Mar 03
Love0

Non-profit foundation in memory of Seajets Founder

By 2023 Newsletter week 9

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
Love0

Seajets purchase HSC Gotlandia

By 2023 Newsletter week 9

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
Love0

Additional Western Cyclades ships approved

By 2023 Newsletter week 9

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
Love0

Tallink back in black in 2022

By 2023 Newsletter week 8

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)

Feb 24
Love0

Tallink Grupp Results of the Q4 2022

By 2023 Newsletter week 8

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
Love0

BC Ferries Third Quarter Results

By 2023 Newsletter week 8

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.
Feb 24
Love0

Stena Nordica to replace Stena Europe

By 2023 Newsletter week 8

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
Love0

Stena Line commits to Birkenhead

By 2023 Newsletter week 8

Stena Line and Peel Ports have signed a significant deal to continue operating to the port of 12 Quays, Birkenhead (Liverpool) until the year 2100.

Stena Line has operated from the Mersey port since acquiring the Belfast – Birkenhead service from DFDS in 2011.

The 77-year deal follows recent major investments in the route;

  • The brand-new E-Flexer ferries STENA EDDA and STENA EMBLA were introduced to the route in 2020 and 2021
  • Linked to the arrival of the new vessels, the South berth at Birkenhead was converted to two tier loading
  • Stena Line has recently purchased two sites adjacent to the 12 Quays Terminal, to provide additional freight storage for its freight customers as they continue to expand their businesses there

Niclas Martensson, CEO of Stena Line, says: “After 12 successful years in 12 Quays our business in Birkenhead continues to flourish year-after-year. This deal is a sign of our long-term commitment to Birkenhead and Peel Ports, with whom we have a very strong partnership. We will continue to make significant investments to increase our services to our customers across the Irish Sea.”

The value of the deal has not been disclosed.

Carl-Johan Hellner of Stena Line (L) and David Huck, Peel Ports.  Photo: Stena Line

Feb 24
Love0

Sheerness – Calais hits a milestone

By 2023 Newsletter week 8

DFDS’ unaccompanied freight service from Sheerness to Calais recently carried its 50,000th trailer since the route began in July 2021. Average loads have increased by 65% since traffic started.

The route was introduced in response to growing demand from cargo owners and hauliers, who view it as a solution to ongoing congestion issues and delays in Dover.

Richard Goffin, Port Director at London Medway, said:

“The rise in daily unit volumes over that time has also proven what we have long argued – that there is a real need for a viable alternative route for the UK’s supply chain given ongoing congestion around Dover and the shift in demand for increased unaccompanied services. At Peel Ports, we believe companies should look to move non-perishable cargo on unaccompanied services such as ours because they are more reliable, rather than have it travel on as accompanied freight, which has multiple points of failure.”

The route is currently operated by the BOTNIA SEAWAYS.

Photo: Peel Ports