Feb 24
0

New CEO for Molslinjen announced

By | 2023 Newsletter week 8 | No Comments

The current CEO of ForSea, Kritian Durhuus is to become the new CEO of Molslinjen.  Molslinjen’s takeover of ForSea was completed at the end of January and the two companies are in the process of merging.

The vacancy has arisen as current Molslinjen CEO Carsten Jensen is leaving the post to become the new CEO of Nordic Ferry Infrastructure in Oslo.

Nordic Ferry Infrastructure (NFI) is a holding company that will in future own both Molslinjen and the Norwegian transport company, Torghatten.

Kristian Durhuus will join Molslinjen on 15 March 2023.  In the interim period Carsten Jensen will remain responsible for Molslinjen.

Photo: Molslinjen

Feb 24
0

In Brief

By | 2023 Newsletter week 8 | No Comments
  • In addition to boosting capacity on Finnlines’ own Zeebrugge – Rosslare route, FINNPULP is also to be chartered to P&O Ferries for one roundtrip per week. The vessel will depart Zeebrugge on Tuesdays and Teesport on Wednesdays from 28 February.  The ferry companies have an existing cooperation, P&O Ferries providing stevedoring and ship handling for Finnlines’ Rosslare service at the Belgian port.
  • Viking Line has announced that 13 March to 25 June, CINDERELLA will call at Kapellskär on her morning departure from Mariehamn to Stockholm. The sailing is a result of the sale of the ROSELLA and the loss of her sailings from Åland to Kapellskär.

Photo: Viking Line

  • Björn Blomqvist, CEO of Rederi Ab Eckerö Group, has revealed that there has been recent interest in the sale or charter of their idle cruise vessel BIRKA STOCKHOLM. The ship has been laid up since the Covid pandemic arrived in March 2020.  With interest from Europe and Southeast Asia there have also been enquires for using her as an accommodation vessel.
  • From 1 March, Brittany Ferries will switch from Pound Sterling to Euro as the base currency onboard. Sterling will still be accepted onboard at the daily exchange rate but all products and services will have prices displayed as Euro. Full details of the change can be found here.

Photo: Brittany Ferries

  • Molslinjen has been given permission to replace the MAX MOLS with the EXPRESS 1 when the newbuild EXPRESS 5 is delivered as the main Bornholm fast ferry. Due to the subsidised service, the decision required approval of the Danish Ministry of Transport.  The capacity of EXPRESS 1 up to that of the MAX MOLS will be sold within the contract but the additional part is to be sold commercially at Bornholmslinjen’s own risk.  This arrangement will initially be for one year.
  • Molslinjen’s fast ferries on the Kattegat are now registered with the Too Good To Go food waste scheme. This means that ferry passengers on the last departures of the day to Aarhus have the opportunity to buy food to take home from the ferries’ catering outlets. The scheme attempts to reduce food waste.  A bag of food purchased on the app costs DKK 39 and can contain items such as croissants, sandwiches or salads.

Photo: Molslinjen

Feb 24
0

Delphine gains rotor sail

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DELPHINE has become the first vessel in the CLdN fleet to receive a rotor sail wind propulsion system.

Improving the ship’s fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, the ship returns to service from Zeebrugge on 27 February.

DELPHINE has a freight capacity of over 8,000 lane metres and was already very fuel efficient.  With two 35m x 5m rotor sails, current emissions of 28 grammes of CO2 emitted per tonne of cargo shipped per km travelled will be reduced by 10%.

The rotor sails, which can be installed on new vessels or retrofitted on existing ships, incorporate a modernised version of the Flettner rotor, a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus effect to harness wind power to add forward thrust to a ship. The solution is fully automated and detects whenever the wind is strong enough to deliver fuel and emission savings, at which point the sails start automatically. The sails are also tiltable, allowing the vessel to pass under bridges and maintaining operational flexibility.

CLdN will work with the Maritime Technology Division at Ghent University to study the performance of the sails on the DELPHINE in the coming months.  The results of the project will determine roll out on existing and newbuild vessels.

Photo: CLdN

Feb 17
0

A “satisfactory” 2022 for Viking Line

By | 2023 Newsletter week 7 | No Comments

January– December 2022 (compared to January–December 2021)

  • Sales amounted to EUR 494.7 M (EUR 258.2 M).
  • Other operating revenue was EUR 24.1 M (EUR 46.8 M).
  • Operating income totalled EUR 38.3 M (EUR 32.1 M).
  • Net financial items were EUR -10.0 M (EUR -3.8 M).
  • Income before taxes totalled EUR 28.3 M (EUR 28.3 M).
  • Income after taxes totalled EUR 23.0 M (EUR 24.4 M).

Outlook for the financial year 2023

  • Significant uncertainty continues due to the geopolitical situation.  This is impacting directly on energy prices, inflation, interest rates and currencies and indirectly in terms of propensity to travel, demand, consumption patterns and costs.
  • AMORELLA  was sold in Autumn 2022, and at the end of the year an agreement was reached on the sale of ROSELLA for delivery in January 2023. The company does not foresee any further vessel sales in 2023.
  • Provided that energy prices remain at their current level and taking into account that capital gains are expected to be lower than in 2022, the Board of Directors estimates that income before taxes will be somewhat lower than in 2022..

Jan Hanses, CEO of Viking Line said;

“Our results for 2022 should be described as good. The new financial year 2023 will be both demanding and engaging. We are closely following economic developments and adapting operations to meet the challenges we face, particularly concerning the new environmental norms. Meanwhile, we are optimistic about the future.”

Fourth Quarter Results 2022 (compared to Fourth Quarter 2021)

  • Sales amounted to EUR 124.5 M (EUR 89.3 M).
  • Other operating revenue was EUR 15.2 M (EUR 2.2 M).
  • Operating income totalled EUR 19.4 M (EUR 1.6 M).
  • Net financial items were EUR -2.5 M (EUR -0.4 M).
  • Income before taxes amounted to EUR 16.9 M (EUR 1.2 M).
  • Income after taxes totalled EUR 13.6 M (EUR 1.7 M).
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Feb 17
0

Finnlines add second vessel on Zeebrugge-Rosslare

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To meet the increased capacity and frequency demand from customers, Finnlines is strengthening its Ireland–Belgium freight service by adding a second ro-ro vessel.

FINNPULP will join FINNWAVE on the route in week 8, departing from Zeebrugge on 23 February 2023.

Finnlines launched the new service between Rosslare and Zeebrugge in July 2022. The service has been well received by Irish transport operators. Via transhipment in Zeebrugge, the Irish connection is also available to the Finnish, German, Estonian and Spanish industries as well as the whole Grimaldi Group network.

FINNPULP: 3,259 lane metres |225 trailers | 12 drivers

FINNWAVE: 4,192 lane metres |300 trailers | 12 drivers

Feb 17
1

CMA CGM confirms its interest in La Méridionale

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The CMA CGM Group finally confirmed what we announced last week: the French container giant enters into exclusive discussions to acquire La Méridionale.

A press release (in French) says that the planned acquisition will enable:

-The recovery of the Company and the preservation of the employment of French crew under the 1st French register flag,

-The investment in fleet and in the energy transition of the company.

Feb 17
0

Public tender coming for building additional two berths for ro-ro ships in the port of Trieste

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In the port of Trieste, the project to extend the berth for two ro-ro ships at Molo VI pier reached its final step.

The local Port Authority has just approved the executive project and started the restricted procedure through which the EUR 17.4 million worth works will be awarded to the best tender offer.

Two years after the start of the works, the Molo VI pier will have two additional ro-ro berths to serve mainly the regular maritime link with Turkey.

Pier VI is today the base of operations of Emt – Europa Multipurpose Terminals, a company controlled by the Turkish group Ekol Logistics.

The south side will soon also host Timt – Trieste Intermodal Maritime Terminal, 55% owned by the Turkish group Ulusoy and the rest by the Trieste-based group Samer.

Feb 17
0

Ferry MSC AURELIA bound for Türkiye to support earthquake relief initiatives.

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MSC AURELIA has departed from the port of Naples and is en route to the port of Iskenderun in Türkiye with over 50 pallets of essential supplies, food, and beverages to support earthquake relief efforts.

The MSC Group and MSC Foundation have organized an urgent response to assist those affected by the recent earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, working closely with Turkish authorities, the Italian Foreign Ministry, and the Vatican. The vessel will remain in port and be available to accommodate victims of the earthquake.

In addition, the MSC Group is arranging for thousands of empty containers to be delivered to the hardest-hit provinces to provide shelter for families who have lost everything.

The MSC AURELIA, with a cargo capacity equivalent to 40 trucks and over 400 cars, transports first aid items and medical supplies collected by the MSC Foundation and Rava Foundation, including pediatric drugs, supplements, toiletries, toys, and crayons for children. It also transports over 30 pallets of long-life food, pasta, and beverages, as well as clothing and blankets.

Upon reaching its final destination, the vessel will serve as emergency accommodation, providing over 1,000 beds, equipped spaces such as a restaurant and a cinema, and video games for children.

Feb 17
0

KYDON PALACE is temporary leaving the Piraeus-Chania route

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Minoan Lines has made a request to the Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy to temporarily reassign its cruise ferry KYDON PALACE from the Piraeus-Chania route until October 31, 2023.

The ship will be operated by Minoan Lines with Greek flag and Greek crews on the Adriatic service. Minoan Lines emphasizes that the request is temporary and they have no intention of abandoning the Piraeus-Chania route.

The reason for this request is due to the increased needs in the Adriatic Service, where the KYDON PALACE is more urgently required.

Feb 17
0

COLOR VIKING is being prepared for delivery to SeaJets

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The delivery of Seajets’ newly acquired vessel, the COLOR VIKING, is expected to be completed by the end of February.

The ship is currently located at the port of Sandefjord in Norway, where a Greek crew is making final preparations for the delivery.

The COLOR VIKING ceased operations on the Sandefjord-Stromstad route on November 22, 2022, and was sold for a price of EUR 8 million.

It is anticipated that the vessel will arrive in Greece before March 15 and will undergo conversion before being introduced into the domestic ferry service.

Photo: Trygve Eriksen (shipspotting.com)