- Tourist traffic was up by 11% in Calais. 7.6 million passengers (+4%) and 1.4 million vehicles. 68,000 coaches (+13%) used the infrastructure last year, i.e. 3 out of 4 coaches on the Dover Strait.
- Freight traffic remained steady at 1.8 million units, representing a tonnage of almost 40 million tonnes. On the Strait, more than one lorry in two chooses to use the Port of Calais.
- Commercial terminal activity rose by 5% to 1.3 million tonnes.
- Rail motorway services set a new record with 46,000 units, up 10%. 1/3 of freight units transported on rail motorways in France are destined for or depart from the Port of Calais.
- Traffic in new vehicles increased by a factor of 2.5 over 2024, with 25,000 units.
The SAINT-MALO, the first of two new electric-hybrid ships from Brittany Ferries soon to be entering service from the city, took on LNG fuel from the OPTIMUS, a bunkering barge operated by Titan Clean Fuels.
Titan was issued a permit to perform LNG bunkering operations at Portsmouth International Port earlier this month, following a long-term agreement signed between the Dutch company and Brittany Ferries, for the supply of the cleaner fuel. LNG bunkering is now available to all customers sailing into and out of Portsmouth International Port.
Source: Portsmouth International Port
RoRo vessel LISTA is being chartered by Smyril Line and began to operate on the route between Rotterdam, Tórshavn, and Þorlákshöfn on Monday, January 27.
The legendary SUPERSTAR of Seajets is currently undergoing her annual maintenance and dry docking at Spanopoulos Group facilities in Salamina. As part of her annual refit, she will also receive her new livery.
The reliable vessel ceased operations on the Volos-Sporades route last November and is expected to resume service on 10 February.
Built in Belgium in 1974, SUPERSTAR continues to be a trusted presence in the fleet.
Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos
On the 24th of January, the RoRo vessel HAWAIKINUI 2 for the Polynesian Navigation Company (SNP, Société de navigation polynésienne), has been christened and launched at the Bodewes Foxhol location.
The vessel will take over from the actual vessel HAWAIKINUI, on the route between Tahiti, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora.
Photo: Royal Bodewes
Preliminary results for 2024
- DFDS’ revenue for 2024 increased 9.0% to DKK 29.8bn which was in line with the latest outlook revenue growth range of 8-10%.
- The 2024 EBIT was DKK 1.5bn in line with the latest EBIT outlook range of DKK 1.5-1.7bn.
- The adjusted free cash flow for 2024 was DKK 1.0bn compared to an outlook of around DKK 1.2bn.
Preliminary outlook for 2025
- DFDS’ EBIT for 2025 is expected to be around DKK 1.0bn.
- The EBIT expectation includes substantial negative earnings impacts from the changed competitive environment of the Mediterranean ferry network. The addition of the Türkiye & Europe South business area (previously Ekol International Transport) to the Logistics Division will as expected also reduce EBIT in 2025.
DFDS will in 2025 focus on:
- Adapting Mediterranean ferry operations to the changed competitive environment.
- Turning Türkiye & Europe South around to breakeven by year-end 2025.
- Progressing the Logistics turnarounds initiated in 2024.
- Deleveraging the capital structure will also be a priority in 2025 along with a review of non-core asset ownership.
The annual report for 2024 is set for release on 21 February.
Expansion to Gemlik: Grimaldi Group has added the port of Gemlik (Gemport) to its Trieste-Patras-Ambarli RoRo route, with regular calls starting mid-December 2024.
Significance: Marks an extension of the Motorways of the Sea to the Asian side of Turkey, strengthening connections in the region.
Route Development:
- Launched in September 2024 as a direct service between Trieste (Italy) and Ambarli (Turkey).
- Enhanced in October 2024 with an intermediate stop in Patras (Greece), creating direct Greece-Turkey links and improving Italy-Turkey connectivity
- Offers access to Bari and Venice in Italy via transshipment in Patras.
Strategic Location: Gemlik, in Turkey’s industrial heartland, serves the textile and automotive sectors, complementing the route’s logistics network.
Eco-Friendly Fleet:
- Served by Grimaldi’s eco-friendly vessels, ECO MALTA and ECO MEDITERRANEA, with twice-weekly calls at each port.
- Plans to add a third vessel due to increasing demand for quality and sustainable transport.
Source: Grimaldi Group
Key Developments and Achievements
- Reduction in Carbon Footprint:
- Total carbon dioxide emissions reduced by 5% in 2024.
- Increased use of green shore power by 22%, saving 1,800 tons of CO₂.
- Operational Performance:
- Cargo volumes increased by 6% in tonnage and 3.2% in length metres.
- Passenger numbers and vehicles decreased by 9%, while buses saw a 1.3% decline.
- Revenue dropped by 3.7%, but overall results remained stable.
- Market Share Gains:
- Maintained market share in passenger traffic.
- Passenger vehicle and bus market share increased, with a 50% growth in the bus segment.
- Intermodal and Carbon-Neutral Transport:
- Launched intermodal transport from Umeå to southern Sweden and Europe, minimising emissions.
- Introduced carbon-neutral transport options for passengers and cargo, with climate compensation allocated to biofuel or battery resources.
- Commitment to Carbon Neutrality:
- Targeting full carbon neutrality by 2030.
- Hybrid vessel AURORA BOTNIA uses LNG, biogas, and batteries, operating on electricity in port areas with green shore power.
Outlook
- Positive booking trends indicate an economic turnaround for both passengers and cargo.
Stena RoRo has announced the acquisition of the RoRo vessel GIUSEPPE LUCCHESI, now renamed STENA SHIPPER, as part of its fleet expansion strategy.
- Seller: CIN (Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione SpA), part of Moby Lines SpA.
- Built in 2012 at the Odense Yard
- Danish flag
- Comes with an existing contract for service on the Rades–Marseille route in partnership with Cotunav.
- Length: 193 metres
- Cargo Capacity: 3,663 linear metres across four decks
- Speed: 21 knots
Baleària launched a new RoPax ferry route from the port of Barcelona to Algiers, which is the company’s first international line from the port of the Catalan capital.
The company currently offers four routes to Algeria:
- Barcelona-Algiers
- Valencia-Algiers
- Valencia-Oran
- Valencia-Mostaganem
Baleària has been operating on Algeria since 2016, when it opened its first Valencia-Mostaganem route. Last October, it began operating between Valencia and Algiers, and in December between Valencia and Oran.
The Algerian routes become highly competitive with several European ferry companies offering services, against a weakened state-owned Algérie Ferries.
Source: Baleària
Levante Ferries’ RoPax SMYRNA DI LEVANTE is set to temporarily replace her fleetmate MARE DI LEVANTE on the Kyllini – Zakynthos route starting January 21, during the latter’s annual maintenance. SMYRNA DI LEVANTE is the largest ferry ever to serve this specific route.
The ferry is also planned to operate on the Kyllini-Zakynthos-Poros (Kefalonia) route next summer, marking a significant expansion of the company’s fleet and bringing new opportunities to the port of Zakynthos.
Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos
The latest financial report (2023), published by Moby this week, includes a complete and detailed list of vessels sold or disposed of by the Onorato-controlled company in the last 12 months:
- RoRo ship PIETRO MANUNTA sold to Salem Al Makrani Cargo of Dubai for €7.7 million.
- RoPax vessel MOBY VINCENT sold to Ship Recycling Investments Inc. for final scrapping at the SOK Denizcilik and Ticaret Limited Sti shipyard in Turkey for $2.2 million.
- Ferry BASTIA sold to Alilauro Gruson for €854,000.
- RoPax MOBY CORSE sold to Ferry Med Srl for €6.2 million.
- Ferry MOBY ALE sold to Ship Recycling Investments Inc. for €873,000.
After completing its financial restructuring and debt settlement a year ago, Moby has filed its 2023 financial report, showing its first profit in years. The company reported a net profit of €371 million, largely due to debt write-offs of about €285 million from the settlement process concluded in January 2024.
Revenues grew to €242 million in 2023 (up from €211 million in 2022), and EBITDA turned positive at nearly €8 million, recovering from a €26 million loss the previous year.
(Source: Shipping Italy)