ireland with the Continent post Brexit — potentially preventing them from accessing billions of euros in EU grants.
The Commission adopted a proposal to revise the routing of one of its strategic transport corridors to connect Dublin and Cork with the Belgian ports of Zeebrugge and Antwerp and the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, to channel trade directly from Ireland to mainland Europe after Brexit.
Comment from Ferry Shipping News: Jean-Marc Roué, President of French Shipowners and Brittany Ferries is shocked by the intention to exclude the ports in Brittany and the English Channel, and says action needs to be taken to change the plans.
Most of Ireland’s road traffic with the EU goes via Britain, writes The Economist. The Brexit will slow down the ‘land bridge’ route to Ireland.
One More Newbuilding For DFDS
DFDS ordered one more ro-ro unit at the Jinling Shipyard in China.
That brings the order to a grand total of six new mega ro-ro newbuildings, or 40,200 lane meters and 2,700 trailers!
Baleària has invested close to EUR 55 million in the acquisition of the Visentini ro-pax VISEMAR ONE, which has been sailing for the company for seven years. She started in 2011 on the Barcelona-Palma route, and currently operates between Valencia and Palma. Her large cargo intake of 2,860 lane meters makes her very efficient for the Mallorca lifeline route.
Baleària currently has 30 vessels in its fleet, 26 of which are owned. The shipping company is building two LNG-powered ferries at the same Visentini yard, and
it has the intention to convert five existing ferries into LNG powered ships.
Two “other” projects are also on the shelf.
In response to growing market demand, Stena Line is planning to upweight its freight capacity on the popular Liverpool – Belfast route. This month (August 2018), Stena Line will initially deploy the 3,000 lane metre STENA FORERUNNER, before replacing it with a similar ship early in 2019 at which point the STENA FORERUNNER will return to service in the North Sea.
The incredible summer weather seems to have inspired more people to travel between Britain and the Continent by ferry. P&O reported the best tourist carryings for a July on the English Channel in three years: 161,468 cars or +4.5% between Dover and Calais.
On August 7, the traditional coin ceremony took place at FSG shipyard in Flensburg.
For Brittany Ferries and the shipyard it was an occasion to highlight the design process of the hull design, something for which FSG is well respected.
“Passengers will never see Honfleur’s hull, but they will certainly feel its benefit,” said Brice Robinson, Brittany Ferries naval architect, speaking from the keel laying ceremony.
After assembly, HONFLEUR’s hull will be launched in December.
Photo: HONFLEUR’s first mate Fleur Le Derff and FSG head of building berth Michel Bollman at the keel laying ceremony
