Category

2017 Newsletter week 49

Dec 07
0

Redelivery of ICG’s high-speed craft WESTPAC EXPRESS

By | 2017 Newsletter week 49 | No Comments

As expected the fast ferry has been redelivered to Irish Continental Group at the end of November as per the terms of the charter agreement with Sealift LLC. The Austal catamaran had been on charter in Asia since its acquisition on 1 June 2016.
In a stock exchange release, ICG says that the vessel will be refurbished to bring it up to Irish Ferries passenger service standards. That doesn’t mean automatically that the WESTPAC EXPRESS will be used on the Irish Sea instead of the JONATHAN SWIFT. She might be chartered out.
JONATHAN SWIFT is faster but WESTPAC EXPRESS is larger.
To be followed.

WESTPAC EXPRESS is for sale and for charter
Dec 07
0

IN THE MEDIA

By | 2017 Newsletter week 49 | No Comments

Tinder for transport

For each truck on the road, one is driving empty. And in average, only 57% of the freight capacity of lorries is used. With these striking figures, awareness rises. Something has to be done to make transport more efficient, in order to reach the goals of the reduction of emissions, to keep companies profitable and efficient, and to tackle the issues of an ever growing traffic congestion.
At the end of November a congress about this subject was organised by the Vlerick School of Economics and the University of Leuven (Belgium).
Powered by big data and algorithms certain tools will calculate the best transport routes and combinations. There is already one Dutch startup –Quicargo– that calls itself the Uber for the transport sector.

Source: Flemish newspaper De Standaard, 2 December 2017 – Photo: Mike Louagie

YouTube video explaining the Quicargo concept
Link to a EU website
Dec 07
0

Brittany Ferries creative as a tour operator as well

By | 2017 Newsletter week 49 | No Comments

“Quotidien du Tourisme” writes that Brittany Ferries has strengthened its offer as a tour operator specialised in the UK and Ireland, with some new packages for French customers

  • Celtic trio: a 12-night tour bringing travellers to Cornwall, Wales and Ireland, with visits to places as Tintagel, Bath, Cardiff, Snowdonia, Dublin, Moher Cliffs, etc..
  • Fabulous Ireland: 9 nights including Moher Cliffs, Giant Causeway, Dublin, Belfast..
  • Road trips by car or motorcycle: 5 nights Shakespeare and The Beatles or 6-night Wales.
  • Legoland and London
  • Interesting: new offer includes youth hostels.

Photo: Mike Louagie

Britanny Ferries website (in French)
Dec 07
0

Port of Bari wants to get rid of the gutted ferry wreck

By | 2017 Newsletter week 49 | No Comments

Ro-pax NORMAN ATLANTIC took fire in December 2014. The wreck was towed to Bari for investigations and has been there ever since. Because the experts have done their work the several stakeholders have asked the Court to release the ship from her evidential seizure. The ship is moored next to the cruise and ferry terminal, not a pretty sight.

Source: Corriere del Mezzogiorno – Photo: Italian Navy

Dec 07
1

More ro-ro ships to be built in Flensburg

By | 2017 Newsletter week 49 | No Comments

Although Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) did not send an official press release yet, we read in the local media that the yard has secured an order for an extra two ro-ro ships.
The ships are the 5th and 6th unit of 4K lane meter ships to be ordered by FSG’s parent company Siem Group, with the intention to put them on the charter market.
The regional State of Schleswig-Holstein is still involved in the shipbuilding with bank guarantees, after the yard went into a difficult period.
With the orders of Irish Ferries (1 ro-pax), Brittany Ferries (1 ro-pax) and Siem (six ro-ro ships, 2 for DFDS, 2 for EKOL and 2 unknown) the yard can continue to build upon its reputation of ferry and ro-ro specialist.

Source: Flensburger Tageblatt ( in German)