Sep 01
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Corsica Linea’s new LNG-powered ferry left Cantiere Navale Visentini

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Corsica Linea announced that its first LNG-powered ro-pax newbuilding named A GALEOTTA has been transferred from the Visentini shipyard in Porto Viro to the dry dock in the port of Trieste. After some final works the new ship will start the sea trials before the final delivery scheduled later this year.

The vessel will have the capacity to accommodate 650 passengers and 2,560 lane meters of freight. Also, the ship will be able to carry 150 cars on a separate deck.

Corsica Linea’s ferries provide year-round services from Marseille, the main trading port in France to the Mediterranean island of Corsica.

Dutch firm Titan will bunker Corsica Linea’s first LNG-powered ropax in Marseille, as part of a deal revealed in January this year. Titan will first provide truck-to-ship operations until its 4,500m3 LNG bunkering vessel KRIOS arrives.

Sep 01
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The ferry connection between Greece and Cyprus is popular

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The passenger traffic on the Greece-Cyprus ferry connection proved to be higher than expected. The line, that is currently served by the Japanese-built ferry DALEELA (1991) is seasonal and the demand from both countries is more than encouraging.

According to the Scandro Holding’s executives, more than 6,000 passengers and 2,000 vehicles and motorcycles have been transported until August 24.

By the end of the season it is estimated that an extra 3,000 passengers and 1,000 cars will be added to the total traffic.

The line will close on September 16, until the next summer season. It is subsidized annually with EUR 5.475 million, with a three-year contract and a possible extension for another three years.

Sep 01
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Greece will probably break records in terms of tourism revenue this summer

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In its weekly economic developments report, Alpha Bank highlighted that Greece’s tourism revenue this year is expected to reach 20 billion euros, significantly exceeding the amount generated by tourism in 2019 (18.2 billion euros).

“2022 will probably emerge, according to the data available so far, as a new record year for Greek tourism,” the bank’s analysts said.

Read more: news.gtp.gr
Sep 01
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Fire on STENA SCANDICA

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On Monday August 29, a fire broke out in a reefer truck on the garage deck 4 of STENA SCANDICA. She was en route from Port of Norvik in Sweden to Port of Ventspils in Latvia, carrying 241 passengers and 58 crew.

The fire was soon extinguished by the crew, but an engine blackout in rough seas initiated an evacuation of the passengers on the ropax. In the evening one engine could be restarted. 25 passengers had already been evacuated, the others could remain on boar.

The vessel continued the journey towards Nynäshamn on its own power, in the company of tugboats and vessels from the Coast Guard. It arrived on Tuesday August30, 11:00, in Nynäshamn.

Sep 01
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Port of Ystad inaugurated new ferry berths

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Swedish port of Ystad has been expanded with two new ferry berths for ships of up to 250 meters. The new facilities have been inaugurated with great festivity on August 29

Port of Ystad is one of the largest ferry ports in Sweden, with excellent connections to the Danish island of Bornholm, Poland and Germany, and further to the growing markets in entire Central and Eastern Europe.

Ystad is already the second largest Swedish port to handle passenger vehicles, the third largest ferry passenger port, and the fifth largest port counting trucks and trailers.

The inauguration was conducted by the Mayor of Ystad, Mrs Paula Nilsson, and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of Region Skåne, Mr Carl-Johan Sonesson.

Sep 01
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Brittany Ferries Chairman defends French flag against the laws of the jungle

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In an interview with French BFMTV, Brittany Ferries’ chairman Jean-Marc Roué talks about the return of the passengers, and the challenges.

  • Customers are back: 1.9 million pax over 7 months (2.5 million in 2019)
  • For the first time the effects of Brexit can be seen in the freight figures on the Dunkerque-Roscoff range: -15% (which is like an economic barometer, in other words, less economic activity and exchange)
  • Each crisis is followed by economic disruption. After the crisis of 2008 SEafrance disappeared. This year a ‘major Channel ferry operator’ fired 800 British crew members, and replaced them with staff from Peru, Boliva, Madagascar etc. “I am happy for them but they don’t have social security,” says Roué.
  • “We could call it ultra-liberalism. I call it the laws of the jungle.”
  • “Would the French passengers accept to work with the labour conditions of the people who serve them onboard? No way!”
  • “There was a modus vivendi on the Channel, with A British Flag and a French flag. This is gone. The British Government is trying to rebuild this modus vivendi. DFDS, Stena Line, Condor Ferries and Brittany Ferries have decided to sign an agreement, when it’s ready. P&O, Irish Ferries and Cobelfret said no.”

Roué asks French Ministers to fight social dumping, to create rules. “Shipping does not have EU rules as aviation or transportation sectors.”

Watch the interview in French on BFMTV
Aug 29
0

Irish Continental Group, 2022, H1 results: significant improvement

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Financial summary (EUR)

Revenue 263.1m  +85.8%

EBITDA 47.3m +272.4%

Operating profit 17.4m (was -10.3m)

Profit before tax 15.4m (was -12.2m)

Volume movements (,000)           

Cars 214.2 +618.8%

RoRo freight  330.2 +160.6%

Containers shipped (teu) 169.3 +4.2%

Port lifts 164.9 +0.4%

The performance of the ferries operations in HY 2022 was significantly improved on HY 2021 as travel patterns gradually returned towards pre-pandemic levels after the disruption caused by Covid-19 across 2020 and 2021.

The impact of the Dover – Calais operations, which commenced on 29 June 2021, can also be seen in the result for the period as the service moved to a three vessel operation with the addition of the ISLE OF INISHEER.

Outlook

The trading performance for the year to date across all our business has been strong. Despite significant cost pressures in both divisions, we have managed to maintain and grow profitability. The Group’s cost base has been affected by higher global prices, in particular fuel prices and charter rates. The Group so far has been successful on passing these costs through to customers. It is essential that the Group continues to do so.

The Ferries Division has enjoyed the benefit of a return to more normal travel patterns although Irish Ferries are yet to reach pre-pandemic levels.

Cars volumes increased on the legacy routes by 190.8% versus the same period in the prior year.

Trading in the key summer months of July and August was ahead of expectations.

RoRo freight business, despite the disruption of Brexit has continued to grow. RoRo volume growth on the legacy routes has increased by 12.9% year to date. This has been primarily driven by a return of freight traffic to the landbridge routes at the expense of the direct European routes.

Following the entry of the ISLE OF INISHEER to service on the Dover – Calais route in April 2022, Irish Ferries have been operating a full service with three vessels on the route. Performance on the route continues to match expectations.

Source: Rederiabeckero.ax (pdf)
Aug 29
0

Eckerö Group 2022, Q2 results

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  • +200% pax = 722,917 (240,209), which is in line with passenger volumes before the outbreak of the pandemic.
  • -4% cargo units = 41,432 (43,276)
  • Sales amounted to EUR 50.9 million (EUR 27.2 million)
  • The passenger market share was 66% (54%) on the short route between the Åland Islands and Sweden. On the route between Helsinki and Tallinn, the passenger market share was 29% (27%) and cargo market share was 31% (35%)
  • Bunker prices were high, however 30% of the estimated bunker volumes are price hedged
  • Operating result was EUR 1.0 million (EUR -2.0 million), adjusted for revenue from state support operating result was EUR 0.8 million (EUR -6.9 million)
  • Result for the period was EUR -0.2 million (EUR -1.0 million)
  • Interest-bearing liabilities were EUR 96.2 million (EUR 108.1 million)
  • Net debt was EUR 72.3 million (EUR 81.2 million)
  • Cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 23.8 million (EUR 26.9 million). Undrawn credit limits amounted to EUR 7.0 million (EUR 0.0 million)
  • Q3 has started with volumes on pre-pandemic levels
Source: Rederiabeckero.ax (pdf)
Aug 29
0

MSC to enter directly with a 49% stake in Moby

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The Gianluigi Aponte – controlled MSC Group will take directly a 49% stake (not only 25%) in Moby as soon as the restructuring plan will be approved by the Court of Milan at the end of September.

Some documents seen by Ferry Shipping News confirm that MSC already put on the table EUR 150 million, of which EUR 81 million will be used to partially repay the debt of 180 million with Tirrenia in Amministrazione Straordinaria (bad company controlled by the Italian economic development minister born when the former public Tirrenia was sold in 2012).

MSC also reserved for itself the possibility to maintain the harbour towage division (which was intended to be sold according with the previous restructuring plans) and to replace LCBC Leasing as owner of the two new ferries under construction at GSI shipyard in China and soon to be long-time chartered to Moby.

Aug 29
0

XRTC report 2022: Hellenic Coastal Shipping operational costs

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A few more interesting data concerning the operational costs of the three basic players of the Greek Ferry Scene according to the recent XRTC 21st annual ferry report 2022 (in Greek).

  • Fuel cost is the major operational expense of the ferry companies. In 2021, the fuel cost was the 42% of the ferry companies’ operation cost compared to 37% in 2020
  • Total Turnover of the three major ferry companies (Attica Group, Anek Lines, Minoan Lines) increased by 20% in 2021 (EUR 565.6 million from EUR 472.3 million in 2020)
  • The domestic market (Hellenic Coastal Shipping) turnover increased in 2021 (EUR 263.32 million) compared to 2020 (EUR 218.89 million)
  • The International lines turnover is also increased in 2021 (EUR 84.59 million) compared to 2020 (EUR 71.51 million)
  • ATTICA group’s turnover presents strengthened at EUR 347.91 million in 2021, compared to EUR 290.40 million in the 2020, despite being affected throughout the year by the pandemic
  • ANEK LINES’ s turnover increased by 21% in 2021 (EUR 150 million) compared to 2020 (EUR 124.5 million)
  • Minoan Lines’ turnover is also increased by EUR 10.2 million in 2021 (EUR 67.7 million) compared to 2019 (EUR 57.4 million)
  • The loss-making Net Results before taxes of the three major ferry companies remain – for a second year- at very high levels (EUR -78 million in 2020, EUR -72 million in 2021)
  • ATTICA GROUP losses before taxes are EUR 49.37 million in 2021 against profits after taxes EUR 49.37 million in 2020
  • For ANEK LINES, the net results after taxes and minority rights amounted to a loss of EUR 40.87 million in 2021 compared to a EUR 15.1 million loss in 2020
  • For Minoan Lines the net results after taxes amounted to a loss of EUR 18.7 million in 2021 compared to a EUR 15.4 million loss in the previous year