Nov 25
Love0

Irish Continental Group: lifting of travel restrictions and Calais-Dover service, revenue up 79%

By 2022 Newsletter week 47

As every year, Irish Continental Group (ICG) issues a trading update which covers carryings for the year to date to 19 November 2022 and financial information for the first ten months of 2022.

Consolidated Group revenue in the period was €500.5 million, an increase of 78.9% compared with last year and a 62.1% increase on 2019.

Net debt figures were €175.7 million compared to €142.2 million at year end. The increase is primarily derived from strategic capital expenditure mainly comprising the acquisition of two vessels.

Ferries Division (Irish Ferries)

+133.9% revenues to €338.0 million (first 10 months)

The increase was principally due to the easing of travel restrictions as compared to the same period last year, increased fuel surcharges and the new Dover – Calais service which commenced in June 2021.

For the year to 19 November, Irish Ferries carried 525,600 cars, an increase of 198.0% on the previous year. Freight carryings were 618,100 RoRo units, an increase of 143.8% compared with 2021.

Excluding volumes on the Dover – Calais route, Irish Ferries carried 272,900 cars (an increase of 91.5% on 2021) and 257,000 RoRo freight units (an increase of 10.0%).

Outlook

The world is facing higher inflation and higher interest rates, both of which pose a challenging backdrop for economic growth.

Deep sea container movements are usually a leading indicator for economic slowdown and the recent weakness here is not unexpected.

The level of inflation faced by the business and our customers is concerning.

While fuel prices may ease versus earlier in the year with the expected slowdown in economic activity, other costs in the business have increased.

Confidence: “well placed to compete in this emerging tougher environment and to tap into whatever interesting opportunities might emerge.”

Nov 25
Love0

Pilot project for a roro service between Turkey and Romania

By 2022 Newsletter week 47

From January 2023, Turkey will test a roro service to Romania, the president of the Romanian Customs Authority, Bogdan Mihei, told Profit.ro.

The Turkish authorities are interested in supporting the export of some goods such as vegetables and fruits to Romania and the EU, but also some imports on the same route, such as cereals. Transporting loads, including containers, by ferry would be cheaper and would avoid road traffic in Bulgaria, but also in the straits area.

In the past similar projects failed mainly because of delays of the veterinary and food safety checks. Now the port of Constanta will be ready, says Mr Mihei.

It is unknown who is behind the service. In June 2022, DP World announced with a press release that the Romanian government signed an agreement with Dubai’s Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) to develop new infrastructure at the Port of Constanta,  to turn it into one of the most important cargo and vehicle hubs on the Black Sea.

Nov 25
Love0

Stena Line and Anglesey County Council announce bid to bring Freeport to North Wales

By 2022 Newsletter week 47

Stena Line and Anglesey County Council have announced their intention to submit a major freeport bid.

Stena Line is pledging a major foreign investment in Holyhead Port, which is the second largest roro port in the country and an international gateway to Ireland, via the Irish Sea and an integral part of the “land bridge” between Britain and the EU.

If successful, the bid is predicted to return Holyhead to pre-Brexit levels of trade and cement the area as a hub for innovation in trade and clean energy, with industry-leading initiatives along its coastline driving the UK towards its net zero objectives.

The formal bid will be submitted next week to the UK and Welsh Governments.

Nov 25
Love0

Golden Star Ferries’ ropax ANDROS QUEEN will be introduced April 2023

By 2022 Newsletter week 47

According to Golden Star Ferries, their latest acquisition ANDROS QUEEN will join the Hellenic Coastal Shipping in April 2023.

The ship was purchased from Japan on March 2022 and is currently undergoing a large-scale conversion into a luxury day ferry at the Perama repair zone.

When ready, ANDROS QUEEN will have a capacity for 1,400 passengers (106 beds) and 380 cars or 70 trucks. Speed 21.5 knots.

The ship will fly the Greek flag in January 2023. She will be introduced on the evening sailings on Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos, in April.

Photo: Golden Star Ferries

Nov 25
Love0

WIND SOLUTION beached at Alang for dismantling

By 2022 Newsletter week 47

After a 5-year adventure, former WIND SOLUTION (1969/former PRINSESSAN CHRISTINA, SAFE CHRISTINA, STENA NORDICA, EUROPAFARJAN I, LION PRINCE, STENA PRINCE, COMMODORE, PALAU) eventually beached in Alang (India) for dismantling. The ship was purchased from a Greek ferry operator in January 2018 and for the next 4.5 years remained laid up at Neos Molos Drapetsonas.

In May 2022 it she sold for scrap as RAVI.

Photo: Shipbreaking Alang

Nov 25
Love0

The port of Calais, “project port” for the EES system

By 2022 Newsletter week 47

The port of Calais has been chosen by the French Ministery of the Interior as the test port for the new European EES (Entry & Exit System), which should come into force in spring 2023. (source: Port of Boulogne Calais on Facebook)

This system, which aims to strengthen the security of the Schengen area and modernise the management of its borders, will require the introduction of biometric controls for any non-EU national crossing the external borders of the Schengen area on entry and exit.

The choice of the Port of Calais was a natural one since EES will apply to nearly 70% of its customers.

A first phase of tests took place in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of the lnterior, the British Home Office, the Port of Dover, the other Channel and North Sea ports (West Channel ports, port of Dunkirk) and, of course, maritime operators.

For 3 days, it was down to the services of the Border Police and the Port to trial under real conditions the process selected, operation of the equipment, and to measure the control times.

The purpose of these tests is to reconcile the application stricto sensu of the border security system and maintain traffic flow. Remember that the port of Calais welcomes about 8 million travellers each year, of whom 75% are of British nationality and now non-EU nationals.

Nov 25
Love0

Court of Bari recommended sentences for the NORMAN ATLANTIC fire

By 2022 Newsletter week 47

The Court of Bari presented their indictment against the owner, operator and crew of the NORMAN ATLANTIC, the ropax ferry that caught fire and burned in the Adriatic on 28 December 2014, with estimated 31 people killed.

After a two-year inquiry, investigating judge Alessandra Piliego concluded that the fire started in the generator of a reefer van.

The hold where the fire started had 40 reefer outlets and 43 reefer trucks, and three of the trucks were running their generators, according to the report – even though this was not permitted underway.

In addition, her team found that the crew activated the firefighting sprinkler system on the wrong deck, with no effect on the fire. Only three out of 19 crewmembers on the muster list had taken up their official listed duties, and some were not aware of their roles after the fact.

“The evacuation operations were all wrong. Proper execution could have saved everyone on board,” prosecutor Federico Capano told a court in the town of Bari on Tuesday (22 Nov 2022). In an indictment, Capano and his colleagues laid out serious charges against the shipowner, the charterer and the vessel’s master.

Carlo Visentini, the head of shipowner Visemar di Navigazione; Yannis Vardinoyannis, owner of Anek Lines; and Capt. Argilio Giacomazzi all face charges of multiple manslaughter, with a recommended sentence of eight years each. Other members of the crew face manslaughter charges in connection with the disaster, but with shorter recommended sentences.

Nov 25
Love0

Color Group sells ships

By 2022 Newsletter week 47

Color Line Transport AS, entered into a memorandum of agreement for the sale of roro COLOR CARRIER with delivery in December 2022-January 2023. Buyer unknown.

Ex FINNCARRIER – CARRIER – BIRKA CARRIER – UNITED CARRIER – built 1998 – Length 154m

COLOR VIKING is also for sale. The ropax is now in drydock in Odense.

ONS Ship Finance, an associated company owned 38.6% by Color Group AS, has also entered into a conditional Memorandum of Agreement to sell the research vessel EDDA SUN. The sale is expected to be completed in Q1 2023.