2024 Newsletter week 26

Agreement with Stena RoRo for the long-term charter with purchase option of 2 new vessels and a potential option for 2 additional vessels

• Agreement with Stena RoRo for the long-term charter with purchase option of 2 new E-Flexer vessels, plus an option for 2 additional vessels.
• Vessels to be built at CMI Jinling Weihai Shipyard, China
• Largest RoPax vessels ever ordered by a Greek shipping company.
• Specifications: 240m length, 1,500 passenger capacity, 3,320 lane metres cargo decks (approx. 200 freight units per vessel).
• Vessels are Methanol ready, with engines capable of operating on 3 different fuel types and equipped with state-of-the-art technology to optimise fuel consumption.
• Expected to reduce the Group’s GHG emissions per transport work by 60% compared to existing vessels.
• Agreement includes a 10-year bareboat charter scheme with a purchase option after the 5th year.
• Delivery scheduled for April and August 2027.
• Fleet redeployment to follow, reducing the environmental footprint by retiring older vessels.
• Innovative design collaboration between Stena RoRo and Attica’s shipbuilding teams based on the successful E-Flexer model.
• CEO Panos Dikaios highlights Attica Group’s 3-decade innovation history and the new agreement’s role in setting industry standards, reducing environmental footprint, and enhancing travel experience.
• Per Westling, Managing Director of Stena RoRo, emphasises the bespoke E-Flexer vessels’ versatility, fuel flexibility, and importance in Attica’s green transition.

Green features

• Installation of battery pack for storage and use of electric energy in order to reduce the operation of diesel generators.
• Installation of solar panels for the production of renewable electrical energy.
• Installation of OPS – electrical power supply from shore during the ships stay in ports to avoid the use of diesel generators and the alleviation of harmful emissions and noise.
• Lighting of the ships with new technology LED to reduce the required energy.
• Rudder bulb designed and constructed to fit the ship’s propellers for optimizing hydrodynamic efficiency.
• Hull form design for optimum hydrodynamic efficiency.
• Intelligent clima control system for optimum energy consumption.
• Hybrid scrubbers for reducing SOx emissions.
• Silicon paints of underwater hull for reducing resistance and fuel consumption.
• New generation main engines, tri-fuel including methanol for reducing CO₂

Other features:

• Design of bow and stern ramps (drive through concept) to avoid maneuvering of heavy vehicles and allow faster loading/unloading from two decks simultaneously.

• Alvina Shipping has been awarded the contract for ferry services to and from Gotland for the period 2027-2035 (with two additional option years). (announcement Swedish Transport Administration)
• Two routes: Nynäshamn–Visby and Oskarshamn–Visby.
• Alvina Shipping is a Danish subsidiary of Swedish Gotlandsbolaget. This company will be responsible for financial and strategic management. It is a way to benefit from the Danish tonnage tax regime and the zero salary tax for seamen. However, Destination Gotland will operate the services under Swedish flag and crew.
• The Swedish Government is developing the Swedish tonnage tax to align Swedish shipping with international standards. Gotlandsbolaget is optimistic that Gotlandstrafiken will be fully integrated into this system. If approved, financial and strategic management will be overseen from the island of Gotland too.
• A ten-day period is available for appeals after the contract award (Nordic Ferry Infrastructure / EQT ?).
• The current ferry fleet will continue, with a new hydrogen-powered vessel to be introduced in 2028. During the upcoming contract period, a climate requirement applies which means that the operator must reduce CO2 emissions by 30 percent.
• The Swedish Transport Administration shares the risk of high fuel prices.
• Note: Gotlandsbolaget also recently acquired the DFDS route between Oslo and Copenhagen.

“We already cleared that we would not take part in the coming tender for the maritime continuity, so we sell the ships.” That’s what Moby said to Ferry Shipping News to explain why Toremar, a company controlled by Onorato Armatori and active on the maritime links between mainland Italy and the islands surrounding the Toscana region (Elba, Capraia, and Giglio), put up for sale four of its eight vessels.

More specifically, available for sale are:

• Rio Marina Bella (2004 – 896 passengers and 85 cars)
• Giovanni Bellini (1985 – 589 passengers and 60 cars)
• Liburna (1980 – 692 passengers and 60 cars)
• Schiopparello Jet (1999 – high-speed ferry – 145 passengers)

The other four vessels in Toremar’s fleet are the 1991-built Stelio Montomoli, the 1980-built Marmorica, the 1980-built Oglasa, and the 2005-built Giuseppe Rum.