Finnlines opens a new line between Zeebrugge and Rosslare

By | 2022 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

On 23 July 2022, Finnlines will launch a new service between Rosslare and Zeebrugge. The route will be operated by roro FINNPULP (3,259 lane metres – 225 trailers)

There will be two departures per week from each direction.

“Demand for freight services from Ireland to Continental Europe has grown in the wake of Brexit and the new route will provide a crucial link for Irish industry. The Finnish industry, as well as German and Spanish industries, will also have an easier access to Ireland via transshipment in Zeebrugge,” says the Finnlines press release.

DFDS Monthly Volume Report: Freight Up 11%, Passenger Recovery on Track

By | 2022 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

Ferry – freight: Total volumes in May 2022 were 10.8% above 2021 driven by higher volumes in all business units, except Baltic Sea.

Channel’s volumes were elevated by P&O Ferries’ suspension of sailings for most of the month compared to last year.

North Sea volumes were above 2021 as higher activity on most UK routes offset lower industrial flows between Sweden and the Continent, partly due to supply chain bottlenecks in the automotive sector.

Volumes in the Mediterranean network continued to grow supported by higher capacity. The war in Ukraine lowered Baltic Sea volumes between mainly Germany and Lithuania compared to 2021.

For the last twelve months 2022-21, the total transported freight lane metres increased 1.5% to 43.8m from 43.1m in 2021-20.

Ferry – passenger: The number of passengers increased eightfold to 296k equal to 68% of volumes in May 2019, the latest comparable month pre-Covid-19. Transport segments are recovering faster than leisure segments as the number of cars was at 89% compared to 2019. Channel’s volumes were elevated by P&O Ferries’ suspension of sailings for most of the month.

For the last twelve months 2022-21, the total number of passengers was 1.6m compared to 1.0m in 2021-20 and 5.1m in 2019, the latter being the latest pre-Covid-19 year.

Two Russian railway ferries to get an official autonomy class

By | 2022 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

Rosmorport signed a contract with Sitronics for equipment of two autonomous rail/vehicle carriers. Within a year, both ships are expected to be equipped with a complete set of autonomous navigation systems and receive an official autonomous class.

The contract assumes that the full set of systems including autonomous navigation system, optical surveillance and analysis system, coordinated motion control system, remote engine, and technical monitoring will be installed as well as a remote control center will be established in Saint-Petersburg. The vessels will be able to navigate in various autonomous modes: automatically, under the control at the remote control station, and traditionally, by the crew on board.

“The autonomous navigation technology has been tried on several ships for more than a year. In 2021 alone, 28 voyages were carried out, in which the technology was tested and proved to be applicable in practice”, said Nikolai Pozhidaev, President of Sitronics Group.

FINNECO I entered service

By | 2022 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

FINNECO I, the first of three new hybrid roro’s for Finnlines arrived in Zeebrugge on June 12th, after the long delivery journey from China. The vessel discharged at the ICO terminal, before sailing to Antwerp on 15 June.

The vessel will be used on the service between Bilbao-Belgium (Zeebrugge/Antwerp)-Germany (Lübeck/Travemünde)-Estonia (Paldiski)-Finland (Kotka/Helsinki).

The impressive ship is 238m long, with a cargo capacity of 5,800 lane metres. (400 trailers)

Fred. Olsen Express returns on La Gomera

By | 2022 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

Fred. Olsen Express will restore the inland route of La Gomera on Friday, July 1, after a long stand still because of the pandemic.

The shipping company will have two departures between the three ports of San Sebastián, Playa Santiago and Valle Gran Rey, operated by the BENCHI EXPRESS catamaran (photo).

During the last two months the ship has been active on the Fuerteventura-Lanzarote route.

With the return of BENCHI EXPRESS to La Gomera, the company will incorporate a new vessel, named BUGANVILLA EXPRESS, to maintain the service between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

The Port of Gothenburg is growing – land acquisition completed in Arendal

By | 2022 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

The Gothenburg Port Authority’s previously announced acquisition of a 108,000 square meter area in Arendal in the Port of Gothenburg has now been completed. The purpose of the acquisition is to enable a future relocation of Stena Line’s Denmark and Germany terminals and to consolidate the port’s ferry and roro traffic to the outer port area Arendal.

Rendering: Gothenburg Port Authority

CMA (UK) secures offer of commitments from P&O Ferries and DFDS

By | 2022 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

In November 2021, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into an agreement between ferry companies P&O Ferries and DFDS A/S. This agreement – known as a ‘capacity sharing agreement’ – provides a ‘turn up and go’ function for freight customers at the Dover and Calais ports, allowing them to take the next available ferry regardless of which of the 2 operators they booked with. The agreement aims to reduce journey times and congestion at ports for freight customers, while also providing broader potential benefits for supply bottlenecks and the wider economy.

While the CMA recognises the flexibility such an agreement allows, it is concerned that aspects of the companies’ arrangements could, if unaddressed, ultimately lead to higher prices and fewer sailings.

For example, when implementing this agreement, P&O and DFDS created a single schedule to space out the firms’ departures more evenly. However, as part of this, the companies also removed some journeys entirely from their schedule and documentation gathered by the CMA showed they planned to further reduce the number of sailings in the future. Such behaviour could lead to higher prices and less frequent journeys for both tourists and freight customers.

The CMA is also concerned that the agreement could encourage each company to cancel off-peak sailings at short notice because it will allow them to keep revenue from customers even if they travel on the other firm’s ferry. Such cancellations would cause disruption to freight and tourist customers on the busy Dover-Calais route and could also lead to higher prices.

In addition, the CMA believes the agreement has the potential to fix the amount of freight customers each firm carries in relation to the other. Fixing amounts in this way would likely reduce the companies’ incentives to compete for customers by offering lower prices and better service quality.

Following CMA intervention, the companies have proposed to commit to:

  • not agree with one another the number of sailings that each company operates
  • put strict limits on the number of sailings that they may cancel
  • amend the agreement to make clear that it does not fix the amount of freight customers that either company may carry

The CMA will now consult on the commitments offered, providing an opportunity for third parties to voice any thoughts or concerns. Any responses must be made by 5pm on 4 July 2022 and will be considered as the CMA reviews the commitments offered by P&O and DFDS.

HSW’s Hellenic Highspeed chartered to Africa Morocco Link

By | 2022 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

On June 10, 2022, Hellenic Seaways’ HSC HELLENIC HIGHSPEED arrived at Spanopoulos Shipyards for her scheduled dry docking and repairs.

According to the latest information the ship is chartered to Africa Morocco Link (AML) to assist the other two conventional ferries (MOROCCO STAR and MOROCCO SUN) on the Algeciras-Tangier Med line where the traffic is expected to increase.

The vessel is already sporting the AML banner and is expected to depart after the completion of her repairs.

Horizon Sea Lines’ HSC SANTA IRINI is being prepared for the Heraklion-Santorini line

By | 2022 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

On June 3, 2022, the new acquisition of the new established Horizon Sea Lines, HSC SANTA IRINI (former Acciona’s HSC ALMUDAINA DOS) arrived at Neos Molos Drapetsonas (port of Piraeus) from Almeria (Spain).

The ship is currently at Vassiliades dry dock (Piraeus Port) undergoing her dry docking and repairs until June 18. Then she will be chartered to the Cretan Transportation Services (CTRS) for daily excursions between Heraklion – Santorini. She flies the flag of Cyprus.