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sandra

Oct 26
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In the shadow of the Brexit, Brittany Ferries’ strategy of diversification has proven successful

By 2017 Newsletter week 43

The latest Brittany Ferries report shows the first results after the Brexit referendum.

For the year 2016-2017, Brittany Ferries sees the following trends:

  • The cross-Channel passenger market is dropping (-5%), which is in contrast with the long routes to Ireland and Spain, which see a rise (+5%).
  • All routes together, passenger traffic is down 3%.
  • Freight is performing well, on all routes (+4%). For cross-Channel ferry services this means +2%, and for Spain +14%. The Motorways of the Seas between the UK and Spain has reached the symbolic level of 40,000 freight units.

In its analysis, Brittany Ferries found out that its faithful British repeat customers (members of the Club Voyage) continue to use the ferry services in the same numbers.

However, first time travellers seem to be less attracted by the ferry, and by France as a destination. Chairman Jean-Marc Roué calls for an unprecedented promotional campaign, to make France attractive to more people again.

The Brexit is a challenge, as well as the impact of the current low level of the British Pound, which will strongly impact Brittany Ferries’ future financial results, according to Mr Roué.

Jean-Marc Roué is happy with the strategy of the last ten years, where not all eggs have been put in one basket. The diversity of ferry routes and ships has proven to be the best recipe for stability.

Year 2016-2017 (2015-2016)

Pax cross-Channel: 1,958,000 (2,056,000)(-5%)

Pax long routes: 394,000 (376,000)(+5%)

Pax total: 2,352,000 (2,432,000)(-3%)

Freight units cross-Channel: 173,000 (169,000)(+2%)

Freight units long routes: 40,000 (35,000)(+14%)

Freigh units total: 213,000 (204,000)(+4%)

Photo: ETRETAT in Le Havre © Mike Louagie

Oct 26
Love0

SHORT NEWS

By 2017 Newsletter week 43
  • In France the national financial prosecutor’s office recently opened an investigation regarding the terms of takeover of the SNCM. Searches were carried out at the Office of Transport of Corsica and the companies of actors related to the purchase of SNCM. The prosecutor tries to understand what exactly happened when SNCM was taken over. More in particular, the question is why Corsica Linea promised to sell two ro-pax ferries –PAGLIA ORBA and MONTE D’ORO– for the price of EUR 10 million to the CTC (territorial collectivity of Corsica)
  • UECC’s ro-ro BORE BAY is being chartered by GNV for the Genova – Civitavecchia – Naples – Palermo – Malta service.
  • Intershipping charters ro-ro MAESTRO SUN for the Algeciras-Tanger Med route, replacing STENA CARRIER which is now working for CMA CGM. Intershipping also acquired double-ender VÄSTERVIK. She is going to be refurbished in Perama before going to the Strait of Gibraltar. Her new name will be MED STAR.
  • Lack of staff in the Port of Calais. That’s the reason for the conflict between the unions and the management, which started on September 25 with blockades and walkouts. During a normally scheduled meeting the management agreed with the finding of the unions, and will look at solutions. So far no further strikes are planned.
  • MOBY DADA and RHAPSODY are still on charter to the Spanish Government for the housing of police officers in Barcelona. MOBY DADA’s hull shows a big Tweety Pie, known from the Warner Bros. cartoons. In the meantime the yellow canary has become a symbol for the Catalan separatists, something that is not appreciated by Warner Bros. On social media you will find the hashtag  #FreePiolin. Piolin is the Spanish name for Tweety.
Oct 26
Love0

Ro-ro transport for 77 US Army helicopters

By 2017 Newsletter week 43

Last week the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade (Fort Hood, Texas) arrived in the Port of Zeebrugge with ARC’s ro-ro vessel ENDURANCE containing 77 helicopters.  The Chinooks, Blackhawks and Apaches were made flight-ready on the quays of one the ICO terminals (International Car Operators) in the inner harbour. In small groups they flew away to a base in Chièvres, before they’ll move to locations across the Continent as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Photo courtesy US Army
Video credit: Staff Sgt. Adrian Patoka

Watch the video here
Oct 26
Love0

A new long-term strategy for the Scottish ferry sector needed

By 2017 Newsletter week 43

“Scotland’s ferries are in urgent need of a new long-term strategy despite public spending more than doubling since 2007/08,” is the conclusion of a report from Scotland’s spending watchdog Audit Scotland.

The report thinks that, “Transport Scotland does not know the full extent of future spending requirements on ferry services and assets, and it will find it difficult to provide these services within its allocated budget.”

Photo © Mike Louagie

Oct 19
Love2

Strong chances for shipping bank to survive

By 2017 Newsletter week 42

German shipping lender HSH Nordbank has been hit hard by the shipping crisis, and must be sold by February 2018, or liquidated.
In the years before 2009 the bank had allocated so many ship loans that it was temporarily the largest financier in the world. Since then, a part of the shipping industry has been in a constant crisis, and many ship owners couldn’t repay the loans. Result: HSH had to live with constant high losses.
CEO Stefan Ermisch is however pretty sure liquidation is unnecessary, as several private equity groups are considering to buy the bank. In the media he expressed his hopes for convincing offers by the end of October.
The financial injection from the federal states of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein has now been used up. There is light at the end of the tunnel, as 75% of the full-year target has already been reached.

Sources: Tradewinds, Wirtschafts Woche – Photo © Mike Louagie

Oct 19
Love2

More freight capacity on Helsingborg-Helsingör route as from December 1

By 2017 Newsletter week 42

Scandlines HH-Ferries Helsingborg-Helsingör expands capacity when HAMLET’s sailing schedule is expanded by five hours daily. The expansion is driven by increasing demand from the route’s freight customers and implemented following a long period of significant growth in freight traffic.
Last year 410,000 trucks used the ferry service. The new schedule increases the capacity with 40,000 units per year.

Photo © Mike Louagie

Oct 19
Love2

Challenges and opportunities in post-Brexit era

By 2017 Newsletter week 42

British Ports Association’s CEO, Richard Ballantyne, urged the UK Government and the EU to find a creative and sensible Brexit solution to the challenges facing ferry ports and operators in the logistics sector.
Mr Ballantyne was speaking at the British Ports Association’s Annual Conference in Poole (October 17-20) where Brexit would be a key topic on the agenda.
He said that, “Whatever the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, it is vital that freight and passengers continue to pass smoothly through our ports.”
Mr Ballantyne also looks at the positive side of a post Brexit era: “A number of UK ports are looking at opportunities such as new trade, and initiatives like free trade zones.”

Photo © Mike Louagie

Oct 19
Love2

CMAL sees a growth in ferry demand

By 2017 Newsletter week 42

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has published the annual report for the year ending on 31 March 2017. CMAL owns the ferries, ports, and infrastructure necessary for vital ferry services serving the West Coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary, and is fully owned by the Scottish Government.
In his foreword, Chairman Erik Østergaard sums up the following highlights

  •  £29 million was spent in the construction of new vessels, including the completion of CATRIONA
  • £97 million was spent for the building of two new LNG ferries.
  • There is special project to explore the potential for a hydrogen-fuelled ferry.
  •  As the harbour authority for 26 locations across the west coast of Scotland, CMAL invested £24 million in planned upgrade works at selected harbours, including the flagship project at Brodick Ferry Terminal.
  • In 2016/17, CMAL generated revenue of £35,913,000, compared to £33,549,000 in 2015/16. The increase is mainly due to increased harbour dues and revenue grants.
  •  Pre-tax profits increased from £813,000 to £5,524,000 with increased harbour dues and revenue grants as noted, along with a decrease in administration costs.
  • A tax charge in 2016/17 against a significant tax credit in 2015/16 has resulted in post-tax profit of £3,063,000 compared to £7,869,000 in 2015/16.
  • Demand for ferry services continues to grow, driven in part by the road equivalent tariff (RET), as well as the growing popularity of Scotland’s islands as visitor destinations.
  • A new 90m ro-pax ferry will be ordered in late 2018, for delivery in 2021.

Photo © Mike Louagie