EXTRA NEWS

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New DFDS Mega Freight Ferries n° 3 and 4 to be Deployed on Belgium – Sweden

The DFDS freight website now shows that the 3rd Chinese mega roro, Hollandia Seaways, will start to operate on Ghent – Gothenburg next week. She arrived in Sweden after the long delivery trip, which included berthing trials in Vlaardingen and Immingham.

DFDS expects in Q2, 2020 to replace the three freight ferries currently deployed on Gothenburg – Zeebrugge with the 4th 6,700 lane metre mega freight ferry. The ferries that are replaced are expected to be deployed elsewhere in DFDS’ European route network.

The first two units, Ephesus Seaways and Troy Seaways (photo), are in service in the Mediterranean Sea.

DFDS & CLdN: Space Charter Agreements on Gothenburg – Zeebrugge

In June 2019, DFDS added the freight ferry route between Gothenburg and Zeebrugge to its portfolio.

DFDS currently deploys three freight ferries, offering five weekly departures in each direction: Magnolia Seaways, Belgia Seaways and Gothia Seaways.

In order to optimise capacity utilisation, DFDS has entered into two mutual space charter agreements with CLdN that also operates a freight ferry route between Gothenburg and Zeebrugge.

The space charter agreements entail that capacity is shared between route operators while all commercial activities remain entirely under the control of each operator.

“We are very pleased to announce our new space charter agreements. The flexibility of the agreements entails that we reduce the environmental footprint while offering a total of ten weekly departures in each direction on our two routes between Sweden and Belgium to support trade and the growth of our customers”, says Peder Gellert Pedersen, Executive Vice President, DFDS Group, and Head of Ferry Division.

The space charter agreements are expected to start on 1 January 2020. When the agreements are fully implemented, DFDS and CLdN are each expected to deploy one freight ferry on their respective routes between Gothenburg and Zeebrugge.

TOP STORY

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In passenger and freight volumes, the port of Igoumenitsa is one of Greece’s most important Western Balkan gateways, playing a key role in the development of domestic and international freight. FSN met with Mr Athanasios Porfiris, the new CEO, and had a constructive conversation about his vision and plans, the potential and the future of the significant Western Port of Greece.

FERRY SHIPPING

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Call for Interest for Ferry Companies to Operate Routes with Public Subsidies in Italy

The Italian government said to have completed the first step of the process aimed at renewing subsidy supports for maritime transportation from Italy mainland with Sardinia, Sicily and Tremiti Islands.

As of today, the subsidies paid to CIN Tirrenia are worth EUR 72 million per year but are due to expire next July. The Italian transport ministry already specified the subsidies will be reassigned through a public tender. At the moment it is still unclear whether the call will be launched for all the routes together, per region or per route. The second option seems to be preferable for the Government.

Roberto Morassut, member of the Environment ministry, while answering to a public interpellation, explained that first a market analysis will be done. Then the ferry operators will be called to express their interest at providing regular services.

The most likely companies to be interested are Grimaldi Lines, Moby-Tirrenia CIN, Grandi Navi Veloci and maybe also Grendi Trasporti Marittimi and Corsica Ferries.

Today the routes supported with public subsidies are the following: Genoa-Porto Torres, Civitavecchia-Olbia, Genoa-Olbia, Cagliari-Palermo, Civitavecchia-Cagliari-Arbatax, Naples-Cagliari, Palermo-Naples and Ravenna-Catania.

Grimaldi Bought Ropax Ciudad De Cadiz and Negotiates with Avic for New Finnlines Units

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Grimaldi Group of Italy should be the buyer of the ropax Ciudad de Cadiz, just sold by Trasmediterranea, part of Naviera Armas group, according to some brokers sources.

The price for this 2004 Visentini-built vessel is EUR 39-40 million according to the same sources.

The reason why Grimaldi decided to buy this ropax ship may be linked to the public subsidies for maritime connections between Italy mainland and Sicily and Sardinia islands, set to be launched next summer.

As for the imminent Finnlines order for the Super Star class ferries, Ferry Shipping News understood that Grimaldi is now in advanced negotiation with Avic Weihai Shipyard. Other shortlisted yards were GSI, Jinling, and Hyundai Mipo.

“The Ferry Industry Has a Once in a Generation Opportunity”

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Direct Ferries’ CEO Sean Cornwell and his team strongly believe the ferry industry has a once in a generation opportunity to redefine ferry travel and the appeal of it to whole new customer segments who before would never have considered taking the ferry. “The world is changing and we in the ferry industry have an opportunity to be on the front foot on this.”

The data (from the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – DEFRA) is compelling and clear cut.  Per kilometre travelled, a foot passenger on a ferry uses 18g of CO2 – considerably less than a coach, bus, rail or plane. A family of 4 in car taking a ferry will use just ~25% of the CO2/person that they would have used had they taken a flight to their destination (43g+18g vs. 254g).

“Many of you compete directly with low-cost airlines and this is a powerful message to tell your potential customers,” concludes Sean Cornwell.

New Electric Ferry Needs to be Dismantled Before Delivery

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In the fall of 2018, the Oppland county council decided to allocate NOK 65 million for a new ferry and NOK 20 million for onshore infrastructure. The actual ferry Randsfjordferja II is almost 70 years old.

The special thing about the Randsfjord ferry, is that it must first be built, then dismantled and transported over sea and road, and then re-assembled and launched. Randsfjorden is Norway’s fourth-largest lake. The ferry connection is between Tangen and Horn.

After tendering, only one offer was received that qualified. It came from Holland Shipyards Group.

Now, an extra NOK 18.9 million has been allocated after several changes were made based on the original tender specifications.

Electricity provider Glitre Energi nett AS can supply enough energy on the quay for direct charging. This allows to drop the battery bank on land.

In addition, four engines and rudders have been replaced with two less expensive thrusters and better maneuvering capacity.

The yard takes the currency risk, as the contract is in Norwegian kroner.

Source: Oppland Municipality (in Norwegian)

To see the GA of the ferry (Source: Oppland Municipality)

Timor-Leste Government Chooses Damen for Ropax Delivery

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A new ferry route will connect the Southeast Asian Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste’s capital Dili with the Oecusse enclave and Ataúro.

A new RoPax Ferry 6716 will be built by the Damen’s Yichang Shipyard in China, for the Republic of Timor-Leste.

With an ageing vessel currently in operation, the Port Authority of Timor-Leste IP (APORTIL) recognises the need to maintain the safety and reliability of its fleet, hence the investment in a new ship. In a project co-financed by Timor-Leste and the Government of Germany, the RoPax Ferry 6716 is scheduled to begin operations in 2021, and will lower operation costs, increase reliability of the service, and improve employment opportunities due to the improvement in transportation networks. In preparation for the ferry’s arrival, over the next 19 months APORTIL will undertake work to improve and build support infrastructures.

The extension of these maritime passenger connections will initially include a connection between Dili and Com, in addition to those already in place between Díli, Ataúro and Oecusse, with the aim of improving the quality of life of the populations in these areas.

The RoPax Ferry 6716 will have a width of 16 metres, a draft of 3.3 metres and a length of 67.3 metres, and its deck, with a 27-ton axle load, will reach 4.8 metres in height. The vessel is capable of a maximum speed of 10 knots and will have a carrying capacity of 380 pax.

Damen Road Ferry 6819 E3 Launched at Damen Shipyards Galati

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On 14 November 2019, Amherst Islander II, a Damen Road Ferry 6819 E3, was launched at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the owner, the Ministry of Transportation Ontario, Canada, as well as Damen personnel.

The Amherst Islander II is part of a two-vessel order that Damen will deliver to the Ministry of Transportation Ontario. The E3 ferries will be the first ferries in North America with the ability to operate fully electric and will reduce the amount of emissions by the equivalent of 7 million kg of carbon dioxide each year.

With an overall length of close to 72m and a loading capacity of up to 42 cars, the Amherst Islander II is the smaller of the two. The larger 99m Damen Road Ferry 9819 E3, the Wolfe Islander IV, is currently under construction in the dry docks and will be launched mid-2020.

Both ferries will operate solely on the Lake Ontario in between Amherst- and Wolfe Island.

Baleària Tests High-Speed LNG Bunkering

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For the first time, Baleària carried out an LNG Multi-Truck-To-Ship (MTTS) bunkering, at a speed almost six times higher than the usual average.

Three tank trucks operated simultaneously to supply LNG to ropax Marie Curie, which started to operate for the joint Baleària and Fred.Olsen Express service on the Huelva – Canary route. The operation was done in the Port of Huelva.

The manufacturer of gas storage and transport systems CMC Cerezuela has developed a system that prevents flow losses and allows a high supply speed.

The peak bunkering speed was 2,800 l / min (168 m3 / h). The goal is to reach 3,000 l / min (180 m3 / h).