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sandra

Jul 19
2

Bluferries’ Sikania II Hybrid launched in Greece

By | 2024 Newsletter week 29 | No Comments

Bluferries, the company part of the FS Italiane Group operating in maritime transportation in the Strait of Messina, C.T.E. Perdikaris Engineering, Architectural & Technical Services Ltd., and RINA, announced the launch of the hybrid RoRo passenger ship named Sikania II. 

 “This innovative vessel is set to revolutionize passenger travel between Villa San Giovanni (Reggio Calabria) and Messina, Italy” is written in a statement from the firms involved.  

Designed by the Greek company C.T.E. Perdikaris and built in Greece by Celt under Rina surveillance, this vessel represents a significant leap forward in sustainable maritime technology. 

This vessel measures approximately 105m in length and is designed to transport 22 heavy vehicles or 125 cars and 400 persons. 

The true innovation of this vessel lies in its use of green technologies. The ship is equipped with four azimuth thrusters Z-drive, each connected directly to one diesel engine of 1,000kW and one electrical motor of 350kW. The electrical motors are connected to NMC batteries with an energy storage capacity of 1MWh. The vessel is energy-independent, featuring an advanced energy management system.  

During navigation, the batteries can be charged through the electrical motors acting as shaft generators. The stored energy is used for hybrid propulsion, combining diesel engines and electric motors to supply power to the azimuth thrusters. When approaching port, the vessel operates on fully electric propulsion for zero emissions during all maneuvering, loading, and unloading operations. Additionally, solar panels fitted on board provide 25kW of power, supplying all ship accommodation services. 

Jul 19
2

Growth for Port of Antwerp-Bruges in first half of 2024

By | 2024 Newsletter week 29 | No Comments

Positive trend in container throughput expands to other product groups 

RoRo traffic dropped in the first half of 2024 by 5.7% – a minor improvement compared to the end of the last quarter.  

The congestion at the RoRo terminals persists due to the altered business model of the car manufacturers stockpiling at the ports, decreased ​ demand and delayed exports caused by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. This resulted in a decrease in throughput for all transport materials by 13.2%. The lower throughput of second-hand cars in particular (-45.8%) contributed to this, followed by high & heavy (-22.7%), trucks (-17.6%) and new cars (-9%).  

Throughput of unaccompanied cargo (excluding containers) carried on RoRo vessels, on the other hand, rose by 2.4%. The decline in throughput to and from the United Kingdom (-4.6%) was more than compensated by an increase in throughput to and from Spain and Portugal (+35%), Scandinavia (+18%) and Ireland (+1.4%). 

For the complete results: Newsroom Port of Antwerp Bruges 

Click for the complete results: Newsroom Port of Antwerp Bruges
Jul 19
2

DFDS June volumes: continued growth for both freight and passengers

By | 2024 Newsletter week 29 | No Comments

Ferry – freight:  

  • Total volumes in June 2024 were 5.8% above 2023 and up 0.9% adjusted for the addition of Strait of Gibraltar routes in 2024 and closure of the Calais-Tilbury route in 2023. 
  • North Sea volumes were below 2023 as higher volumes on the Swedish routes were offset by lower temperature controlled volumes, mainly food, between the Continent and the UK. 
  • Mediterranean volumes were also in June above 2023 driven by higher volumes on all routes. 
  • Channel volumes continued in June to be above 2023 as did volumes on the Baltic Sea routes. 
  • For the last twelve months 2024-23, the total transported freight lane metres increased 2.8% to 40.2m from 39.1m in 2023-22. The increase was 1.0% adjusted for the addition of Strait of Gibraltar routes and the Calais-Tilbury route closure. 

Ferry – passenger 

  • The number of passengers in June 2024 was 46.2% above 2023 and up 11.1% adjusted for the addition of the Strait of Gibraltar routes.  
  • The adjusted increase continued to be driven mainly by higher Channel volumes. 
  • The number of cars were 26.2% above 2023 and up 3.6% adjusted for Strait of Gibraltar. 
  • For the last twelve months 2024-23, the total number of passengers increased 26.2% to 5.5m compared to 4.3m for 2023-22. The increase was 8.6% adjusted for Strait of Gibraltar. 
Jul 12
2

Baleària incorporates Margarita Salas, new high-speed ferry with dual gas engines on the Barcelona-Mallorca-Menorca route

By | 2024 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments
  • Margarita Salas will operate daily throughout the year on the 3.5-hour crossing between the Spanish mainland and the Balearic Islands 
  • The catamaran increases the seats available on the high-speed service by 50% while reducing the carbon footprint on the route thanks to being LNG- powered. 
  • Baleària has invested 126 million euros in the construction of the vessel which can hold 1,200 passengers and 425 vehicles. 
  • Leading international experts (Wärstilä, Incat Crowther, Bureau Veritas and Marintek-Sintef) and national partners (Cotenaval, Oliver Design and Jorge Belloch) were involved in the construction of this groundbreakingly sustainable catamaran, which received funding from CaixaBank and European Union Next Generation Funds, as part of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM).  

 Source: Baleària (in Spanish) 

Jul 12
2

Alistair Eagles stepping down

By | 2024 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

Having worked in the Irish Sea Ferry industry since 1990, and with Seatruck/CLdN since 1996, Alistair Eagles has decided that it’s time to re-evaluate and re-focus his life and priorities. He has therefore decided to step down as Managing Director of CLdN RoRo Ltd at the end of September 2024. 

Gary Walker, COO of CLdN RoRo SA, will assume overall responsibility for all CLdN shipping operations (including as Managing Director of CLdN RoRo Ltd) from 1 October.  

“To ensure a smooth transition, I will continue to support the business in the background for several months following my departure,” says Alistair, whom we wish good luck in his future endeavours. 

Jul 12
2

Scandlines welcomes CEO Eric Grégoire

By | 2024 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

Eric Grégoire started as CEO of Scandlines on 8th July. The Executive Management Team now consists of CEO Eric Grégoire, COO Michael Guldmann Jensen and CFO Mikael Koch. 

Eric Grégoire comes from a position as CEO of Goodpack Pte Ltd. in Singapore. He is an experienced business leader with a solid track record in business process improvements from several international companies such as General Electric and DuPont. 

Source: Scandlines 

Jul 12
2

Monthly figures Corsica

By | 2024 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

ORTC (Corsica Transport Office) published the monthly traffic statistics. 
 

  April  June 
Passengers Airport  311,952 (+0.3%)  440,620 (+3.0%) 
Passengers Ferry   215,239 (-7.0%)  364,499 (+14.6%) 
Passenger Cars  80,930 (-6.7%)  141,920 (+15.8%) 
Freight (tons)  162,225 (+0.3%)  171,179 (-6.4%) 

The monthly reports can be downloaded here (in French) 

Jul 12
2

Scandlines sees improvement

By | 2024 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

Freight: After a slight but persistent negative trend in the freight sector due to geopolitical factors, Scandlines sees improvement. In the first half of 2024, truck traffic on the Rostock-Gedser route grew by 5 percent compared to the previous year, with signs of economic recovery in Denmark, Sweden, and the Benelux countries. 

Passengers in Coaches and Cars: Passenger transport in coaches on the Rostock-Gedser route increased by 5 percent in the first six months of 2024 compared to 2023. Although car traffic was slightly down in the same period, advance bookings for the summer season are promising, bolstered by the start of school holidays in Denmark. 

Passengers: The desire for group trips abroad is returning, contributing to the positive growth in bus transport. Car traffic is expected to increase significantly during the summer season, indicating a rebound in passenger numbers using Scandlines’ ferry services. 

Sustainability: Scandlines is making strides towards its sustainability goals, aiming for zero-emission ferry operations by 2030 on the Puttgarden-Rødby route and zero direct emissions by 2040. Investments include rotor sails, propeller optimizations, and the commissioning of the fully electric freight ferry “Futura” in 2024. Since 2013, EUR 400 million has been invested in these initiatives, with a target to reduce CO2 emissions by 60 percent by 2030 compared to 2008. 

Photo: Scandlines/Ulrich Wirrwa 

Jul 12
2

Commission clears Italian public support for Caremar ferry service

By | 2024 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

The European Commission has concluded that public service compensation granted to Caremar SpA from January 2009 to July 2012, and from July 2015 to July 2024, aligns with EU State aid rules. This includes €98 million for eight routes in the Gulf of Naples and €97 million from 2015 to 2024.

The Commission determined that these compensations met public service needs without overcompensation and did not qualify as State aid. Additionally, fiscal exemptions and funds used for safety upgrades were deemed non-aid measures. More details are available on the European Commission’s press release. 

Photo: Caremar 

Jul 12
2

Interview with Peter Ståhlberg, CEO Wasaline

By | 2024 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

Executive summary 

  1. Emission Neutrality Goal: Wasaline aims to operate emission-neutral by 2030, studying greener propulsion systems for their fleet. 
  1. Success of Aurora Botnia: The low-emission ferry “Aurora Botnia” has seen significant success on the Umeå (Sweden) to Vaasa (Finland) route, with strong winter holiday bookings. 
  1. Economic Impact: Favorable Swedish currency exchange rates have made trips to Sweden more attractive for passengers, especially for purchasing alcohol. 
  1. ETS Benefits: Wasaline expects to benefit from the ETS (Emission Trading System), with efficient operations reducing CO2 emissions by 5% per voyage. 
  1. Future Investments: Plans include converting engines to use methanol and increasing battery capacity, with local methanol production starting around 2026-2027. 
  1. Cargo Challenges: Cargo volumes have been impacted by reduced paper exports and the cessation of Russian trade, but intermodal cargo by train is growing. 
  1. Operational Efficiency: Wasaline focuses on efficiency with a small organization and innovative operational strategies. 
  1. Sustainability Projects: Local methanol production and multimodal transport solutions are key to Wasaline’s future green operations. 
  1. Biogas Operations: Wasaline plans to resume biogas operations for cargo transport, balancing fuel types to reduce emissions. 
  1. Industry Leadership: Wasaline aims to lead the industry in green transport, investing in technology and infrastructure to eliminate fossil fuel use and reduce CO2 emissions.