In February 2024 AS Tallink Grupp transported:
+2.3% pax 364,003
+0.0% cargo units 26,672
-4.5% passenger vehicles 47,997
AS Tallink Grupp passenger, cargo unit and passenger vehicles numbers for February 2024 were the following:
Ahead of the 2024 European elections, ECSA launches its policy priorities for the next five years. The four pillars are Climate and energy transition, People-centred green and digital transition, Ship Finance and Competitiveness and Trade.
Europe is facing an existential transformation as it strives to meet climate neutrality by 2050 while maintaining industrial leadership at global level.
European shipping has been a cornerstone of Europe’s energy, food, and supply chain security. European shipping, representing 39.5% of the world fleet, enables Europe to play a leading role in the international supply chains. Shipping delivers the goods and energy we need, supports EU exports and connects European citizens within Europe and with the rest of the world.
To ensure European shipping continues to play a strategic role for the security of Europe, the ECSA Priorities 2024-2029 put forward policy recommendations along four key pillars:
- Climate and energy transition
- People-centred green and digital transition
- Ship Finance and Competitiveness
- Trade
Read the ECSA Priorities 2024-2029 here.
Download the ECSA Priorities 2024-2029 here.
On February 26, 2024, Algerie Ferries’ Badji Mokhtar III (2021) arrived at the Greek Elefsis Shipyards (ONEX Group) for her general overhaul. A few days prior, her fleet mate Tariq Ibn Zyad (1995) also arrived at the Greek yards for the same reason. Both vessels mark the first Algerian ships to enter a Greek Shipyard following a recent agreement signed between the ONEX Group and the state shipping company of the Republic of Algeria, ENTMV (Entreprise Nationale de Transport Maritime de Voyageurs).
Photo: Anastasios Anastasiou
The Supervisory Board of Tallink Grupp has approved changes to AS Tallink Grupp’s Management Board, accepting the resignation from the Management Board from Mrs Kadri Land, and appointing Ms Elise Nassar to the Management Board as a new member.
Source: Tallink Grupp
Attica S.A. announced the appointment of Mr Dionysis Theodoratos as Deputy CEO with effect from 1 March 2024.
Mr. Theodoratos has over 30 years of experience in sales and marketing. He joined Attica Group in 1996 and since then he has contributed substantially to the dynamic course and growth of the Group.
Since 2016 he has held the position of Executive Director of Commercial Operations of Attica Group. He is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Group’s subsidiaries and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies (SEEN).
Historically high levels for both passenger and freight operations in both the Gulf of Finland and the Åland Sea.
Full Year 2023 (compared to 2022)
+20% passengers 3,140,221 (2,624,674)
+11% freight units 176,351 (159,228)
+19% turnover EUR 221.5 million (EUR 185.8 million).
+Operating result 21,4 MEUR (-8,4 MEUR)
+Result 11,5 MEUR (-12,7 MEUR)
Q4, 2023 (compared to Q4, 2022)
+4% passengers 656,622 (629 473)
+12% freight units 44,795 (39,987)
+6% turnover EUR 48.7 million (EUR 46.0 million)
+Operating result 0,9 MEUR (-13,4 MEUR)
+Result 0,2 MEUR (-13,7 MEUR).
Source (in Swedish): rederiabeckero.ax PDF
Photo: Eckeröline
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Norway-based HAV Design has signed a contract to design and develop four newbuild, autonomous zero-emission ferries that will operate the Lavik-Oppedal crossing on the northwest coast of Norway.
Under the contract, HAV Design will deliver ship design and an engineering package for all four autonomous ferries. The ship design is based on a future-oriented operating concept that ferry operator Fjord1 has developed together with HAV Design. The ferries will be able to operate with autonomous navigation and a high degree of automation of vessel functions that replace manual operations on board.
Lavik–Oppedal is a ferry route that crosses the Sognefjord, on the northwest coast of Norway, from Lavik in Høyanger municipality to Ytre Oppedal in Gulen municipality. The ferry crossing takes 20 minutes, and the route is 5.6 kilometres long.
Four newbuild zero emission ferries will operate the route from 1 September 2026 onwards.
The vessels will be built at Tersan Shipyard in Turkey which is HAV Design’s contract partner for the four newbuilds.
Two conceptual renderings of BC Ferries’ New Major Vessels program are the first look at what up to seven new ferries could look like when they enter operation starting in 2029.
The ferries will carry up to 360 standard sized vehicles and 2,100 people, compared to a capacity of 250-310 vehicles and 1,200-1,500 people on retiring vessels. The vessels will be standardized with others in the fleet to allow BC Ferries to be more flexible in moving them between routes when maintenance or refits are required, without disrupting customer travel.
The basic design for these vessels is being developed in collaboration with LMG Marin AS in order to maximize efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The design calls for engines capable of using bio- and renewable fuels and includes a battery-hybrid propulsion system that will allow for conversion to full battery-electric operation once shore-based recharging infrastructure becomes available.
BC Ferries issued a Request for Supplier Qualification (RFSQ) for its New Major Vessels program. The RFSQ is available through the international shipbroker Clarksons, as well as on bcbid.gov.bc.ca. It will close on March 22, 2024. Qualified shipyards will then have the opportunity to take part in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, currently expected to occur in the summer of 2024.
On 22 February 2024, Mr Dionisios Theodoratos, the Chairman of the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies, addressed the Association’s proposals concerning the challenges and competitiveness of Hellenic Coastal Shipping during the event for the cutting of the New Year’s pitta. [in Greek]
During his opening speech, he summarised the four proposed measures:
- Financing the decarbonisation of the coastal shipping fleet.
- Updating port governance and implementing port infrastructures to support the green transition.
- Enhancing maritime training and attracting young people to staff coastal ships.
- Implementing fiscal measures to support and restore competitiveness, including:
- Ensuring equal treatment of the competitiveness of the Greek coastal shipping fleet with the international and domestic lines of the member states of the European Union, with similar policies as in other EU states.
- Maintaining a VAT rate of 13% for passengers and extending it to cars from 1/1/2025.
- Redefining the terms and conditions of public service award notices for chartering ships for the service of public service lines.
- Regulating the principles and operation of the Coastal Transport Council.
- Implementing Regulation 352/2017 for the liberalisation of port services, including solid waste and other services (such as cable tie, general passenger services, towing).
- Establishing an Electronic Reservation System in Coastal Shipping for electronic seat reservation and issuance of passenger tickets and vehicle transport receipts.
Photo credit: SEEN
From left to right: Managing Director of Scandlines Deutschland GmbH Heiko Kähler, President of the State Parliament Kristina Herbst, State Secretary Tobias von der Heide, CEO Scandlines Michael Guldmann Petersen, Ingo Gädechens MdB.
Photo: Marc Benkmann/Scandlines
Scandlines’ traditional New Year’s reception took place in Kiel in the presence of Schleswig-Holstein’s State Secretary for Transport, Tobias von der Heide.
Scandlines’ management highlighted the first fully battery-electric ferry and further plans for the electrification of the Puttgarden-Rødby route.
- The electric ferry Futura is set to commence operations in 2024, operating entirely on electricity.
- Initially, Futura will be charged with electricity only in Rødby, with plans to expand charging to Puttgarden by 2025.
- The next phase involves converting the other ferries on the Vogelfluglinie to 80% battery operation before transitioning to entirely electric operation with zero direct emissions by 2030, with two of the four ferries on the Puttgarden-Rødby route making the switch by 2025.
- Challenges related to fluctuating electricity prices in Germany are noted, with Scandlines hoping for support from German politics.
- Digital solutions are being implemented to enhance the customer experience during booking, at ports, and on board.
- While the freight segment experienced slight declines in 2023, Scandlines anticipates growth in the latter half of 2024.