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sandra

Dec 21
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Faergen’s fast ferry VILLUM CLAUSEN sold

By 2017 Newsletter week 51

The Danish company sold the high-speed ferry to an unidentified buyer in the Mediterranean. She was used as reserve vessel on Ystad-Bornholm.
The sale will become effective after August 31.
Faergen already sold ro-pax vessels POVL ANKER and HAMMERODDE, and fast ferries LEONORA CHRISTINA, and leased them back until the end of the public service contract.
LEONORA CHRISTINA will go to Fred. Olsen SA, to serve the Canary Islands.
HAMMERODDE has been sold to Stena Ro-Ro and POVL ANKER to Mols Linien.

Photo: ©Mike Louagie

Dec 21
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IN THE MEDIA

By 2017 Newsletter week 51

CalMac business prospers thanks to retention of Hebrides service

Herald Scotland writes that the retention of the contract for the Clyde and Hebrides service was the driver of CalMac’s improved financial performance in the year to the end of March.
When private company Serco joined the tender process, competition became very stiff. After committing to 350 service improvements CalMac was ultimately successful with its bid. Its new eight-year contract began on October 1, 2016.
According to CEO Martin Dorchester this was a key highlight in a year that saw the business increase its turnover by £5 million to £195.5m at the same time as turning a £4.8m pre-tax loss into a £4.8m pre-tax profit.

Photo: ©Mike Louagie

Dec 21
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A summer ferry service between Scotland and Shetland?

By 2017 Newsletter week 51

A ferry service between Caithness, a county in Northern Scotland, and Shetland has been brought back onto the agenda amid hopes that it could help alleviate concerns over capacity on the current NorthLink service from Aberdeen.
Orkney operator Pentland Ferries and Gills Harbour in Caithness are behind the idea, which would see a ferry run between the top of the Scottish mainland and Shetland during the summer months.
It is expected that the potential service would need financial support from the Scottish Government, which could prove difficult to secure.
Fares on ferries to Shetland and Orkney from Aberdeen are set to fall next year as the Scottish Government introduces a new pricing structure based on a road equivalent tariff variant, but this is expected to cause capacity issues both for passengers and also for freight customers.

Photo: ©Mike Louagie

Dec 21
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Corsica Linea needs more capacity

By 2017 Newsletter week 51

Pascal Trojani, leading Corsica Linea, said to Corse-Matin that he is a happy man after a successful year. The summer season has been good, not only for passengers but especially for freight. He says the company has a market share of 60% for the freight coming from and going to Corsica.
The challenge is now the saturation of the vessels. “We need to think about enlarging our capacity. We would like to have a new vessel in two years. We might first need to go on the secondhand market but the ultimate goal is a newbuilt ro-pax with LNG as fuel.”
Corsica Linea has been created by 130 local transport companies, from which 14 companies own 95% of the shares.

Photo: ©Mike Louagie

Dec 21
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SHORT NEWS

By 2017 Newsletter week 51
  • After a very successful six-month charter for SOL Continent Line, ro-ro ferry ML FREYJA will start to sail for Mann Lines as from December 27 and will replace STENA FORETELLER. SOL has used her on the Zeebrugge-Göteborg route. Her place will be taken by TAVASTLAND.

Photo: ML FREYJA in Zeebrugge ©Mike Louagie

  • Africa Morocco Link has decided to put a ‘pause’ on the highly seasonal Nador-Almeria route from December 25 onwards. Route vessel DIAGORAS will return to Greece.
  • Condor has chartered the ro-ro vessel ARROW to provide cover and additional capacity over Christmas and New Year.
Dec 14
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Fjord Line’s STAVANGERFJORD has successfully been converted by Fosen Yard

By 2017 Newsletter week 50

Cruise ferry STAVANGERFJORD was redelivered to Fjord Line on Wednesday December 13 at 09:00, three hours before contract time, says Fosen.
The ship’s interior has been upgraded to almost yacht-like standards. Cabin and suite capacities have been increased on the top deck and a new winter garden restaurant was created aft.
The job was executed in six weeks as planned and the ferry will be ready to enter service from Bergen on December 14.

Photo: Winter Garden, Johan Engvik

Dec 14
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Juncker Plan in France: signature of first green financing in maritime sector for Brittany Ferries

By 2017 Newsletter week 50

The European Investment Bank (EIB), Société Générale and Brittany Ferries announced the first green maritime financing under EIB’s €750 million Green Shipping Guarantee (GSG) programme put in place last year by the EIB and Société Générale, for Brittany Ferries’ HONFLEUR. This new vessel will be Brittany Ferries’ first LNG-powered ferry, to be built by Flensburger (FSG).
Société Générale acted as the main arranger of the €142.6 million financing for the acquisition of the HONFLEUR, which includes a tranche of €49.5 million fully guaranteed by the EIB.

Rendering H. Krüger

Dec 14
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CLdN increases number of sailings on Zeebrugge – Göteborg

By 2017 Newsletter week 50

CLdN announced that the number of sailings between Zeebrugge and Göteborg will be increased from three to four per week, starting on January 1.
This route is increasingly successful for both CLdN and competitor SOL Continent Line. It acknowledges the role of the port of Zeebrugge as hub between Scandinavia and the Baltic, Ireland/UK and Spain/Portugal.
CLdN is waiting for the imminent delivery of the series of 5,500 lane meter ro-ro’s. In total eight ro-ro ship orders have been confirmed, with an option for a further four.
The CLdN vessels trading on Göteborg are handled in Zeebrugge by C.Ro Ports on their brand new terminal and hub, the Albert II Dock, where the Dublin vessels (the new 7,800 lane meter CELINE) are also being handled.

Photo: CLdn’s SOMERSET in the Albert II dock, Zeebrugge

Dec 14
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CLdN moves terminals in Göteborg

By 2017 Newsletter week 50

CLdN ro-ro will move their activities in Göteborg from Logent Ports & Terminals AB (Port 2) to Gothenburg RORO Terminal AB (Port 6). This terminal is jointly owned by DFDS and C.RO Ports (65/35) and is also used by SOL Continent Line.
CLdN vessels will be handled in the Gothenburg RORO Terminal as from January 2.

Photo: Port of Göteborg