Embracing Change
Bo-Lennart Thorbjörnsson is, together with Frans Baud, the co-organiser of the Ferry Shipping Summit.
With less than 50 days to go, it is time to ask Bo-Lennart some questions.
Irish Ferries Will Appeal The NTA’s Decision In The Courts
Irish Ferries expressed its disappointment with the issuing of notices by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in respect of the cancellations that arose following the delayed arrival of the new W.B. YEATS ferry.
- Since the delay was due to unforeseen delays by the shipbuilder FSG, and was notified to passengers months ahead of planned sailings, Irish Ferries does not agree that the company infringed the relevant EU Regulation.
- Irish Ferries believes it took every reasonable action to provide passengers with alternative travel options, from a no-quibble immediate refund to allow them to make alternative travel plans, as well as alternative sailings on the OSCAR WILDE out of Rosslare and Land bridge alternatives via the UK.
- Ongoing discussions with the NTA on the interpretation of EU regulation has been a critical factor in concluding that Irish Ferries are unlikely to operate the OSCAR WILDE to France out of Rosslare in 2019. The NTA’s approach to the Regulation has contributed to making the route commercially unviable into the future.
- Irish Ferries has, on numerous occasions, attempted to engage with the NTA by offering to enter into a mediation process without any preconditions. The NTA have not taken up this offer.
Irish Ferries will appeal the NTA’s decision in the courts (including, if needed, the European Court of Justice).
HYPATIA DE ALEJANDRÍA is Baleària’s first ferry powered by LNG. She recently started sailing between Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca.
The ferry arrived last Sunday night (27 January) at the port of Barcelona, coming from the Visentini shipyard near Venice.
“HYPATIA DE ALEJANDRÍA marks an important milestone both in the history of Baleària and the Mediterranean, being the first passenger ferry powered by natural gas that crosses these waters,” highlighted Baleria’s CEO Adolfo Utor. A second vessel will follow later this year.
The ship is at the forefront of digital technology:
- digitization of all the signage.
- access to the cabins without going through the reception, thanks to the QR code that customers will receive on their mobile.
- the camera system installed in the pets zone (which will allow passengers see them at all times through their smartphone).
- self-service totems in the cafeteria and self-service (from where passengers will place their orders, and they will be notified to pick them up through digital screens, avoiding queues).
The aged ferry NURA NOVA , operated by Trasmediterranea and owned by the Spanish company Formentera Cargo, is being sold to the Italian company Gestour according to what Ferrybalear revealed.
Gestour is a small ferry operator based in Pozzuoli (Naples), founded in 1989 and managed by Carmela Looz, which provides regular short-sea services between the ports of Naples and the islands of Procida, Ischia, Capri and Pontine in Southern Italy.
NURA NOVA (due to be renamed LADY CARMELA) was built in Japan in 1977, can accommodate 377 passengers and has over 200 lane metres of capacity in the garage. According to some broker sources her market value should be around EUR 1.5 million.
Three Italian-controlled ro-pax ships are being advertised by shipbroking companies as they have been put for sale by their respective owners Grimaldi Group and Adria Ferries.
As for the Naples-based shipping group the sister ships EUROFERRY MALTA and EUROCARGO NAPOLI (both built in 1995, 1,960 lane meters) are currently for sale at a price of EUR 14.5 million each.
The third vessel on the market is the AF FRANCESCA owned by the Ancona-based Adria Ferries (290 cabins, 2,000 pax, 850 lane meters). She would be available for delivery between May and September.
This ferry was built by Fincantieri at Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) in 1979.
The salaries for January are safe. This was the central message of a staff meeting for the 650 permanent employees of the
Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft is in a difficult financial situation. One of the reasons is the late delivery of W.B. YEATS, the cruise ferry from Irish Ferries. The issue is certainly not the lack of orders. The yard has several ferries and ro-ro’s on order.
A new state guarantee is required and talks with the respective ministers are on their way. The yard belongs to the Norwegian Siem Group, and has been struggling in spite of the orderbook. A plan to save the yard is on the table of all the stakeholders, such as the state of Schleswig-Holstein, customers and suppliers as well as the unions and IG Metall.
Brittany Ferries announced that it is now clear that newbuilding HONFLEUR will not be delivered in time for the 2019 summer season, as scheduled.
Brittany Ferries says it awaits a concrete proposal from FSG to secure the contract to deliver the ferry. The company hopes this will come in the very near future and will communicate in more detail at that time.
Tallink’s vessel STAR, which operates on the Tallinn-Helsinki route, was recently renovated at the Klaipeda shipyard in Lithuania.
- Innovative „EnergoProFin“ solution was fitted on the propellers: an additional screw with small rotors, which increases efficiency and reduces the energy loss resulting from the whirlpool by 2-5%, and which also reduce the underwater noise and vibration caused by the vessel.
- Complete renovation of Snack Time cafe and Starbucks Café.
- Sea Pub was updated with a brand new concept.
- Children’s play area and shopping areas received a facelift.
- New carpets on the stairs, in the corridors and in Business Lounge.
- New toilets on whole ship.
During the renovation, arrangements were also made to stop using disposable plastic plates, cups and cutlery in all the restaurants.
STAR returned to the Tallinn-Helsinki route on Tuesday, 22 January.
BALTIC QUEEN and GALAXY are currently being modernised. This spring, two further vessels, VICTORIA I and ISABELLE will also be updated.
Fjord Line is upset: the City Council of Sandefjord (Norway) has deprived the company of sailing times 07:00 and 13:30, as from next year. In practice, the decision means that Fjord Line will continue with the sailings they have today, departing Sandefjord 08:30 and 15:20.
Since the introduction of OSLOFJORD on the line between Sandefjord and Strømstad in 2014, Fjord Line says it was concerned about receiving an equal treatment (the competitor is Color Line).
Fjord Line has also requested the municipality to carry out upgrades in the port. Fjord Line guaranteed to cover all costs of the upgrade. Sandefjord declined the offer, without giving any justification, says Rickard Ternblom, CEO Fjord Line.
Luxemburg-registered CLdN decided to cancel the first of two 5,500 lane meter ro-ro vessels from Uljanik. The Croatian yard is experiencing a lot of difficulties and failed to meet the terms of the contract. The ships were originally planned for 2018.
In the meanwhile, Uljanik received a number of bids from potential investors.