Mar 03
0

Baleària expresses an interest in Naviera Armas

By | 2023 Newsletter week 9 | No Comments

The President of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, has publicly stated the company’s interest “in a future acquisition of Naviera Armas in the event that the current owners put it up for sale”.

The company would be particularly interested in Armas’ Canaries inter-island traffic, where Baleària currently isn’t present.

However, the acquisition is said to be third place in Baleària’s priorities, below the expansion of the company’s Caribbean operation and the fleet renewal strategy.

Naviera Armas is expected to be offered for sale at some stage following recent restructures which have largely placed control of the company with banks.

Photo: Naviera Armas

Mar 03
0

Stena Danish routes back to pre-pandemic levels

By | 2023 Newsletter week 9 | No Comments

Stena Line has reported that bookings on their Danish ferry routes are back to the same level as before the pandemic.

The Frederikshavn – Gøteborg and Grenå – Halmstad ferry services are reporting;

  • Summer bookings 20% ahead of the same time last year
  • The number of bookings in January is at the same level as before the pandemic
  • Day trips are up 350% compared to 2022

Danish travellers make up the majority of passengers on these routes. With the exchange route compared to the Swedish krone unusually low, it makes Sweden a very attractive holiday option for Danes.

The news comes in the same week as the popular STENA DANICA celebrated her 40th anniversary of entering service on the Frederikshavn – Gøteborg route.

Photo: Stena Line

Mar 03
0

Non-profit foundation in memory of Seajets Founder

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Marios Iliopoulos, owner of Seajets, has announced the launch of the “Iliopoulos Foundation” to honour the memory of his late father, Takis Iliopoulos.  The shipping magnate passed away last year.

The non-profit foundation will support the needs of the islands that Seajets serves in the areas of health, education, sports-culture and the environment.

The Iliopoulos Foundation, which is expected to open within the year, will operate under the initial capital of EUR 2 million and will firstly focus on the health sector.  Needs have already been identified such as the lack of an ambulance on Andros and reinforcing the artificial kidney unit on Naxos.

Waste management, promoting green energy and supporting the winter economy on islands are amongst the initiatives the fund will tackle in due course.

Photo: Seajets

Mar 03
0

Seajets purchase HSC Gotlandia

By | 2023 Newsletter week 9 | No Comments

According to latest information, Seajets is the buyer of the Gotlandsbolaget (Destination Gotland) monohull high speed craft GOTLANDIA.

The ship served on the Vastervik /  Nynäshamn – Visby service until June 2018 and since then has been laid up. The ship was sold due to Destination Gotland’s decision to focus mainly on using their newbuild LNG vessels.  As reported by FSN last week, GOTLANDIA II is also on the market for a buyer.

Crew will reportedly fly to Sweden this week in order to take over the vessel.

With the purchase of GOTLANDIA, Seajets own 16 High-Speed Craft vessels plus 5 conventional ferries. The company’s fleet connects 33 Aegean islands and Crete, while its fleet transport capacity is 3,500 cars and 20,000 passengers.

Photo: Gotlandsbolaget

Mar 03
0

Additional Western Cyclades ships approved

By | 2023 Newsletter week 9 | No Comments

On 24 February, the Coastal Shipping Council of the Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy approved the itineraries of two additional ferries on the Piraeus – Western Cyclades route.

Aegean Sea Lines’ request was granted for their ship ANEMOS (ex-ROSELLA), which will be introduced on the Piraeus – Serifos – Sifnos – Milos and Piraeus – Sifnos – Thira – Ios lines.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Also approved was the reassignment of Seajets’ SUPERSTAR from the Rafina – Andros – Mykonos – Paros line to the Piraeus – Serifos – Sifnos – Ios – Thira line.

Both requests will be in force from 1 April to 31 October 2023.

Photo: Seajets

Feb 24
0

Tallink back in black in 2022

By | 2023 Newsletter week 8 | No Comments

Tallink Grupp’s 2022 Unaudited Financial Results reveal a profitable year.

  • Full year profit of EUR 13.9 million (EUR 56.6 million net loss in 2021)
  • Consolidated revenue of EUR 771.4 million (EUR 476.9 million in 2021)
  • EBITDA of EUR 135.8 million (EUR 58.3 million in 2021)
  • Investments of EUR 203.3 million. EUR 176.7 million related to the new shuttle vessel MYSTAR.
  • 5 million Passengers (2.96 million in 2021).
  • 409,769 Freight units (369,000 in 2021)

The 2022 results were impacted by firstly the remaining Covid Travel Restrictions in force at the start of the year and then, more significantly, by the Ukraine War and resultant business cost increases.

Two ships are on long-term charters (ATLANTIC VISION and ROMANTIKA) and four on short-term charters (ISABELLE, SILJA EUROPA, GALAXY and VICTORIA I)

Report can be downloaded here
Feb 24
0

Tallink Grupp Results of the Q4 2022

By | 2023 Newsletter week 8 | No Comments

Stena Line has announced that the STENA NORDICA will replace the STENA EUROPE on their Fishguard – Rosslare service.  The replacement of the 1981-built ferry is said to “secure the future stability” of the route.

The changeover will take place in July.  The STENA NORDICA is currently being comprehensively refurbished at Remontowa, Gdańsk, to increase her passenger capacity, as well as providing new and enhanced facilities.

A commitment has been given by the company to ensure that the crew of the STENA EUROPE are offered roles on the STENA NORDICA or other Irish Sea Stena Line vessels.

Photo: Stena Line

Feb 24
0

BC Ferries Third Quarter Results

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In the three months ending 31 December 2022, BC Ferries reported that compared to the same period in 2021;

  • 5 million Passengers and 2.0 million vehicles travelled, an increase of 10% and 3%, respectively.
  • Revenue, inclusive of Safe Restart Funding, was $234.8 million, an increase of $12.6 million.
  • Net loss was $22.7 million, compared to a net loss of $1.6 million, primarily as a result of less Safe Restart Funding being applied in the quarter and higher operating costs.
  • Operating expenses were $245.2 million compared to $209.5 million. This increase is mainly due to an increased number of sailings, with corresponding higher labour costs, as well as higher fuel prices and maintenance expenses.
More information here
Feb 24
0

Stena Nordica to replace Stena Europe

By | 2023 Newsletter week 8 | No Comments

Stena Line has announced that the STENA NORDICA will replace the STENA EUROPE on their Fishguard – Rosslare service.  The replacement of the 1981-built ferry is said to “secure the future stability” of the route.

The changeover will take place in July.  The STENA NORDICA is currently being comprehensively refurbished at Remontowa, Gdańsk, to increase her passenger capacity, as well as providing new and enhanced facilities.

A commitment has been given by the company to ensure that the crew of the STENA EUROPE are offered roles on the STENA NORDICA or other Irish Sea Stena Line vessels.

Photo: Stena Line