Connecting Europe facility call of 2023 is now open for submission

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The 2023 CEF Transport calls for proposals make EUR 7 billion available for projects targeting new and improved European transport infrastructure.

The calls cover the Core and Comprehensive TEN-T networks in the following areas:

  • railways
  • inland waterways
  • maritime and inland ports
  • road safety
  • rail-road terminals
  • multimodal logistics platforms
  • multimodal passenger hubs
  • smart and interoperable applications for transport
  • safe and secure mobility
  • infrastructure resilience

The deadline for submission is 30 January 2024.

“bound4blue” to install three suction sails on Ro-Ro VILLE DE BORDEAUX

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Airbus will equip one of the vessels it uses to transport aircraft subassemblies, chartered from shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, with a wind-assisted propulsion technology that captures wind energy to generate thrust and, therefore, delivers savings in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The eSAIL®, developed by the Spain-based firm bound4blue, creates as much as six to seven times more lift than a conventional rigid sail. It consists of a sail-like vertical surface and an electric-powered air suction system that helps the airflow to re-adhere to the sail, generating additional lift and thereby reducing the load on the ship’s main engines.

Three 22-metre-high eSAILs® will be fitted to the VILLE DE BORDEAUX ahead of a six-month performance monitoring period starting early 2024.

Brittany Ferries announces the use of the inflatable wing sail prototype Wisamo on Ro-Ro PELICAN

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The crew of the PELICAN is set to use the inflatable wing sail prototype Wisamo (Wing Sails Mobility) by the Michelin Group, starting this week. The wing is expected to be utilized for 6 to 8 hours during a 30-hour crossing. The Wisamo inflatable sail is a 100 m² wing that was installed on the vessel in November 2022.

In April 2023, after a series of tests and adjustments, the Norwegian classification company DNV approved Michelin Group’s Wisamo sail system.

PELICAN, chartered by Brittany Ferries from Compagnie Maritime Nantaise, operates between Poole and Bilbao.

Thessaloniki Port Authority, H1 Results: growth in all sectors except Conventional Cargo throughput and Intermodal

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Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A. announces for H1 of 2023:

  • increase in container throughput, sectors of utilization of spaces and passenger terminal
  • decrease in the sectors of conventional cargo and Intermodal,

Group consolidated turnover amounted to MEUR 41.2 (-2.6%)

Group gross profit MEUR 17.3 (-8.3%)

Company gross profit MEUR 17.3 (-9,8%)

Group EBITDA MEUR 15.1 (-9.7%)

Company EBITDA MEUR 14.4 (-16.2%)

Group profits after tax MEUR 8.4% (-12.2%)

Company profits after tax MEUR 7.7 (-24,5%)

The decrease in profitability is primarily attributed to lower volumes at the Conventional Cargo Terminal and to the recording of an impairment of MEUR 0.87 from the participation in the subsidiary ThPA Sofia EAD.

Port of Piraeus: Strong performance in H1, 2023, with a significant increase in profitability and turnover

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In H1 2023, PPA S.A. reported a continued robust increase of profits and income, achieving the new highest performance in its history.

  • +8% profits before taxes EUR 49.4 million.
  • +49.6% profits after taxes EUR 7 million.
  • +0% turnover EUR 102.4 million.

This renewed growth in turnover was attributed to increased revenue across all sectors of PPA S.A.’s activities. Especially it was driven by the cruise sector where approximately double number of passengers transported compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. Additionally, there was an increase in container handling in the total three Piers of the port, despite the challenges currently facing the transport sector.

Nel Lines’ ferry TAXIARHIS left for scrap

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On September 22, 2023 Nel Lines’ TAXIARHIS (ex- UNION HOBART, SEAWAY HOBART, AGIA METHODIA, EUROMANTIQUE) left Ampelakia (Salamis) yards, bound for the scrapyard of Aliaga.

The ship was laid up since 2015 (ports of Lavrion and Ampelakia (Salamis)).

She was built in Norway in 1976 for Union Shipping and she was one of a series of eleven vessels that were built for car/cargo transportation. She arrived in Greece in 1993 purchased by AK Ventouris, while in 1999 she was sold to Nel Lines for the North Aegean run.

She was the last ship of that series that was still alive.

Photo: Arxipelagos.gr

Algérie Ferries to charter a ferry for next summer

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At a press conference, the CEO of Algérie Ferries announced positive results for 2023.

For the first 8 months, the State-owned company transported 383,000 passengers and more than 100,000 vehicles on 359 crossings between Algerian ports and Alicante, Barcelona, Sète, Marseille and Genoa.

The season has not been easy, with two ships experiencing technical issues, and the lack of extra (chartered) tonnage. However, the CEO promised an extra chartered ferry for next season. (without saying which ship).