Breaking News: Molslinjen acquires ForSea

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With the support of EQT Infrastructure, Molslinjen A/S has entered into a final agreement to acquire ForSea from Igneo Infrastructure Partners.

ForSea is the sole operator of ferries between Helsingør, Denmark and Helsingborg, Sweden, providing ferry services via a single ferry route strategically located at the nearest point between the two countries (approx. 4 km).

As a true “floating bridge”, the ForSea ferries are an integral part of the Nordic transport infrastructure network and carry six million passengers, one million passenger cars and 450,000 trucks across the Öresund every year.

The company operates 5 ferries across the route, 2 of which are electric and a third is scheduled for electric operation – setting a clear path to full decarbonisation of the fleet within this decade.

Molslinjen was acquired by EQT Infrastructure in 2021.

The transaction is subject to approval by the Swedish and Danish competition authorities and is expected to be completed in early 2023. The parties have agreed not to disclose the selling price.

Seatruck Ferries is now part of the CLdN family

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On November 10, CLdN completed the agreement to acquire all Seatruck Ferries Holding Ltd shares from Clipper Group of Denmark.

This follows the approval of the proposed merger given by the Irish competition authority on 28 October 2022.

CLdN CEO, Florent Maes, says: “We are excited to welcome the Seatruck colleagues into the CLdN family. By combining and leveraging each other’s strengths, we will continue improving the service for both Seatruck and CLdN customers.”

“Through Seatruck’s long-term presence in the ports of Heysham and Warrenpoint and in our key hubs of Dublin and Liverpool, we expand the group’s network and are determined to invest and add capacity to our shipping lanes which serve these ports.”

“Seatruck’s imminent move to a terminal adjacent to ours in Dublin will offer our customers seamless transhipment opportunities from the start of 2023, allowing direct access to the group’s Iberian, Irish, UK and continental European markets.”

Barry O’Connell appointed new CEO at Dublin Port Company

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Barry O’Connell will be Dublin Port Company’s new CEO from 14 November 2022, following an open and competitive recruitment process.

Barry joins Dublin Port Company from the Coca-Cola System, where he has held multiple senior executive roles in bottling operations around the world since 1992.

Barry replaces Eamonn O’Reilly, who stepped down from the role on 31st August after twelve highly successful years.

Nor Lines continues its coastal investment through the acquisition of Kyst 1

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Nor Lines Norway AS, which already has 11 own terminals along the coast, in addition to a large number of agents, is now strengthening its position as a leader in coastal logistics through the acquisition of Kyst 1 in Bergen.

Kyst 1 has been an agent for Nor Lines in Bergen since 2019.

“We have ambitions to be a leader in coastal logistics, and already today have a strong presence with both terminals and agents, as well as responsibility for all freight on Hurtigruten and Havila in addition to the parent company’s own ships,” says Oddgeir Hepsø, Managing Director of Nor Lines Norway.

Nor Lines buys 100% of the shares in the company Kyst 1, which will eventually change its name to Nor Lines Bergen AS.

Interview with Cpt Yiannis Nikolitsis, Managing Director of Dynamic Co

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Dynamic Co is a leading Greek company that provides worldwide superior quality Marine and Industrial services with unprecedented professionalism. Within 30 years’ time they have managed to become an innovative expert in Ship Repairs, Heavy Industry Repairs and Sea Services offering a wide range of services with unsurpassed quality. Performance that ranks them among the best companies globally.

FSN discussed with Managing Director Cpt Yiannis Nikolitsis the evolution of his company through the years, as well as his future plans.

Grimaldi Line’s EUROPA PALACE transferred to the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Brindisi line

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Beginning of November, Grimaldi Lines transferred RoPax EUROPA PALACE from the Patras – Igoumenitsa – Ancona line, to Patras – Igoumenitsa- Brindisi line to enhance its presence between Southern Italy and Greece.

 

The large ship will sail along with her fleetmate IGOUMENITSA adding some significant freight capacity to the specific line.

The ship has a carrying capacity for 1,800 passengers and 2,600 lane meters. Figures that are added to the 800 passengers and 3,120 lane meters of RoPax IGOUMENITSA, which is already active on that line.

By that move, the Italian Group focuses more on the Port of Igoumenitsa (soon to be privatised), with the Egnatia Motorway as major asset, connecting the western with the eastern markets more effectively.

Ferry traffic in Greece: 13% decline in passenger traffic – 3% increase in truck traffic in 2022

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According to some intermediate data (till the end of October) released in the Greek press about the domestic and international ferry traffic performance in 2022:

  • -13% passengers
  • -3% cars
  • +3% trucks
  • The increase in the truck traffic is due to the intense reconstruction of the islands as well as the larger needs of the islands because of the increased number of tourists.
  • The decrease in passenger traffic is due to the domestic tourism decrease, since the expensive accommodation and high ticket prices prevented Greeks from choosing the islands for their summer holidays.
  • Ticket prices increased by 25%, covering only the Ferry operators’ extra fuel costs.

Zeno d’Agostino elected as chair of ESPO

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ESPO’s General Assembly unanimously elected Zeno D’Agostino as its new Chair.

Mr D’Agostino is President of Port Network Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea since 2015 and has a long-standing career in transport and logistics. He succeeds Annaleena Mäkilä who chaired the organisation during the last two years.

The General Assembly also re-elected Daan Schalck, CEO of North Sea Port as Vice Chair.

Ansis Zeltiņš, CEO of the Port of Riga, becomes the second Vice Chair.

Steel cutting for the second Caronte & Tourist ferry at Sefine shipyard

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  • Turkish shipbuilder Sefine (Yalova) and Bluestone Group celebrated the steel cutting ceremony for a new double-ender ferry ordered by Caronte & Tourist.
  • Expected to be delivered in H1, 2024.
  • LNG-ready engines, batteries, and solar panels.
  • Will be deployed on the Strait of Messina, between the Italian ports of Messina and Villa San Giovanni.
  • Capacity for 1,500 passengers, 602 of which can be accommodated in sheltered seating areas.
  • She will be the second newbuild supervised on behalf of Caronte & Tourist by Bluestone, a provider of technical services for the maritime industry which has been awarded a contract for plan approval and construction supervision.

Port of Ystad: Continuous good development 2022

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Port of Ystad continues to strengthen its position as one of the biggest ferry passenger ports in Sweden. This summer is no exception.

The development this year is still prosperous even if the cargo seems to slow down a bit due to the rising inflation and, not least, the war in Ukraine.

On the other hand, the passenger volumes keep on rising with a development this year, until and including September, of +12,3%. For personal cars the development is +9,3% and the number of ship calls is up +2,5%.