2020 Newsletter week 9

According to a PortEconomics.eu survey, Piraeus port takes the fourth place –in performance- behind Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg.

Piraeus was not even in the top 15 in 2007.

The port of Piraeus presented a percentage increase by 5.1% in relation to 2018 and 315% compared to 2007-2019 period. According to those figures, the port of Valencia is still a “threat” to Piraeus port just as Piraeus is a “threat” to Hamburg port.

The users of Piraeus port facilities estimate that the Greek port will directly threaten both Hamburg and Antwerp provided the development of the fourth pier which is part of the COSCO’s approved master plan by the Hellenic Government. The construction and the completion of that pier spans over a two-year period. Into the game of “dominance” is also involved and the railway as the completion of the infrastructure and the electrification of the Piraeus-Thessaloniki rail axis will give both Piraeus and Thessaloniki the potential for direct competition in the level of Hamburg.

In any case, this year will be of particular interest due to Brexit processes and the streamlining of transshipment while at the Mediterranean front a particularly interesting “naval battle” involving Piraeus, Valencia and Barcelona is on the way.

A mobile phone app lets passengers get access to their rooms – although their will be traditional key cards as well for anyone who doesn’t have a smartphone.

Ministers failed to notify the EU about nationalising a shipyard at the centre of a ferry building fiasco despite being earlier found to have given £50 million of “illegal state aid” to two airports.

BLUE STAR PATMOS Sails to Malta for Scrubber

Blue Star Ferries’ BLUE STAR PATMOS is expected to sail for Palumbo shipyards in Malta on Friday or Saturday -this week- for her scrubber conversion (open loop).

The ship has been in Perama repair zone since 4 February 2020, undergoing small-scale works in order to be prepared for the scrubber retrofit. She is also the first ship of the Blue Star Ferries fleet to undergo such conversion. Also, in Malta she will probably undergo her dry docking while she is expected to return back in Greece on 30 March.

• BC Ferries announced that Jill Sharland has been appointed to the position of Vice President & Chief Financial Officer effective March 2, 2020. Most recently as a CFO in the medical industry, Ms. Sharland also has experience in the aviation and telecommunications industries.
• Alternative Shipping’s roro vessels HATCHE and QEZBAN are joining Stena Line’s Europoort – Killingholme route. HATCHE is already in service. QEZBAN is on her way from Turkey, with an ETA 3 March.
• Ro-ro VOLCAN DE TENEGUIA had a fire shortly after leaving Santa Cruz de Tenerife on 22 February. Fire was under control a few hours later. The ship was towed to Santa Cruz.