Condor Ferries looks back on a successful peak travel period

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Condor Ferries reported a +14% Y-O-Y increase in overall network carryings during this year’s peak travel period (14 July – 3 September 2024), representing an increase in carryings of 26,874 compared to 2023. 

Of particular significance is the increase in passengers carried to and from the island of Jersey: during the peak 2024 period, Condor Ferries carried 19,217 additional car and foot passengers on UK and French services to and from Jersey compared to the same period in 2023 (+16%). 

Inter-island carryings increased by +75%: 15,369 passengers travelled between the Islands during this period in 2024, compared to 8,766 in 2023. The number of car and foot passengers travelling to and from Guernsey from the UK and France increased by 1,084, representing an increase of +2%. 

These promising figures are partly due to the altered summer schedule introduced in 2024, which increased the number of sailings on offer. CEO Christophe Mathieu commented: “The figures are very encouraging and would not have been achievable under the previous timetable which was adjusted at the start of the season. This offered improved frequency of sailings from St Malo and Jersey, along with extra capacity from the UK, thanks to Condor Islander’s first summer in service”. 

Looking ahead, Condor report strong growth in its late summer and early autumn bookings across all routes, with car volumes returning to pre-Covid levels. 

Finnlines to launch a new freight service from Finland to Sheerness, UK

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Finnlines is set to launch a new freight service from Finland to Sheerness, with further connections available to Belgium, Spain, and Ireland.  

The first arrival will take place on 23 September 2024.  

The new service is part of Finnlines’ strategy to improve service sustainability and route network, and it will be operated with three Finneco-class vessels calling Sheerness/London Medway once a week. 

 

Southbound route: Helsinki / Kotka–Sheerness–Antwerp / Zeebrugge–Bilbao / Vigo. 

Northbound route: Bilbao / Vigo–Zeebrugge / Antwerp–Hanko–Helsinki / Kotka. 

Remark: Travemünde is no longer included in this route map 

Molslinjen: almost all routes saw more August visitors in 2024 than the previous year

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Molslinjen highlights that August 2024 was a successful month for ferry traffic, thanks to the pleasant late summer weather, which encouraged more Danes to travel by ferry.  

The Öresund line, connecting Helsingborg and Helsingør, saw a nearly 7% increase in passengers compared to August 2023. The newly introduced restaurant, Libitum Social Dining, aboard TYCHO BRAHE, also attracted many visitors, contributing to the overall rise in passenger numbers. 

There are three fast ferries sailing on the Kattegat, one less than in 2023, when the fast ferry MAX was also exceptionally included in the sailing plans. In spite of 129 fewer departures in August, there was an increase of 4% in passengers. 

While the number of business customers is fairly stable, it is the leisure travellers who have driven the progress in August. 

The exception is Alslinjen, where a redevelopment of the harbour in Fynshav has meant the deployment of a somewhat smaller ferry than usual. 

Advancing green shipping: Danish ferry operators lead the way in sustainable maritime innovation

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The 2024 Annual Report of the Danish Ferry Operators highlights significant progress in green initiatives, such as Scandlines’ new emissions-free ferry “E/F Futura,” set to operate between Rødby and Puttgarden.  

Molslinjen plans to electrify its entire fleet by 2040, with current electrification projects already underway on several routes. The report emphasizes the critical role of ferries in Denmark’s transportation network and the ongoing efforts to reduce the sector’s environmental impact. 

For more details, you can access the full report here (in Danish). 

Torghatten ordered four more ferries

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The Norwegian Ship Design Company announced that they have signed a comprehensive design and engineering contract for two electric ferries to be built at Özata Shipyard in Turkey for customer Torghatten Nord. 

Özata, Turkey:  

2x 76.85m long, 202 passengers and 60 vehicles. 

Battery capacity 1,960 kWh.
Festvåg – Misten route, connecting the road between Bodø and Kjerringøy. 

Source: Linkedin 

Torghatten and Oma Baatbyggeri signed on 28 August 2024 an agreement for the construction of two new electrically operated aluminium ferries.  

The ferries will be built by Stord based Oma Baatbyggeri and will be delivered to Torghatten in Q4 2025.  

OMA, Norway 

2x 49m long, 95 passengers and 28 cars.  

These new electrical ferries will operate between Korsfjord and Nyvoll and between Klokkarøy and Kjerringholmen. 

Source: OMA 

Sardinia Region looking for ferry companies for the Santa Teresa – Bonifacio maritime link

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Maintaining the same model adopted recently (public service obligations without compensation), the Sardinia Region has published a public notice to identify companies interested in operating the maritime link between Santa Teresa di Gallura (Sardegna) and Bonifacio (Corsica) during the high season. From April to October 2025, the selected operators will be the only ones authorised to offer RoPax transport services between the two ports of call, but they must provide 4 pairs of daily trips. 

The Region’s documentation explains that “up to two shipping companies may be authorised to operate on the line” and that the “service may be operated by only two RoPax vessels, with the possible inclusion of residual slots for small high-speed passenger-only vessels (which are not covered by the procedure)”. The two RoPax vessels will, of course, need to have characteristics that comply with the size limits of the berths envisaged in the two ports, as well as a minimum transport capacity of 200 passengers, 190 linear metres in total, and 50 linear metres for cargo. 

In the market audit, the Sardinia Region also reported some data on the traffic served in 2023 by Moby and Ichnusa Lines (the same brands operating this year). 

Grimaldi Holding’s fleet transferred to three new separate companies

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Almost six years after the death of their father, the unforgettable shipowner Aldo Grimaldi, his son Giovanni and the two daughters Isabella and Alessandra have decided to reorganize the company Grimaldi Holding which still owned the three RoPax ships FORZA, TENACIA and REGINA SEAWAYS. 

The former two are currently bareboat chartered out to GNV (until 2028) while for the latter has just been prolonged the charter contract with DFDS. 

All these three vessels were built in Italy at Nuovi Cantieri Apuania from 2008 to 2010.  

Grimaldi Holding has been split up into three separate companies:  

  • TENACIA: Grimaldi Investments Srl, 100% owned by Isabella Amelia Grimaldi  
  • FORZA: Grimaldi Capital Srl, controlled by Alessandra Grimaldi  
  • REGINA SEAWAYS: Grifin, Giovanni Grimaldi 

UK expands Electronic Travel Authorisation (visa)

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EU tourists will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK from April 2, 2025. Citizens from many other countries need it as from January 8, 2025. 

EU citizens also need a passport to enter the UK since October 1, 2021. Before this date, EU citizens could enter the UK with a national identity card. However, after Brexit, the UK changed its entry requirements, and an ID card is no longer sufficient for most EU citizens.  

Now an ETA will become an extra requirement. It will cost £10 (€12) and will be valid for two years, or until the expiration date of the passport. 

More about the ETA:

Tallink Duty Free ranked among the TOP20 largest travel retailers in the world

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The recently published Moodie Davitt Report 2023 ranks Tallink Duty Free in the world’s top 20 travel retail operators. Based on estimated 2023 travel retail sales turnover, the ranking lends the company an impressive 20th position in the world. Notably, Tallink Duty Free is the only shipping company who has made it to the TOP20 ranking, as well as the only retailer operating within Europe. 

Click to see full report