Wasaline’s Best Q1 Ever
Wasaline continues to grow with new record volumes for the first quarter of the year and increases its market share between the traffic in Sweden and Finland.
There was an increase of 13.6% on the passenger side, and the turnover increased 10,7%.
Cargo showed new record volumes with an increase of 452 units (+ 12.5%) and transported 18% more freight.
The World’s Largest Plug-In Hybrid Ship Begins To Take Form
The construction of the ‘Color Hybrid’ reached an important milestone when the assembly of 14 large blocks started at Crist Shipyard in Gdynia, Poland. Color Line’s ro-pax ferry will be the world’s largest battery-hybrid ship when entering service between Sandefjord and Strømstad in June next year.
Gotlandsbolaget says on its website that their new ship under construction in China will be ready in July. First sea trials have been done, and more trials are expected.
After the delivery trip the vessel will be phased in after summer.
The delivery delay is caused by the need to move the vessel to a newly built yard outside of Guangzhou. However, this does not affect the contractual capacity with the Swedish State.
Photo: Gotlandsbolaget
Finnish Archipelago Ltd, which is part of the Finferries Group, has purchased half the stock of the Åland-based company Ansgar Ab.
Ansgar Ltd’s operations continue as previously with archipelago traffic for the Åland Government.
For Finferries it is a logic extension of the business area. The company already chartered ships to Ansgar. This company currently operates 44 ferry routes in Finland. Ansgar Ab has three routes in the Åland archipelago.
Interferry Welcomes Immediate Application Of Energy Efficiency Correction
Confirmation by the IMO of a 20% correction in its Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) calculation formula for ro-ro and ro-pax vessels has been welcomed by trade association Interferry as an incentive to revive newbuild projects that have been inhibited by the current criteria.
IMO remains committed to reducing GHG emissions from international shipping and, as a matter of urgency, aims to phase them out as soon as possible in this century.
The initial strategy envisages to reduce the total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050.
On 29 May, the European Commission is due to adopt the new Connecting Europe Facility proposal, the key EU funding instrument for transport infrastructure. What’s in for ports?
The ESPO Conference on 31 May and 1 June is probably the first occasion to discuss this new proposal with the Commission, Members of the European Parliament, the TEN-T coordinators and the ports. It will be held in Rotterdam.
Strong Political Support For Wasalines
The City of Vasaa is prepared to help financing the building of a new ferry for Wasaline, says Ålands Sjöfart.
The city council of Vasa will be supporting and legally guaranteeing a loan taken by the ferry line on EUR 35 million and give a direct loan of EUR 25 million.
The European Investment Bank is ready to lend EUR 70 million.
Earlier this year several yards have been contacted to get a view on the possibilities.
Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia would be happy to see crude rise to $80 or even $100 a barrel, three industry sources said, a sign Riyadh will seek no changes to an OPEC supply-cutting deal even though the agreement’s original target is within sight.