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sandra

Nov 16
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Elb-Link: standby for further, positive announcements

By 2017 Newsletter week 46

Elb-Link Fährgesellschaft, the company which provided a ferry connection between Cuxhaven and Brunsbüttel, gave on its Facebook page an update on its state of affairs.
They wrote that, ” we are currently in intensive talks with politicians, banks and possible charterers with the aim of re-launching the service with a sustainable concept. The ferry service would resume before next spring. At this moment there are still some points that need to be discussed. Please give us some time, we will inform you in time.”
The company website says that, “The Elbe ferry does not currently operate due to a technical fault.”

Photo © Elb-Link

Nov 16
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IN THE PRESS

By 2017 Newsletter week 46

Prison for captain and pilot of ro-ro ship with unusual bridge design

On 3 December 2015 the Panama registered pure car carrier CITY OF ROTTERDAM collided with the DFDS ro-ro PRIMULA SEAWAYS on the River Humber. Both vessels were damaged but made their way to Immingham without assistance.
Recently the captain and the pilot of the CITY OF ROTTERDAM have been sentenced to four months in prison.
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) concluded that the incident was due to the pilot’s loss of situational awareness and the bridge team’s failure to intervene, all exacerbated by an unusual bridge layout.

In a reaction, Don Cockrill, Secretary General at United Kingdom Maritime Pilots, has written an interesting article on LinkedIn where he explains why the legal process can overtake and compromise the advancement of maritime safety

Nov 16
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Stena Line and Doyle Shipping in court over contract termination

By 2017 Newsletter week 46

A dispute between Stena Line and Doyle Shipping Group over the provision of services for ferries docking at Dublin port has come before the Commercial Court.
On August 31, Stena informed DSG it was ending the agreement. DSG argues the termination notice is in breach of an oral agreement negotiated with Stena in 2015 for provision of services at Dublin Port until 2022.

Nov 16
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Ro-ro and ferry: Port of Toulon’s golden niche markets

By 2017 Newsletter week 46

The French port of Toulon has again seen a significant rise in freight traffic from Turkish operator UN RoRo. The last twelve months have seen a rise of 9.7% of freight (= 66,345 units). The nine first months of 2017 have even been better, with an increase of 13% to 14%.
Ships sail almost full at 90% of their capacity, both inwards and outwards.
In the beginning of this year one the vessels –UN AKDENIZ– was reintroduced after lengthening. YouTube link
A second vessel will be lengthened soon.

Toulon is strongly associated with Corsica Sardinia Ferries, with here as well an excellent twelve months. The ferries transported more than 1.5 million passengers, an increase of 6.4%.
The new line to Sardinia was good for some 100,000 passengers. Next year Corsica Ferries will open a new route to Mallorca.
Moby Lines could return in 2019, for a link with Bastia (which will be operated out of Nice in 2018).
Freight to and from the island of Corsica has gone down, which can be explained by the competition of Corsica Linea from Marseille.

Photo © UN RoRo – Source: L’Antenne (in French)

Nov 16
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SHORT NEWS

By 2017 Newsletter week 46
  • FRS Caribbean, a subsidiary from Flensburg-based FRS Group, has expanded its route network. In addition to existing Miami – Bimini route the same high-speed passenger-only craft SAN GWANN will sail to Freeport, Grand Bahama. The route will be Miami-Bimini-Freeport-Bimini-Miami.
  • Algerie Ferries’ TARIQ IBN ZIYAD was victim of a car deck fire during the night of November 11, when she was under way from Marseille to Algeria. The captain decided to change course to Alcudia on Mallorca, to evacuate all guests. The crew managed to extinguish the fire. From the 500 passengers, 26 had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Nobody was injured. On November 13 Algerie Ferries’ TASSILI II was diverted to pick up the stranded passengers and their cars.
  • STENA SCOTIA has been fitted with a scrubber installation.
  • Fjord1 ASA has issued a NOK 1 billion unsecured bond loan, for the financing of up to six new ferries. This order is imminent, and comes in addition to the eight ferries already ordered. Stock exchange announcement
  • After a two-month charter MOBY DADA, the former St Peterline ship, will leave Barcelona on Thursday November 16. Together with GNV’s AZZURRA and RHAPSODY she was chartered by Madrid to house police officers during the Catalan crisis. Nicknamed “Tweety’s boat” she has been criticized by the men who stayed onboard. They will now be moved to hotels, which are available because of the low season.
  • Visentini-built ro-pax ferries NAPOLES and SICILIA are now longer on the fleet list of Stena RoRo. They have been acquired in September Kanalion Marine, a company registered in Cyprus with Juan Adolfo Utor Martinez as director. He is president of Balearia, the company that has been chartering the two ships.
Nov 09
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Dear reader,

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

Perhaps you asked yourself who we are? What better way than having a picture taken in front of a ferry?
The entire Ferry Shipping Summit team is ready for you, and wishes you a very enjoyable read of this Ferry Shipping News.

editor@ferryshippingnews.com

Nov 09
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Tallink Grupp’s Q3 interim report

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

Q3 in figure

  • 2.9 million passengers (+2%)
    Revenue EUR 282.7 million (EUR 273.6 million) +3.3%
    EBITDA EUR 75.4 million (EUR 67.1 million) +12.3%
  • Net profit EUR 47.8 million (EUR 42.8 million) + increased by 11.7%.

In Q3, the Group’s revenue and operating result were impacted by following operational factors

  • After the rerouting of ships in December 2016, carriage capacity increased on a number of operated routes.
  • During June and August, one cruise ferry operated the Tallinn – Helsinki route in contrast to two cruise ferries in last year.
  • Increased competition on Tallinn – Helsinki route.
Nov 09
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Acciona’s nine-month report

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

Trasmediterránea is only one of the companies belonging to the well-performing Acciona Group. In its 9M report, Acciona says that the Trasmediterránea EBITDA fell to €40 million, due to an increase in fuel costs derived from higher oil prices. The revenues were rather flat, with -2%.
In the period from January till September more passengers (+1.3%), more freight (+2.9%) and more cars (+5.6%) have been transported.
Recently Acciona reached an agreement to sell its 92.7% stake in Trasmediterranea to the Naviera Armas Group, something which is planned for 2018, Q1.

Nov 09
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Oil prices reached the highest levels in more than two years

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

The price of a barrel of North Sea Oil (BRENT) is flirting with USD 62, more than double the price level after the plunge below USD 30 at the beginning of last year.
Analysts see the strength of the global economy and geopolitical uncertainty as main reasons. Crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s bold efforts to consolidate authority in Saudi Arabia in his hands has certainly created stress on the market, especially since we know he is in favour of a reduced oil production.
In the ferry industry it will especially be the fast ferry operators who will feel the impact of a higher fuel bill, and the ones carrying mainly passengers. It is not so easy to raise prices. Freight operators usually have bunker surcharge clauses in their contracts (BAF or Bunker Adjustment Fee), making them less affected since the surcharge is being paid by the shipper, and eventually the end consumer.

Photo © Mike Louagie