FERRY SHIPPING

By | 2020 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

Finland is Prepared to Secure Ferry Connections with Subsidies

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency has announced a tendering process for a subsidized ferry service Turku (or Naantali) – Mariehamn – Stockholm – Mariehamn/Långnäs) – Turku (or Naantali) until the end of 2020 (eventually end of May 2021).

Finland wants to secure supply logistics and transport requirements of Finnish foreign trade.

The tender is split in two: a morning and an evening departure from Finland. (a company can decide to tender for only one departure, or for both)

Tender deadline: 5 October.

Public service obligation: support for maritime transport between Turku / Naantali – Mariehamn / Långnäs – Stockholm (in Finnish)

Study Says Fixed Link between Denmark and Germany will Cost Danish Taxpayer Dearly

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At least EUR 400 million, in the worst case up to EUR 4.3 billion: these are the losses expected by the economic analysts from KRAKA Advisory in relation to the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link for the Kingdom of Denmark

Ferry operator Scandlines asked KRAKA Advisory to examine the financial stability of the plans for the fixed link between Denmark and Germany from the perspective of the state treasury.

The main reason for the losses is the far too optimistic traffic forecasts by the planning company Femern A / S, which have not been significantly updated since 2002. A realistic assumption would also extend the repayment period for the project to more than 50 years. KRAKA Advisory therefore calls for the current planning to be stopped in order to put the project on an economically more stable footing.

“What should be scary for Danish taxpayers is, for us, a question of corporate future planning,” says Søren Poulsgaard Jensen, CEO Scandlines.

“The perspective of a state, tax-financed competitor does not frighten us. But if this is deficient, national and international competition watchdogs have to look very carefully in order to guarantee fair competition – for us and for all other private companies in traffic between Germany and Scandinavia.”

Caronte&Tourist Protests for the Lack of LNG Bunkering for Its Ferry ELIO in The Strait Of Messina

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Two years ago, Caronte&Tourist took delivery of the dual-fuel ship ELIO which has been running up to date with marine gasoil since LNG is not available in the Strait of Messina.

A few days ago,  CEO Vincenzo Franza publicly protested during the opening ceremony of a LNG station for trucks in Catania. This summer, Caronte’s application to realise a small LNG depot in Tremestieri, in order to make LNG available for ELIO, was rejected for the second time.

Mario Mega, newly appointed chairman of the port authority in Messina, replied that they are evaluating the opportunity to build up a larger LNG depot also for cruise vessels therefore a smaller one would be in case not necessary.

Franza underlined that ELIO will not be able to bunker LNG until a depot is opened in Messina.

Baleàrias New LNG High-Speed Craft Launched

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Baleària’s new fast ferry ELEANOR ROOSEVELT was launched on Friday 18 September at the Armon shipyard in Gijón.

This innovative ship is scheduled to begin operating in the first quarter of 2021.

Lots of focus goes to the use of LNG as fuel.

However, equally important is what Baleària has achieved in the digitization of services, with the “Smart ship” concept.

  • Passengers will be able to access by means of a QR code that they will receive via WhatsApp, with the indication of the assigned seat number
  • Internet service and WhatsApp coverage for text messages during crossing
  • Free digital entertainment platform for mobile devices
  • See the pets through webcams installed in the cages.

The Construction of Finnlines’ Second Hybrid RoRo Started

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The construction of Finnlines’ second new hybrid ro-ro vessel –FINNECO II– started at the Chinese Nanjing Jinling shipyard. The first steel plates were cut in the traditional steel cutting ceremony on 16 September 2020.

Finnlines’ ongoing EUR 500 million newbuilding program, which includes three green hybrid ro-ro vessels as well as two eco-friendly Superstar ro-pax vessels, will further increase Finnlines’ energy efficiency.

In addition to lithium-ion battery banks, which enable ‘zero emissions in port’, they will be equipped with several advanced technologies to save energy and thus reduce emissions further.

The ro-ro vessels are expected to be delivered during 2021–2022 and the Superstar ro-pax vessels are set to start in traffic in 2023.

Perfect Debut for FRS’ High-Speed Craft SKÅNE JET

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FRS Baltic’s high-speed ferry SKÅNE JET made her commercial inaugural voyage on Thursday 17 September.

She sailed from the port of Sassnitz-Mukran to Ystad.

Initially the season will last until November 1. A restart is planned for April

Fjord Line’s former FJORD CAT was built by InCat in 1998. She offers the shortest (111km) and fastest (2h30m) crossing between Germany and Sweden.

Canada Acquires Interim Ferry for Replacement of MADELEINE

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Government of Canada awarded a $155 million contract to purchase the ropax ferry VILLA DE TEROR as an interim measure to replace the MADELEINE ferry. This follows an Advance Contract Award Notice published on July 2, 2020.

She will be renamed MADELEINE II and will undergo essential work while being dry-docked before its expected arrival in Canada in spring 2021.

The vessel will then undergo refit as required in Canada in order to deliver reliable ferry service from the summer of 2021 until 2026, when Chantier Davie Canada Inc. is expected to deliver the permanent new replacement vessel JEAN LAPIERRE.

As far as Ferry Shipping News understands, this ordered has not been finalized yet.