Stena Line: Ropax Expansion on Nynäshamn – Ventspils
Once rebuilt, the STENA MERSEY and STENA LAGAN will be used on the Nynäshamn – Ventspils route in 2021.
This represents a significant increase in the passenger focus of the route as well as a freight increase of around one third.
The UK Government has signed agreements with 4 ferry operators to provide capacity equivalent to over 3,000 trucks per week, mitigating the risk of disruption as the UK and EU adjust to new border processes at the end of the transition period.
The contracts with Brittany Ferries, DFDS, P&O and Stena, collectively worth £77.6 million, will focus on 9 routes serving 8 ports in areas less likely to experience disruption. These include Felixstowe, Harwich, Hull, Newhaven, Poole, Portsmouth, Teesport and Tilbury.
The BONANZA EXPRESS, part of the Fred Olsen fleet since 1999, was the first high speed acquired by Fred.Olsen Express and also the first ever to sail in the waters surrounding the Canary Islands.
Data: 717 pax / 170 cars / 38 knots / Incat-built
The unknown buyer would be a newcomer on the Malta-Italy market.
The pandemic continues to pressure the ferry industry in a way never seen before.
This might require another approach in the top management.
Earlier, it was Janette Bell who left P&O Ferries.
On 13 October Arne Roland took over from Rickard Ternblom, who has led Fjord Line since 2015.
Arne Roland will act as CEO until a new is found. Roland has extensive management experience, including from Aker-systemet and CHC Helikopter Service.
Linkedin job offer for new CEO
Brittany Ferries’ newest vessel GALICIA made her maiden test call in the ports of Cherbourg and Portsmouth this week.
More relatively good news comes from the financial side of the business.
Normandie Region decided on Monday 12 October:
Conseil Régional de Bretagne will decide on Thursday 15 October:
A big issue in France is the fear to lose the French Flag. Brittany Ferries is one of the biggest employers of French crews.
(*) SOMANOR
The financial news provider Reorg Research revealed that “Fortress Investment Group, Clessidra Sgr and Europa Investimenti are amongst the funds discussing with Moby about a possible new money provision amid the group’s restructuring”, according to some sources. The process is in progress, but nothing has been decided yet.
Moby has been in talks with some investment funds for a deal designed to potentially unlock a standstill with creditors, as reported. The funds would be willing to provide new money to the group or, alternatively, buy its bonds and subsequently close a restructuring agreement with the company and its banks, according to sources.
The Onorato family-controlled company has to present a restructuring proposal by October 28 but it is expected to request a 60 days extension to the Court of Milan, where it filed for creditor protection under the concordato preventive procedure at the end of June.
Moby closed the first half of 2020 in red for EUR 50 million and the overall financial exposure increased to EUR 643 million, of which 160 million with banks, 295 million with bond holders and 140 million with subsidiaries.
Starting in January, Wallenius SOL will charter FIONIA SEA and JUTLANDIA SEA for the Kemi-Oulu-Husum-Zeebrugge-Antwerp-Vaasa route. (technical details)
“With 3,300 lane metres and a capacity of approximately 300 TEU we will have new and expanded opportunities for container loads,” says Jonas Wåhlin, General Manager Wallenius SOL.
Once they enter service, TAVASTLAND will call at Kaskinen – a new port on the route map – as well as making more calls at Kemi, Oulu, Husum and Lübeck.
Wallenius SOL will be adding additional capacity when its newly built roro’s enter service at the end of 2021. The LNG / ice class vessels offer 5,600 lane metres and a capacity of up to 800 TEU.
The first of two new high-speed craft for Trinidad and Tobago was floated out from Incat’s drydock on Hobart’s Derwent River on October 9. BUCCOO REEF (technical details), will be delivered later this year.
Austal is also building for Trindidad and Tobago. The APT JAMES (technical details) is a high-speed ropax catamaran under construction in Vung Tau, Vietnam.
The Government of Trinidad & Tobago announced that roro CABO STAR (ex FINNFOREST fakta om fartyg) will be chartered for an additional two years at the reduced rate of USD 16,000 per day (instead of the initial rate of USD 21,000 per day).
Brittany Ferries says that freight has kept on rolling this year, and the signs for 2021 are positive.
Several major customers have indicated their intention to increase business next year.
(expected: +15% UK-Spain / +15+ Ireland-Spain)
Rosslare-Bilbao: more companies in Ireland and the Iberian peninsula look for a Brexit by-pass to escape the UK land-bridge.
The newest ropax, GALICIA, will enter service in December (3,000 lane meters / 155 trailers), serving UK to Spain, and doing one weekly rotation between Portsmouth and Cherbourg.
This new vessel is the outcome of a joint effort by Rodman Polyships (Shipyard), Rvelasco (Naval Architects, Marine Engineers & Consultants), D3 Applied Technologies (numerical methods and aero/hydrodynamics simulation consultancy firm) and the Trasmapi Fleet Department.
MIGJORN JET
