Corsica: The new DSP starts on 1 October 2019 and lasts only until 31 December 2020 (and not 2019 as written last week)
Corsica: One Of The Three Candidates Rejected For… For What?
Last week we wrote that three ferry companies were competing for the Public Service Delegation contract: Corsica Ferries, Corsica Linea and CMN/La Mériodionale.
The OTC (Office des Transports Corse) who has to take the decision, rejected one offer. After some speculation in the press, Lota Maritime SA (Corsica Ferries) was eventually informed officially on Wednesday 14 November that their offer was rejected because of non-conformity.
The company is criticized for not having complied with the requested digital format, which was required in addition to the paper version.
In a television interview with France 3, Lota Maritime’s CEO Pierre Mattei says he “nearly fell from his chair when he got the news.”
He said that even if the digital information would have been missing (which he denies), the OTC could still see the enclosed paper version.
Mr Mattei concludes the interview by saying his lawyers will examine the case.
HH Ferries, the operator linking Denmark and Sweden via Helsingør and Helsingborg, underwent a serious transformation.
1) Ferries TYCHO BRAHE and AURORA now operate fully on battery power. This makes the route the world’s first high-intensity battery-operated ferry line, with departures for both passengers and transport operations every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. Crossing takes 20 minutes.
The energy comes from non-fossil fuel sources such as wind, water and solar energy.
2) The shipping company has changed its name into ForSea.
3) The two electric ferries will do more crossings than the other ferries, which will result in a 65% reduction of emissions.
4) The journey across Öresund is also a journey towards zero emissions
Sweden has a long-term climate goal to have a net greenhouse gas by 2045. This goal is something the ferry line wants to reach earlier than that.
The pictures below were taken on the inauguration ceremony of the new battery ferries in Helsingborg on 9 November.
Møre og Romsdal county municipality has awarded a contract for the ferry connections Eidsdal-Linge, Stranda-Liabygda, Hundeidvik-Festøy and Sæbø-Leknes-Standal-Trandal to Fjord1.
There was only one competitor: Norled.
The contract for inner Sunnmøre will apply from 1 January 2020 until 31 December 2033.
Works will be done to allow larger, new ferries on the Eidsdal-Linge route.
New ferries are also expected for Stranda-Liabygda.
The photo shows the quay in Eidsdal.
The Norwegian road administration shelved the plans to build a tunnel under the Oslofjord.
This made operator Bastø Fosen decide to order their fourth newbuilding for the Horten-Moss ferry route across the Oslofjord.
The ferry will be hybrid but the aim is to let her run 100% on battery.
Shipyard will be Sefine, Turkey. Delivery October 2020.
Baleària’s first of two LNG-dual fuel ro-pax ferries left the shipyard Cantiere Navale Visentini and is now in dry dock at the port of Trieste for the final works before the final sea trials scheduled for the next weeks.
The newbuilding hull n° C224 and already named HYPATIA DE ALEJANDRIA is set to be delivered to the Spanish ferry company Baleària Eurolineas Maritimas SA in the first two months of 2019.
The second unit hull n° C225, which is a sister ship and will be renamed MARIE CURIE, is expected to follow some months later, with delivery date mid 2019.
These new ferries will have a capacity of 2,100 freight lane meters, 810 passengers and 150 cars each.
Baleària ordered the two sister vessels back in January 2017 for €200 million and both will be deployed on the Balearic Islands’ routes.
The glamorous village of Portofino near Genoa, following the fierce winds and rains which devastated tourist icons in Italy in the last few weeks, is now only reachable by sea, after the main road collapsed.
Following the event, the ferry ICHNUSA owned by BN Sarnav (joint venture controlled by BluNavy and participated by Delcomar) has just been deployed for two spot connections from the port of Genoa to Portofino and back for the transport of trucks and cars.
Ichnusa is normally deployed between Sardinia (Santa Teresa Gallura) and Corsica islands (Bonifacio) during the summer months.
Aldo Negri, head of BluNavy, said: “After the first two voyages performed during the emergency phase, we are now talking with the Municipality of Portofino in order to understand whether a regular maritime connection with Portofino would be viable and economically sustainable”.
Direct Ferries announced the winners of the Inaugural Direct Ferry partner of the year awards at a Gala dinner in the NED hotel in London where ferry partners from all over the world gathered.
The awards were based around customer experience, strength and quality of the technical integration and API offered and growth on the Direct Ferries platform.
The winners were:
- Operator of the Year| P&O Ferries (photo)
- Fastest Growing operator >30,000 passengers| Moby Lines
- Fastest Growing operator <30,000 passengers| Minoan Lines, Grimaldi Group
- Fastest Growing operator, On board less than 24 months| Tra.Vel.Mar.
- Best overall customer experience (voted by Direct Ferries Customers) – InterIslander
- Best Operator Technology| Stena Line
- Highest Customer rated vessel| MEGASTAR, Tallink Silja
- Lifetime Award| Steve James Brittany Ferries
Direct Ferries is the world’s largest ferry demand platform and online travel agent.
Port Of Rotterdam Wins The ESPO Award 2018!
On 8 November 2018, Port of Rotterdam Authority was awarded the ESPO Award 2018 in recognition of its engagement with the city or wider community, through the creation of a good workplace environment for its current and future employees and the demonstration of its investment in a diverse and inclusive environment, facilitating mutual respect, non-discrimination and personal development. The ESPO Award was handed out by the Deputy Director-General of DG Move, Maja Bakran, during a ceremony at “Palais des Académies” in Brussels.
Viking Line Group Reports First Nine Months
Period January 1–September 30, 2018
-3.6% Consolidated sales EUR 378.1 million
+22.2% Operating income EUR 7.7 million
+21.8 Consolidated income before taxes EUR 5.6 million
+26.3 Income after taxes EUR 4.8 million
-4.1% Passenger-related revenue EUR 343.0 million
+2.5% Cargo revenue EUR 33.4 million.
- Due to lower operating expenses, consolidated income for 2018 improved despite lower sales.
- The weak Swedish krona had a negative impact on consolidated income.
-7.5% passengers 4,967,745 (in 2017 Viking Line operated fast ferry Viking FSTR, not in 2018)
+0.5% cargo 95,081
Q3
-2.7% Consolidated sales EUR 152.3 million
+0.0% Operating income amounted to EUR 21.3 million
