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2020 Newsletter week 23

Jun 04
2

Start Of Steel Cutting For Onorato Armatori’s First New Building In China

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Onorato Armatori group announced the start of the steel cutting of the first of two new ro-pax units ordered last year to Guangzhou Shipyard International in China by Fratelli Onorato Armatori, company jointly controlled by Achille and Alessandro Onorato, sons of Vincenzo.

This first new building is set to enter service for Moby between Livorno and Olbia, Sardinia island (Olbia). She will be named MOBY FANTASY, thus reactivating a name previously used for another ferry which was sold for scrap few years ago.

The new ship is expected to be delivered in summer 2022 while the second ro-pax unit will follow the following year.

These vessels, which may be followed by further two new buildings currently in option, will be over 237 meters long and 32 wide, 67,000 GT, 550 cabins, 2,500 passengers and 3,800 lane metres ro-ro capacity.

The new ships, designed by OSK-Shiptech, will be slower compared to the most-modern vessels currently employed by Moby but more fuel efficient. With a 23.5 knot service speed and Wärtsilä 9L46F diesel-engines they will burn around 30% less fuel. The new ro-pax ships will be also fitted with hybrid exhaust gas scrubbers and will be LNG-ready.

Jun 04
0

Passenger Transport Between Sardinia And Italy Reopens – Excluded Ferry Companies Protest

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Italy’s transport minister announced on June 2nd that passenger transport to and from Sardinia island could re-open.

In a first phase only the ferry company operating the territorial continuity (i.e. Tirrenia – Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione) is allowed to start.

For all the other players operating on the same routes (Corsica Sardinia ferries, Grimaldi, Grandi Navi Veloci and Moby) the restart-date is June 13th.

The same rule applied for air transportation. Only public airline firm Alitalia was allowed to start.

This decision has been fiercely opposed by the shipowners and logistics associations Confitarma and Federlogistica supporting respectively Grimaldi and Grandi Navi Veloci’s interests. They ask the minister to rethink the act, also recalling antitrust issues as the measure would distort competition among ferry operators.

Jun 04
0

Tallink Grupp To Reroute ISABELLE To Operate On The Paldiski-Kapellskär Route

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ISABELLE is going to operate on the Paldiski-Kapellskär route from Sunday, 7 June until the end of August.

Currently REGAL STAR operates on the only route currently open between Estonia and Sweden, ensuring a vital transport link.

As demand for cargo capacity and also for passengers with vehicles has increased in recent weeks and in order to ensure that sufficient space is available for social distancing, the company has decided to add ISABELLE.

She will still predominantly transport cargo between the two countries, but will also take passengers with vehicles, who need to travel between the two countries for reasons other than tourism and leisure.

Jun 04
0

Ferry Companies Like Color Line Will Be Able To Save Thousands Of Norwegian Jobs In The Tourism Industry

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A new analysis from Menon Economics and the University of Southeast Norway shows that up to 30,000 jobs can be lost in tourism if Norway does not take necessary measures for the industry. Color Line has sent a press release about this.

By opening the borders to the Nordic countries and Germany this summer, approx. NOK 14 billion of revenue from foreign tourists coming to Norway by sea in the summer of 2020 could be saved. The analysis concludes that opening the borders of these countries will be the most powerful single initiative to revive the tourism industry this summer.

Read the report (in Norwegian)
Jun 04
0

More Freight Capacity Between Finland And Sweden With VIKING GLORY

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Cargo capacity on Finnish sea routes will increase when VIKING GLORY enters service in 2021. The vessel will replace AMORELLA and provide about 500 lane metres of additional capacity on the Turku–Stockholm route.

Key figures:

  • 133,000 cargo units on the northern Baltic Sea annually
  • Cargo market share 4% in 2019

The transportation of lorry drivers has been taken into consideration to a greater extent than previously in planning GLORY’s interior. In the quiet part of VIKING GLORY, lorry drivers have their own section, which includes some 70 cabins as well as sauna facilities and a lounge,” says Viking Line’s freight director, Harri Tamminen.

Jun 04
0

Stena Line Reduces Freight Capacity As Covid-19 Impacts Business Volumes

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Stena Line will be reducing freight capacity on its Belfast – Liverpool (Birkenhead) service due to a decline in freight demand as a consequence of the Coronavirus crisis. Roro vessel STENA FORECASTER will be removed from service resulting in a reduction of 10 trips per week.

On March 9th, Stena Line launched its largest ship ever on the Belfast – Liverpool route, the brand-new STENA EDDA. STENA EDDA replaced the smaller STENA LAGAN and at the time increased capacity for both freight and travel customers.

In early 2021, Stena Line will replace STENA MERSEY with a further new ship, STENA EMBLA. These two new ropax ferries will increase freight capacity by almost 30% and will double passenger capacity compared with the vessels they replace.

Jun 04
0

FERRY FINANCE

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After A Strong Year Attica Group Can Handle The Storm

  • +37% EBITDA €78.02m
  • +21% Net income after taxes €20.85m compared to €17.27m for fiscal year
  • 2018 which included one off gains of €15.80m
  • +11% Revenue increase €405.40m

The positive financial results are mainly attributed to the synergies generated from the acquisition of Hellenic Seaways Maritime s.a. which is consolidated for the first time on a full year basis.

Attica Group saw a significant increase of liquidity reserves to €105.33m at the end of the year,  compared to €59.42m on 31 December 2018.

The upward trend of traffic volumes during the first two months of year 2020 was disrupted by the outbreak of the pandemic. The management proceeded immediately with an action plan to mitigate the impact.

The management anticipates that the Group will present losses for the fiscal year 2020.

Additionally, it is expected that the Group’s liquidity fully covers its cash flow needs.

Source: Attica Group press release
Jun 04
0

Finnlines Wants Piece of Emergency Cake

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The National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) in Finland is prepared to spend EUR 45 million on financial support to ensure the transport of vital cargo from Finland to Sweden, Baltic countries and Continental Europe.

Finnlines welcomes this decision and published a press release to draw attention on the importance of the company as a lifeline maritime connection.

NESA has already granted financial support to four out of seven commercial operators securing the main maritime bridges for rubber-tyred vehicles. The first support actions taken by NESA where addressed to ropax operators whose operations are not viable without revenue from recreational travellers. For more freight-oriented operators, the threat of serious disturbances was less imminent. However, the corona crisis is having a strong impact in Finland’s economy and the value added of the transport sector is estimated to fall by around 20%, to which Finnlines is also exposed to.

After several weeks of negotiations and encouraged by NESA, Finnlines has also filed an application under this same emergency financial support programme.

Finnlines is still waiting for NESA’s emergency financial support decision but feels confident in receiving support based on Finnlines’ pivotal role in securing Finland’s security of supply.

A member of the Grimaldi family, Finnlines repeats its mantra: “Companies that operate in the same sector and compete with each other should have uniform and equal opportunities to apply for and receive financial aid granted by the State and authorities. Non-discrimination and ensuring fair conditions of competition are the basic principles of EU State aid rules.”

Jun 04
0

Stena Group Q1 Interim Report: Covid-19 Impact

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Ferry Operations were of course hit by the plunge in passenger volumes and the decrease in freight, due to Covid-19.

  • -53% EBITDA SEK 265 million
  • -10% cars
  • -15% passengers
  • -7% freight

Stena Line has taken steps to mitigate the financial impact of the Covid-19 situation. This includes closure of routes, reducing costs and number of employees.

RoRo Operations: chartering out of vessels

  • -9% EBITDA SEK 70 million

The decrease is mainly due to lower charter income due to the sale of KAIARAHI in the Q4 of 2019 offset by strong contract coverage and utilisation across the fleet.

Source: Stena AB Group Q1
Jun 04
0

FERRY PORTS

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Marseille’s New Maghreb Ferry Terminal To Be Built By Four Companies

Eurovia Méditerranée, GTM Sud, Isolbat and Snef have been selected to build the terminal Gare Maritime du Cap Janet in Marseille.

The international terminal will serve the Maghreb ferry routes.

Each year, Port of Marseille Fos handles 500,000 passengers coming from or going to the Maghreb. This traffic generates 400 calls, which are divided over two terminals. To improve the accessibility the Port de Marseille Fos and Métropole Aix-Marseille Provence will regroup these services on one site, with easy, direct access to the A55 motorway.

Capacity will be 3,000 cars per day and also 600 foot passengers.

The terminal should be ready in 2022.