Sep 29
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Attica Group: a new giant with 45 ferries

By | 2022 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

The merger of ANEK with Attica Group will lead to the formation of a new shipping giant in Greece. It will operate 45 ferries on all the main Greece and Italy lines.

With the specific agreement a significant write-off of the ANEK’s’ debts by EUR 156,4 million was decided. Attica Group will only pay EUR 80 million from the total of EUR 236,4 million.

After the completion of the agreement, which is expected by March 2023, Attica group will control four companies in Greece: Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways and ANEK Lines.

Attica Group also operates in the Western Mediterranean with a 49% stake in Africa Morocco Line.

Sep 29
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Progress on the Privatization Process of the ports of Igoumenitsa and Heraklion

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Grimaldi Group and the Port Authority of Thessaloniki will finally compete for the Port of Igoumenitsa. According to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund the offers submitted by the above two candidates have been eventually selected in the context of the tender for the concession of 67% of the Igoumenitsa Port Authority.

The two interested parties will be invited to submit new improvement offers at the beginning of October.

According to the same information, the Grimaldi Group and the Port Authority of Thessaloniki will compete – along with other “candidates” – for the port of Heraklion as well. The process will start at the beginning of the year and bids are expected to be submitted on January 18, 2023.

Photo: Port of Igoumenitsa, Spyridon Roussos

Sep 29
0

KARLSØYFJORD now sails emission-free between Molde and Vestnes

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The Boreal ferry has been converted from LNG to battery power.

The owner Boreal Norge AS won the tender for ferry operations between Molde and Vestnes back in 2019. The Norwegian Ship Design Company [LinkedIn] started working on feasibility studies for using KARLSØYFJORD and her sister HARØYFJORD on this route.

The feasibility studies led to a shipyard bid package, a conversion design and a substantial engineering package.

HARØYFJORD was converted from LNG to diesel power last year. Earlier this year KARLSØYFJORD arrived at Fiskerstrand Verft for a major rebuilding, enabling zero-emission crossings on the 6.2 nautical miles route.

The Norwegian Ship Design Company is now working on the hybridization of the ferry MALANGEN (Torghatten Nord AS, to be done by Fosen Yard).

Sep 29
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Stena buys Anglesey Aluminium site for Holyhead port expansion plan

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Stena Line Ports have announced in a press release that in 2023 cruise liners will again be able to berth directly in the port again. This being made possible due to the deal to buy the former aluminium site in Holyhead, that also includes the multi-purpose deep water terminal. It will now allow the Company the ability to open the berth for cruise liners again after a four-year hiatus during the Pandemic.

Photo: Ian Davies, Head of UK Port Authorities and Stena Line Ports

Sep 29
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EUROCARGO SICILIA sold – FINNMASTER transferred from Finnlines to Grimaldi

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The 2009-built EUROCARGO SICILIA has just left Grimaldi’s fleet.

The 3,700 lane metre vessel, controlled and operated by the subsidiary Malta Motorways of the Seas, has been sold and delivered to BajaFerries which will rename her CALIFORNIA STAR II.

As from now EUROCARGO SICILIA will be the new name of the former FINNMASTER (photo) which has just reached the port of Naples after being transferred from Finnlines’ fleet to Grimaldi, for deployment in the Med. (Built 1998 – 1,775 lane metre).

Up to now she was deployed between the UK and Finland.

Sep 29
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High-speed craft SANTA LUCIA enters service on the Termoli – Tremiti islands link in Italy

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Nine months after the purchase which took place in January this year, the Gianluigi Aponte-controlled short-sea ferry company Navigazione Libera del Golfo finally deployed the fast catamaran renamed SANTA LUCIA (ex IRIS 1) on the Termoli – Tremiti islands daily link.

IRIS 1 was purchased for over EUR 5 million but some unexpected works (made my La Nuova Meccanica Navale shipyard in Naples) were requested in order to be in line with the condition of the ports of call.

The ship came in Greece in November 2019 shipped on the vessel ROLLDOCK SUN. She was purchased from the Korean Nam Hae Express Co and her former name was GEOHUNG IRIS.

Built in Norway (Kvaerner Fjellstrand) 1999 | 452 pax | 52 private cars | 40 knots

Sep 29
0

STENA EBBA sets sail towards the Baltic Sea

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After completion at the China Merchant Jinling (Weihai) shipyard, China and successful sea trials, Stena Line has now taken delivery of its fifth E-Flexer ferry from Stena RoRo. (the 8th E-flexer in total – this one being 240m long)

STENA EBBA will join its sister vessel STENA ESTELLE on the Karlskrona — Gdynia route later this year.

Sep 22
0

Attica Group: Announced the merger with ANEK Lines to the Athens Stock Market

By | 2022 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments

According to an official Attica Group press release (in Greek) the deal contains:

  • The merger with the absorption of ANEK Lines by Attica Group with an exchange of one common or preferred share of ANEK for 0,1217 new common registered shares of Attica Group and
  • the payment of EUR 80 million for full and complete repayment of ANEK Line’s loan to its creditors from the consolidated scheme which will be formed on the date of the completion of the merger.

The agreement was sent on Tuesday 20 September 2022 by the legal advisors to be signed by the representatives of the contracting parties.

The Boards of Directors of both companies will be convened in accordance with the law and decide on the initiation and individual parameters of the merger process.

Attica Group points out at its press release that:  “We estimate that the specific agreement will benefit the shareholders, the employees and the suppliers of both companies as well as the Hellenic Coastal Shipping.”

Sep 22
0

CLdN to acquire Seatruck Ferries from Clipper Group

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  • CLdN to acquire all shares in Seatruck Ferries Holding Ltd. from Clipper Group.
  • After approval from the Irish competition authorities, expected before end of year.
  • With 8 purpose-built vessels, Seatruck Ferries is the leading RoRo operator on the Irish Sea, transporting close to 20% of the region’s seaborne cargo volumes.
  • The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction price.
  • The divestment of Seatruck Ferries allows Denmark-based Clipper Group to devote all financial and managerial resources to further strengthening its global dry cargo business.
  • After closing, the Seatruck operation will continue to run under the Seatruck Ferries brand with the existing management team lead by Alistair Eagles.
  • Joint impacts of COVID-19, Brexit and driver shortages are expected to accelerate growth in the unaccompanied trailer sector.