German, Belgian and Dutch ports: Europe, join forces to preserve the industry

By | 2024 Newsletter week 15, 2024 newsletter week 16 | No Comments

For years, the conversation between ports has been dominated by the question of who is the biggest. Nowadays, however, when the CEOs of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, North Sea Port, Duisburger Hafen AG and Port of Rotterdam sit around the table, we no longer talk about tonnes of cargo, but about how we can unite to secure a sustainable future for industry in Europe. On the eve of the European industry summit on 17 and 18 April, we call on European government leaders to do the same and find a solution to the deteriorating position of our industry.

Continue to read here

Africa Morocco Link marks Stena Line’s venture into expansion beyond Europe

By | 2024 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

Ferry company Africa Morocco Link gets new owners:

  • Attica Holdings S.A. sells 49% to Stena Line Holding B.V.
  • Bank of Africa sells 51% of its shares to Compagnie de Transports au Maroc (CTM)

Remarks

  • Both Bank Of Africa and CTM, are entities belonging to O Capital Group, owned by Mr Othman Benjelloun.
  • The ships Morocco Star and Highspeed 3, owned by subsidiaries of Attica Group, are included in the transaction.
  • Attica: The total consideration amounts to €49m and the net profit is expected to exceed €21m.
  • Competitor DFDS entered the Strait of Gibraltar market on 10 January 2024 buy acquiring FRS.
  • AML was founded in 2016 by Attica Group and Bank of Africa.

Sources:

Press release Attica

Press release Stena

Press release CTM (in French)

Attica Group invests in Greek tourism – buys one more hotel

By | 2024 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

Through its subsidiary Attica Blue Hospitality, Attica Group is expanding into the hotel industry with a €14 million investment. They acquired the Galaxy Hotel, adjacent to the Naxos Resort Beach Hotel (bought in 2021-, on the island of Naxos.

Additionally, the Group has acquired adjacent land parcels totaling approximately 20 acres, paving the way for future development. With a combined capacity of 142 rooms and 286 beds, Attica Group aims to expand further, respecting the island’s character and environment.

Mr. Panos Dikeos, CEO of Attica Group, highlights the strategic importance of this expansion, emphasizing its contribution to local economies and Greece’s tourism sector. With a growing presence in Naxos and Tinos, Attica Group remains committed to providing quality services and supporting sustainable tourism growth.

DFDS adds EKOL to its portfolio

By | 2024 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

DFDS acquires international transport network connecting Türkiye and Europe from Ekol Logistics, strengthening DFDS’ market position in the transport corridor between Türkiye and Europe. The transaction is expected to be completed in Q4 2024, pending EU merger control approval.

Source: DFDS Media

The financial outlook for 2024 has been revised:

  • The DFDS Group’s revenue is in 2024 now expected to increase by 8-11% compared to 2023 assuming the acquisition is closed at the beginning of Q4 2024. The previously expected revenue increase in 2024 was 5-8%.
  • The 2024 outlook for EBIT is unchanged DKK 2.0-2.4bn.
  • Due to an expected integration period of 2-3 years, the time for achieving the financial ambition of a ROIC of around 10% in 2026 is extended to 2027.
  • The above-mentioned acquisition is at closing expected to increase DFDS’ financial leverage, NIBD/EBITDA, by around 0.3x on a pro forma basis.
  • The financial ambition of reducing financial leverage to 2.5x in 2026 is unchanged as is the financial ambition of generating an annual Adjusted free cash flow of DKK 1.5bn in the period 2024-2026.

Photo: EKOL

Start of Finnlines’ new route between Sweden and Poland

By | 2024 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

Finnlines’ new daily maritime bridge between Sweden and Poland started on 10 April 2024.

Route: Malmö, Sweden – Świnoujście, Poland

Ship: RoPax Finnfellow (Swedish flag) – 440 pax – 3,000 lane metres

Antonio Raimo, Line Manager at Finnlines:

“The launch of a new route will benefit Swedish and Polish exports and imports and expands Finnlines’ operations outside Finland, as well as confirming Finnlines commitment to Polish security of supply by calling both the port of Gdynia and soon the port of Świnoujście. We have already strengthened the shore organization and opened an office in Świnoujście.”

Seajets’ ex-“IDO” twins arrived in Greece

By | 2024 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

On April 7 and 8, 2024, the latest acquisitions of Seajets, HSC Orchan Gazi 1 and Osman Gazi 1, arrived in Greece under tow. Both sisterships were purchased last February from the Turkish company Istanbul Deniz (IDO). They operated daily from Istanbul to Moudania and are among the 8 ships that Seajets acquired in the last 8 months following a tremendous expansion plan.”

These vessels are:

  • Champion Jet 3 (ex-Incat 045)
  • Eurochampion Jet (ex- Natchan Rera)
  • Superruner Jet II (ex-Gotlandia)
  • Super Star II (ex-Color Viking)
  • Express Skiathos
  • Santorini Palace
  • HSC Orchan Gazi 1
  • HSC Osman Gazi 1

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

DFDS and H2 Energy publish new hydrogen propulsion feasibility study

By | 2024 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

During the past year, H2 Energy and DFDS have worked together on a project to analyse the feasibility of retrofitting large ferries with a hydrogen propulsion system. Now, the project has been finalized contributing with important knowledge for further analysis on the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for sea and road transport. The project was supported by the Danish Maritime Fund.

DFDS has recently launched its ‘Vessels of tomorrow’ programme, which will see two methanol, two electric and two ammonia vessels added to the company’s fleet over the next six years.

Although hydrogen is not included in the programme and DFDS is not planning to use hydrogen as a fuel in the very near future, DFDS will continue to contribute to the development of knowledge on hydrogen as part of the company’s ongoing analysis of possible net-zero scenarios for both vessels and road transport.

Read more here (DFDS) and here:

Feasibility Study Retrofit of an Existing RoRo Ferry with a Hydrogen-Electric Propulsion System Final Report

Photo: DFDS

Port of Tallinn’s subsidiary, OÜ TS Laevad, wins ferry contract

By | 2024 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments
  • Port of Tallinn’s subsidiary, OÜ TS Laevad, recognized by the Ministry of Regional Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture for successful bid in public procurement process.
  • Partnership secured for provision of passenger transport services on Virtsu-Kuivastu and Rohuküla-Heltermaa ferry lines.
  • Public service contract to be signed between Ministry and TS Laevad for seven years, from October 1st, 2026, to September 30th, 2033.
  • Currently, TS Laevad operates under public service contract signed with Estonian Transport Administration until September 30th, 2026.

First truck-to-ship LNG bunkering for Nerea in Trapani

By | 2024 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

The newly built ferry Nerea, operated by Caronte & Tourist Isole Minori, has successfully completed the first LNG bunkering operation in the port of Trapani through a truck-to-ship operation. Following the dual-ended vessel Elio, Nerea is the second dual-fuel ferry (MGO-LNG) in Caronte’s fleet. A third one, already renamed Pietro Mondello and under construction in Turkey, will enter into service next year. Nerea is deployed on the link between Trapani and Pantelleria island and will be regularly fueled with the truck-to-ship system supplying biogas, a 100% sustainable fuel obtained from organic waste, on which Caronte & Tourist is already focusing its attention.

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

La Méridionale’s RoPax Kallisté sailed for the first time from Toulon to Corsica (Ile Rousse) on Saturday 6 April, starting a competition with Corsica Ferries.

During summer the vessel will also call at Livorno.

Photo: Jean-Pierre Fabre

It is reported that Seajets’ HSC Speedrunner Jet 2 will operate daily on the Piraeus – Milos – Chania (Crete) line from June 22 to September 22, 2024. The specific itinerary is also confirmed by Seajets’ booking system, while the trip from Piraeus to Crete will last 5 hours. HSC Speedrunner Jet 2 was built in Italy (Fincantieri) in 1997. Her carrying capacity is for 880 passengers and 140 cars, while she can ply at 36 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

The popular Greece – Cyprus line will open for the third consecutive year at the end of May.

Scandro Holding’s RoPax Daleela will depart from the port of Limassol on May 29, while her last trip from Piraeus will be on September 3, 2024.

This year, Daleela will perform only 22 round trips instead of last year’s 44. According to her operator’s data, Daleela transported 12,000 passengers and 2,500 cars in 2023 (7,412 passengers and 2,250 cars in 2022).

Photo: Dimitris Mentakis

The RoPax vessel Kalliste has arrived in Toulon on Thursday April 4th, freshly painted in its new livery. On Saturday, CMA CGM-owned La Méridionale will inaugurate the new route from Toulon to Ile Rousse in Corsica, and Livorno (Livorno only June-September).

Photo: Jean-Pierre Fabre

DFDS reaffirms commitment to the electrification of cross-channel transport after meeting with UK Minister for Investment and Regulatory Reform, Lord Dominic Johnson. DFDS’s long-term goal is to have up to six battery-powered vessels operating on its routes on the Channel, with the first two in service by 2030.

Interesting article about Mann Lines in Port of Turku magazine:

  • Mann Lines is constructing a new RoRo vessel at the Visentini shipyard.
  • The new vessel will be longer, more efficient, and eco-friendly, running on green methanol alongside traditional fuel oil.
  • Innovative technology includes energy-saving hull coatings and air bubble systems to reduce friction.
  • Rotor sails were considered, but their practical durability is uncertain.
  • Shore-side electricity was also explored but deemed unsuitable due to short port stays and high costs.
  • The new vessel, expected in the Baltic Sea by early 2025, represents Mann Lines’ commitment to sustainability and advancement in maritime transportation.

DFDS has announced a series of public meetings in Guernsey and Jersey to gauge public views on future services. It comes after DFDS said earlier this year it was interested in bidding for ferry services in the Channel Islands.

Source: BBC

The new dual-fuel, SRTP RoPax Varsovia, designed by NAOS and built by Visentini was out on sea trials. The vessel will join the Polferries fleet at the beginning of summer.

Photo by C. Sforza and NAOS

Glen Rosa, the second of two dual-fuel vessels being built at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited, was successfully launched into the Clyde on 9 April.

Like her sister vessel Glen Sannox, Glen Rosa is being built on behalf of Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) to service the Arran route.

She is due to be completed by September 2025.

Source: Press release Ferguson Marine