FERRY FINANCE

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Scandlines Generated Record Performance In 2017 Based On Expanded Capacity

 Scandlines increased revenue and boosted profitability in 2017 in line with the expectations for the year as the group’s expanded capacity on the Rostock-Gedser route was leveraged and investments dampened following a substantial strengthening of fleet and infrastructure in prior years.

Total revenue grew by 4% to EUR 487 million (EUR 480 million) driven mainly by the continued positive development on the Rostock-Gedser route.

Traffic machine revenue from both routes grew by 6% to EUR 352 million (EUR 333 million) on the back of expanded capacity, intensified marketing efforts and particularly strong performance in the freight segment, which recorded 12% growth in traffic volume.

BorderShop revenue was stable at EUR 135 million (EUR 137 million).

Scandlines’ ferries completed more than 42,000 departures and transported a total of 7.6 million passengers, 1.8 million cars and more than 0.6 million freight units in 2017.

Tallink Grupp Published The Audited Annual Report Of The 2017 Financial Year

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The key highlights were the following:

  • All-time high annual passenger number and higher revenue
  • New LNG fast ferry MEGASTAR started shuttle service on the Tallinn – Helsinki route
  • New passenger terminal opened in Helsinki
  • Lower chartering revenues
  • Scheduled maintenance of five ships during the Q1 low season
  • Increased competition on the Tallinn – Helsinki route
  • Lower operating costs from the termination of the charter of fast ferry SUPERSTAR
  • Effects from the re-routing of vessels in December 2016
  • Renovated cruise ferry SILJA EUROPA returned to the Tallinn – Helsinki route
  • Two ships on the Riga – Stockholm route
  • Sale of two Superfast vessels in December 2017
  • Group-wide ship renovation programme continued

FERRY SHIPPING

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Fran Collins announced as new CEO for Red Funnel

Red Funnel announced the appointment of Fran Collins as its new CEO with effect from June 11, as Kevin George, the previous CEO, moves to be Red Funnel Group Chairman.

Fran joins Red Funnel from Condor Ferries where she has held the position of Executive Director – Operations for 4 years and prior to that was Ports and Guest Services Director.

HH Ferries Group Increased Its Share Of Car Traffic In Q1

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Scandlines Helsingborg-Helsingør continued the positive development and made progress in Q1 in terms of transferred cars, ensuring the route an increased share of car traffic on Öresund. The expansion of ferry HAMLET’s timetable from 1 December 2017 entailed greater capacity, which was almost fully utilized in Q1 already.

  • Cars 239,000 (235,000): +2%.
  • Trucks 111,000 (107,000): +4%
  • Buses: 2,500 (2,700): -7%
  • Passengers: 1.29 million (1.28 million): +0.7%
  • Departures: 11,900 – almost on par with Q1 2017.

DFDS Charters New Ship For The English Channel In 2021

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DFDS has decided to deploy a new ship specially designed for the services in the English Channel from 2021. The ship will be built in Avic Weihai shipyard for Stena RoRo, and will be chartered for 10 years, with an option to buy.

The ferry will be highly efficient with an expected reduction in oil consumption of around 25% compared to current ferries. It will be able to carry 3,100 lane metres of cargo and 1,000 passengers. With this capacity, it will be the largest of the ships on the Channel.

The ship will be delivered in 2021, and market developments will determine whether it will be as an addition to the existing fleet or a replacement of the 1991-built CALAIS SEAWAYS.

Photo: Mike Louagie

Corsica Linea to charter Grimaldi Ro-Pax

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o charter Grimaldi Ro-Pax

French company Corsica Linea has agreed to charter the Grimaldi Lines’ ro-pax EUROFERRY CORFU, better know as the 1999-built FINNEAGLE.The vessel will start to operate on Marseille – Sardinia – Tunisia – Algeria as from mid June. The charter is for five years.

In 2017 Corsica Linea transported 568,000 passengers and 1.1 million lane metres of freight, which is a huge increase compared to the year before.Already 200,000 pax have been counted on the Maghreb routes. With the extra vessel the company wants to grab the opportunity to increase this number.

According to French TV France 3 (on YouTube) Corsica Linea seems to have approached La Meridionale, with an offer to merge the two companies. However La Meridionale’s CEO Francis Lemor (Groupe STEF, owner of La Meridionale) said the company is not.

Fast Ferry for Angolan Transport Ministry launched at Damen Shipyards Singapore

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In a ceremony held at Damen Shipyards Singapore on April 19, the Minister of Transport for the Republic of Angola officially launched the new Damen Fast RoPax Ferry 4812 ordered by the Ministerio dos Transportes through IMPA (Instituto Marítimo e Portuário de Angola).

The vessel will be operated by TMA Express (Transporte Marítimo de Angola) and operate on Angola’s Atlantic coastline between the capital Luanda and Cabinda, around 400 kilometers to the north, via Soyo.

Fire Damage To Ship Causes Closure Of Zeebrugge – Rosyth Freight Route

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On Monday 16 April, a fire broke out in the engine room on board DFDS’ ro-ro FINLANDIA SEAWAYS, which connects Zeebrugge with Rosyth.

The ship was towed to DFDS’ terminal in Immingham, where the cargo on board has been discharged, and where DFDS had the opportunity to carry out an inspection of where the fire took place.

The ship will be out of service for several months for repairs. No suitable replacement ships are available. Because the route was already loss-making it has been decided to close the route.

The Zeebrugge – Rosyth route was first started in 2002 by Superfast Ferries.

Rolls-Royce And Hurtigruten Team Up For Major Environmental Upgrade Of Nine Ships

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Hurtigruten has signed a Letter of Intent with Rolls-Royce for a major environmental upgrade programme to hybrid power. The main engines on up to nine ships will switch from diesel to LNG and the upgrade will also include installation of a hybrid battery system.

Hurtigruten was recently awarded licenses by the Norwegian Government for seven out of 11 coastal ferry routes. One of the key requirements from the Government of the route’s operator was a reduction in CO2-emissions. With its plans for a major upgrade, Hurtigruten will be able to continue operating its existing fleet on the route and at the same time meet these new stricter environmental demands.

Photo: Mike Louagie