Mar 10
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New hybrid electric vessel for Norled

By 2023 Newsletter week 10

Norled and Brødrene Aa have entered into a contract for the construction of a new hybrid electric vessel, to be named BRE.

It will be used as a reserve vessel on Norled’s routes from Bodø to Væran and Gildeskål.  On these services she will have a hybridization rate of 70% electric operation.

When not operating on these routes, BRE will operate as a 100% electric sightseeing boat for Brim Explorer.

  • Passengers :  130 with space for luggage, bicycles and kayaks
  • Speed : 30 knots
  • Length : 24 metres
  • Battery : 1.2 MWh
  • Construction : Carbon Fibre

Photo: Brødrene Aa

Mar 10
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Condor Ferries buys Straitsman

By 2023 Newsletter week 10

With significant global interest, it is Condor Ferries that has succeeded in buying the ro-pax STRAITSMAN from Bluebridge Ferries, New Zealand.

As reported last week by FSN, operators including CTMA and CMAL/NorthLink Ferries were also in the running to acquire the ship.

Re-named and upgraded, the 125-metre vessel will enter service between the UK and France and the Channel Islands in the autumn.  Condor has said that the move will bring “greater resilience, capacity and connectivity”.

Condor Ferries has promised an overnight service in both directions from the UK and Channel Islands.  The new vessel will also provide additional passenger capacity in the event of Condor’s fast craft being affected by bad weather.

The larger fleet will also assist with inter-Island frequency and help to develop the growing freight services from France.

Built in 2005, the 400-passenger STRAITSMAN is very close in design to Condor’s existing ro-pax ferry, COMMODORE CLIPPER.  She previously operated in Europe as Bornholm’s DUEODDE.

Photo: Condor Ferries

Mar 03
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Tallink Grupp statistics for February

By 2023 Newsletter week 9
  • +51.3% passengers = 355,796
  • +11.0% passenger vehicles = 50,259
  • -18.7% freight units = 26,784

Variables

  • GALAXY stopped sailing Turku – Stockholm in September 2022 due to a charter contract.
  • SILJA SERENADE and SILJA SYMPHONY didn’t sail on the Helsinki – Stockholm route for 17 days due to annual maintenance.
  • MYSTAR was added to Tallinn – Helsinki route, leading to an increase in sailings.
  • SEA WIND freight ferry was sold in April 2022.  She sailed on the Muuga – Vuosaari route.
  • SILJA EUROPA stopped sailing on the Tallinn – Helsinki route in August 2022 due to a charter contract.
Mar 03
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Finnlines report superb 2022

By 2023 Newsletter week 9

January – December 2022 Finnlines reported (compared to 2021)

  • Revenue amounted to EUR 736.1 million, an increase of 27%
  • Result was EUR 133.3 million (EUR 74.7 million)
  • EBITDA amounted to EUR 221.2 million (EUR 160.3 million)
  • 750,000 freight units
  • 138,000 cars
  • 648,000 passengers (including drivers)

Finnlines describes freight volumes as “fairly good”.  This is despite the Ukraine war, inflation, higher interest rates and soaring energy costs.

The Superstar ro-paxes for the Naantali – Långnäs – Kapellskär route will be delivered this year, FINNSIRIUS in Q3 and FINNCANOPUS in Q4.

Click cover to access results

Mar 03
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Record year for Wasaline

By 2023 Newsletter week 9

Wasaline has reported a record 2022:

  • Operating profit was EUR 3.3 million
  • Revenue up 78.6%
  • Fuel costs increased 55.4% to EUR 5.97 million
  • Labour and benefit costs increased by 37.5%
  • Passenger revenue was up 150.7 % and volumes up 149%
  • Freight revenue up 7.7% and volumes by 4.4%
  • Passenger vehicle numbers increased 126%
  • Departures of AURORA BOTNIA increased 14% to 1,133 sailings
  • Energy consumption reduced by 21% per trip and CO2 emissions by 19.6%
Mar 03
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Ab Eckerö reports much improved performance in 2022

By 2023 Newsletter week 9

Full year 2022 (compared to the full year 2021):

  • 2,624,674 passengers, 93% increase (1,357,442).
  • 159,228 freight units, 4% decrease (165,567)
  • Turnover EUR 185.8 million, 51% increase (EUR 122.9 million)
  • Operating profit EUR 4.1 million (EUR -38.1 million)
  • Overall profit EUR -2.7 million (EUR -30.6 million)

Profits were negatively affected by the high bunker prices arising from the Ukraine War.  The Group was also affected by the cost of living crisis and the weak Swedish krona.

Note – 2021 figures included the writedown of BIRKA STOCKHOLM.

Mar 03
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25th Anniversary Year marks record for Baleària

By 2023 Newsletter week 9

In 2022, Baleària transported 4.7 million passengers, 1.2 million vehicles and over 7 million lane metres of cargo.

The company recorded a turnover 42% higher than in 2021, at EUR 563 million, and EBITDA was up 36% at EUR 140 million.

Baleària celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2023 and these are the best ever figures in the company’s history.

The President of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, commented;

“Baleària has obtained historic revenues of EUR 563 million thanks to great marketing efficiency and effort and to the hard work and commitment of all teams”. He also described as “historic” the Result of EUR 67 million, 34% more than the previous year.

In 2022 Baleària invested EUR 61 million in fleet development.  This was mainly in new eco-efficient vessels under construction.

Photo: Baleària

Mar 03
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Brittany Ferries welcomes Santoña

By 2023 Newsletter week 9

The newest Brittany Ferries fleet member SANTOÑA sailed into Portsmouth for the first time last night (2 February) at the end of her maiden commercial voyage from Santander, Spain.  Her maiden trip from the UK is tonight.

Powered by LNG, the vessel has a capacity for 1,015 passengers and 2,705 lane metres of freight.

SANTOÑA is the third E-flexer class cruiseferry to join the Brittany Ferries fleet and will operate two roundtrips from Portsmouth to Santander per week, and one on the Portsmouth – Cherbourg route.

The next two Brittany Ferries E-flexer newbuild vessels will be hybrid, operating on both electric and LNG.  They will replace the BRETAGNE in 2024 and NORMANDIE in 2025 on the Portsmouth – Saint Malo and Portsmouth – Caen routes respectively.

Christophe Mathieu Chief Executive, Brittany Ferries at Santoña inauguration 1 March 2023.

Photos: Brittany Ferries

Mar 03
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Keel-laying of SeaRoad roro

By 2023 Newsletter week 9

The keel-laying of Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) newbuild 784 for Tasmania’s SeaRoad took place on 27 February.  The LNG-powered vessel will be named SEAROAD I.

The first module, weighing more than 154 tonnes was lowered onto a pallet by crane and a coin was placed under the keel for good fortune.  The nails were hammered into the keel-laying plate by Philipp Maracke, Managing Director of FSG Nobiskrug Holding, Chas Kelly, CEO SeaRoad, Tony Johnson, Technical Marine Manager SeaRoad, and Dustin Lind, the youngest trainee at FSG.

The new roro ferry will sail on the Bass Strait between Devonport and Melbourne.

SEAROAD I will join SEAROAD MERSEY II in Q2 2024, replacing the chartered LIEKUT.  LIEKUT is a 4,076 lane-metre ro-ro also built by FSG.

The EUR 100 million contract is financed by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

SEAROAD I Key Facts

  • Gross Tonnage 43,100 GRT
  • Length 210 metres
  • Width 29.30 metres
  • Power main engines 2 x 10,300 kilowatts
  • Speed 22.5 knots
  • Cargo Capacity 3,722 lane metres plus capacity for 101 cars
    (= 4,227 lane metres in total)  Ship will be able to accommodate heavy cargo weighing up to 100 tonnes.
  • Cabins 25 (27 berths)

Photos: Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG)