May 05
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Italy’s Government open to non-EU crew members on the local cabotage

By 2023 Newsletter week 18

Last Monday (May 1, 2023), Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Government implemented a new labor decree, which includes tax cuts and an article pertaining to maritime transport. Specifically, the law allows shipping companies that operate ro-ro and ro-pax vessels for local cabotage to hire non-EU seafarers for a limited duration of three months. However, this can only be done with an agreement with trade unions.

The new law was proposed by ferry companies due to the shortage of Italian and European seafarers last summer because of Covid-19 related restrictions. It is expected that the same emergency will occur during the upcoming summer season.

May 05
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New line in North Aegean for Seajets

By 2023 Newsletter week 18
  • Seajets announced the opening of a new line in North Aegean for summer 2023.
  • From July 4 to August 31, 2023 HSC CHAMPION JET 1 will connect the port of Thessaloniki with Lemnos and Lesvos islands.
  • The vessel will perform two morning sailings per week (every Tuesday and Thursday) at 7.00, while the return at the port of Thessaloniki will be at 22.00.
May 05
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BLUE STAR CHIOS enters service on the Piraeus-Santorini-Crete-Dodekanissos long run on May 5

By 2023 Newsletter week 18
  • On May 5, 2023, BLUE STAR CHIOS of Blue Star Ferries will be introduced on the Piraeus-Santorini-Anafi-Heraklion (Crete) -Sitia (Crete) -Kasos-Karpathos-Chalki-Rhodos long run.
  • The ferry will serve that line until October 31, 2023.
  • Port of Milos is no longer included.
  • BLUE STAR CHIOS replaced the older PREVELIS, which retired on May 3, after 14 years of continues service on that line.
  • BLUE STAR CHIOS will offer a faster trip to the Islands, due to her significant higher speed as well as her fewer ports of call.
May 05
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Finnlines’ Financial review January–March 2023

By 2023 Newsletter week 18
  • +4% Revenue MEUR 163.1 (157.0 in 2022)
  • +28% EBITDA MEUR 45.5 (35.6)
  • +42% Result MEUR 21.5 (15.1)
  • Interest bearing debt increased by MEUR 21.2 million and was MEUR 352.9 (331.7) at the end of the period.
  • Cargo volumes were on a satisfactory level regardless of the fact that Russian operations were already suspended in Q1 2022 and that there were strikes in ports and on railways in Finland in February. However, Finnlines’ passenger business has fully recovered after more than two years of travel restrictions.
  • Finnlines has further strengthened its liner network on its Belgium-Ireland freight service by adding a second ro-ro vessel, FINNPULP, on the Zeebrugge-Rosslare route in February.
  • A new port, Teesport, was added to the network when P&O Ferries chartered FINNPULP for three days a week.
  • Finnlines is preparing to open a new route between Malmö and Świnoujście.

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May 05
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Brittany Ferries and William the Conqueror: it will happen in 2025

By 2023 Newsletter week 18

Brittany Ferries has announced the name of its forthcoming hybrid ship, which will sail between Portsmouth and Caen: GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE.

The name was confirmed at a press conference held in Caen, where Guillaume de Normandie (William the Conqueror) is buried.

She will join the Brittany Ferries fleet in May 2025, sailing alongside sister-ship SAINT-MALO.

GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE will replace Brittany Ferries’ NORMANDIE, a loyal servant sailing since 1992.

Apr 28
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Viking Line: “one of the strongest first quarters in the past 10 years”

By 2023 Newsletter week 17

January-March 2023 (EUR million)

  • Sales EUR 93.9m (58.8m)
  • Other operating revenue EUR 8.8m (6.0m)
  • Operating income EUR -0.9m(EUR -18.1m)
  • Net financial items EUR -3.5m (EUR -2.2m)
  • Income before taxes EUR -4.4m (EUR -20.3m)
  • Income after taxes EUR -3.7m (EUR -16.2m)

“Provided that energy prices remain at current levels and taking into account that capital gains are expected to be lower than in 2022, it is Viking Line’s view that income before taxes will be somewhat lower than last year, which is the same conclusion as in our last report period.”

  • Pax 888,725 (521,537)
  • Market share pax 35.4% (32.0%)
  • Cargo units 33,736 (29,033)
  • Market share cargo 17.5% (14.5%)
  • Market share passenger cars 26.8% (25.1%)
Apr 28
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Tallink Grupp delivers a strong Q1

By 2023 Newsletter week 17

In short: solid performance during the quarter that has historically been the most challenging for the group due to travelling low season. (unaudited)

  • +45.7% pax
  • -9% cargo units
  • +61.3% consolidated revenue or EUR 171.2 million.
  • EBITDA  has seen a huge swing back into the positive compared to the last few years, reaching EUR 27.1 million in Q1 2023 (EUR –11 million in Q1 2022).
  • Net loss for the period was EUR 5.4 million (net loss of EUR 40.0 million in Q1 2022).

The following operational factors impacted the Group’s revenue and operating results in Q1 of 2023:

  • Growing demand for travelling supported by improving consumer confidence levels in all Group’s core markets.
  • Ongoing war in Ukraine continues to impact the demand.
  • During the quarter the Group operated 15 vessels including 3 shuttle vessels, 2 cargo vessels, 4 cruise ferries and 6 vessels that were chartered out (2 vessels on long-term and 4 vessels on short-term charter).
  • The Group operated 3 hotels in Tallinn while the hotel in Riga remained closed since October 2020.
  • Planned maintenance works totalled 45 days which affected the Finland-Sweden segment’s first quarter passenger and cargo levels as well as the financial result.
  • The Group continues to focus on cost savings from previously implemented measures and achieving profitable operations on its core routes.
  • The Group regularly monitors the developments on its core routes including the capacity of each route and continues to look for chartering options for vessels not used on the main routes.