Jan 20
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The world’s first large, lightweight, zero-emissions ferry?

By 2023 Newsletter week 3

Incat Tasmania might have the solution.

Customer Buquebús asked if it was possible to replace the planned LNG powerplant with a battery-electric solution.

 Incat Group Chairman and Founder Robert Clifford said “the customer wants this to happen, Incat wants this to happen, and whilst there are matters to be finalised, I am extremely confident that Incat can deliver this ground-breaking ship. In my experience unless we see something come in from left field, this is a ‘done deal’.”

 130m | 2,100 pax | 226 vehicles | to be delivered in 2025

Jan 13
Love0

Italy at the top of the ferry market (in $ value) according to VesselsValue

By 2023 Newsletter week 2

To mark the launch of Ferry Market Values, the database company VesselsValue has provided an overview of the Global Ferry Fleet. This includes top owning countries and companies, fleet development over the last ten years, age profile of today’s fleet, most valuable Ferry (>12,999 GT) and most notable deals from 2022.

Italy emerged as the leading ferry country (with $ 4,037 million of ships’ market value), China stands at the second place ($ 2,638 million) and Japan at the third place ($ 2,558) considering both live and on order units.

Looking at the Top owning companies Grimaldi Group is the market leader for its fleet market value ($1,495 million), followed by Tallink group ($1,310 million), Stena Group ($1,271 million), Grandi Navi Veloci ($ 1,214 million) and DFDS ($ 1,115 million).

Jan 13
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Ro-ro ship ROSA DEI VENTI sold by Visentini to Corsica Ferries

By 2023 Newsletter week 2

The 2,430 lane metre ro-ro ROSA DEI VENTI has been sold to Corsica Ferries, some sources told Ferry Shipping News. She was owned by Giovanni Visentini Trasporti Fluviomarittimi.

It’s an option declared at the end of the 5-years bare boat charter agreement with Grendi Trasporti Marittimi. Grendi will continue operating the vessel on the route linking the port of Marina di Carrara with Sardinia (ports of Cagliari and Olbia).

Grendi also extended the time charter agreement of the ro-ro WEDELLSBORG for 17 months. She is owned by Visemar Levante and also operating (since 2021) on the same maritime link in Italy.

Jan 13
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DFDS December volumes: strong Med versus other routes – strong passengers

By 2023 Newsletter week 2

Ferry – freight:

  • Total volumes in December 2022 were 15.2% below 2021.
  • Volumes were 4.7% below 2021 adjusted for Channel that continues to be impacted by a considerable decrease in the total market and ferry overcapacity.
  • North Sea volumes were below last year, mostly due to a decline in activity between Scandinavia and the UK.
  • The growth momentum in the Mediterranean network continued, although a temporary suspension of sailings between Turkey and Spain reduced volumes.
  • Baltic Sea volumes remained negatively impacted by the war in Ukraine.
  • In 2022, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 2.9% to 41.7m from 43.0m in 2021. The decrease was 0.5% adjusted for Channel.

Ferry – passenger:

  • The number of passengers continued to recover and more than tripled to 307k equal to 83% of volumes in December 2019, the latest comparable month pre-Covid-19.
  • The number of cars equalled 81% of volumes in 2019.
  • In 2022, the total number of passengers was 3.8m compared to 0.9m in 2021 and 5.1m in 2019.
Jan 13
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Two new ferries for ‘The Little Minch’ in Scotland (*)

By 2023 Newsletter week 2

CMAL signed the contract to build two new ferries to support the communities at Uig, Lochmaddy and Tarbert (Harris). They will also be built at Cemre Shipyard.

The two new vessels will be built to the same specification as the existing ferries under construction for Islay. (Designed by German firm Navalue)

This will speed up the replacement of the major vessel fleet and provide a more standardised vessel type that can be used on a variety of different routes.

(*) The Minch is the broad seaway which separates Great Britain and the islands of the Inner Hebrides from the Outer Hebrides. The Little Minch is the narrower straits between Skye to the east and Harris and the Uists to the west.

Some technical specifications:

Battery Hybrid Diesel Electric propulsion system: • 4 x Diesel Generators (using low sulphur MGO) • 2 x Cycloidal Propellers on Islay Vessels • 2 x Transverse bow thrusters (880kW) • 2 x Battery Banks (2 x approx. 574kWh) • Shore Charging • Batteries banks for peak shaving, in-port, manoeuvring, slow speed

Jan 13
Love0

2022 was a record year for Bornholmlinjen

By 2023 Newsletter week 2

Never have there been more passengers, cars, and trucks on the three routes to the Danish island of Bornholm (from Ystad, Køge, and Sassnitz).

+4.8% passengers (1,948,140)

+7.5% cars (573126)

+2.1% cargo units (47443)

In 2023 the ferry capacity to Bornholm will be significantly increased with the arrival of EXPRESS 5.

Jan 13
Love0

P&O Ferries: new ships, less crossings

By 2023 Newsletter week 2

Company P&O Ferries says it reduced its carbon footprint by 85,000 tons in 2022. The press release says the lion’s share of the reduction is attributable to the space charter agreement signed with DFDS 18 months ago.

For 2023, the space charter agreement with DFDS means that P&O Ferries will sail 9,000 times on the English Channel, down from 16,000 times in 2019, the last comparable year.

The agreement reduces the time drivers spend waiting at the ports, giving them access to a departure every 36 minutes and reducing gate-to-gate journey times by an estimated 30 minutes.

This year, P&O Ferries will take delivery of two double-ended new super-ferries.

The company expects 7,000 les crossings than in 2019.

The press release does not say anything about the long strike (and less sailings) after so many seafarers were fired.

Jan 13
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New CEO for La Méridionale

By 2023 Newsletter week 2

STEF-owned ferry company La Mériodionale has decided to thank CEO Benoit Dehaye for his services (source: Mr Dehaye’s Linkedin).

After 12 years of service, he’s being replaced by Guillaume de Feydeau, former crisis and restructuration manager at SNCM. (Who is Guillaume de Feydeau? Linkedin)

French maritime journal Le Marin expects the route between Marseille and Morocco to be in jeopardy.

Jan 13
Love0

Eckerö Linjen increased passenger volumes – steadily back to pre-covid figures

By 2023 Newsletter week 2

The number of guests who travelled in 2022 between Eckerö and Grisslehamn is much higher than the year before, and is about 82% of the passenger volume in pre-covid year 2019.

From 1 July 2022, all entry restrictions from Sweden to Åland were also removed, which meant that many Swedes again booked Åland as their holiday destination via the Eckerö Line in 2022.

Photographer: Niclas Nordl