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2020 Newsletter week 38

Sep 17
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FERRY PORTS

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Port of Calais No Longer Wants to Pay

The port of Calais CEO Jean-Marc Puissesseau says he no longer wants to pay the cost of checking lorries bound for the U.K. for migrants.

This costs the French Channel port EUR 8 million a year.

In a letter to the French prime minister he asked the government to review the Le Touquet agreements (*), and “send the bill to the UK, which is now out of the EU.”

(*) Juxtaposed controls, a reciprocal arrangement between Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom whereby border controls take place before boarding the ferry, rather than after disembarkation.

Sep 17
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IN THE MEDIA

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Public Service Contract for Corsica: What’s Up?

In January 2020, Corsica Linea and La Méridionale submitted a joint application for the public service contract for the links with Corsica. (Ferry Shipping News)

This new contract should start on 1 January 2021 (until end of 2027), but so far, no decision has been taken.

Two ongoing investigations are disrupting the decision schedule:

  1. Investigating the creation of a SEMOP (a company owned 50.1% by Corsican authorities and 49.9% by private operators). French Competition Authority is investigating its impact on competition and will deliver its advice to the Government in October.
  2. Investigation launched by the European Commission on 28 February 2020, about the allocation to Corsica Linea of rotations between Marseille and Bastia, Ajaccio and L’Ile-Rousse as part of the ongoing contract. European Commission must deliver its conclusions by the end of 2020.
Source: L’Antenne (in French)
Sep 17
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Viking Line’s CEO: “All Ships Are for Sale if the Price is Right”

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The pandemic-related financial problems of shipping companies may lead to the sale of ferries and the permanent deterioration of Finland’s maritime connections.

Viking Line’s CEO Jan Hanses talks about overcapacity in the Baltic and Viking Line’s attempt to sell ferries (with interest from the Med).

Government communications receive harsh criticism from Tallink’s CEO Margus Schults. “The messy communication about the restrictions has been going on the whole summer. People do not dare to travel, even if it would be allowed and safe.”

Source: Talouselama (Finnish)
Sep 17
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SHORT NEWS

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BLUE STAR CHIOS Sent to Lesbos to Host Asylum Seekers

September 10, 2020. Blue Star Ferries BLUE STAR CHIOS arrived in the port of Sigri (Lesbos) in order to host 1,000 asylum seekers after the destruction of the Moria facility.

The ship was about to stop service and undergo scheduled repairs. However, the sad incident at Lesbos sends her there to work as a hotel ship following a temporary plan of the Hellenic government. More asylum seekers will also be hosted by the Hellenic Navy ships for a while.

Sep 17
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DFDS: Agreement Keeps Oslo Ferry Moving

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The Metal Maritime union and DFDS have agreed on a negotiated solution for most employees on the two Oslo ferries. The agreement ensures that the ferries can continue to operate on this route, in spite of the Norwegian quarantine rules causing a decrease in passenger numbers. Regretfully, 26 servers will be redundant.