Feb 03
4

Does Corsica need subsidies for the ferry services?

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“The current Maritime Public Service Delegation (DSP) between Corsica and Marseille expires on December 31, 2022. The European Commission’s questioning of the very existence of the public service principle puts a sword of Damocles on the territorial continuity,” writes Corse Net Infos in a long article in French, quoting several political stakeholders (but not the ferry operators).

Some interesting elements, quotes, remarks of the debate:

  • Brussels does not see the need to subsidize a service which could very well be provided by private companies. Compensation is against the rules of the market and free competition.
  • Why is what is granted to other regions, such as Croatia or Greece, becoming problematic for Corsica?
  • A decision needs to be taken soon, because the new (multi-year) DSP should start on 1 January 2023.
  • Why only having Marseille as continental port? Toulon, Nice or even Livorno are closer to Corsica. Less fuel. Better utilization of ships.
  • The need to resolve the “painful legacy of the past”.
  • What sense does it make to have ‘market tests’ if the market is changing? (which it does)
  • Corsica, today, imports 90 to 95% from France. We want a system where Corsica is economically connected with Tuscany, Sardinia and Catalonia.
Feb 03
4

Damen Shipyards to build RoPax ferries for Penang Port Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia

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Damen Shipyards has been contracted by Penang Port Sdn Bhd., Malaysia, to build up to five RoPax ferries to replace the current fleet that has reached its end of life.

They will operate on the ferry route that links the Malaysian Peninsula (Butterworth) with Penang Island and its city of George Town, Malaysia’s third largest, just a 10-minute journey away.

Designated the Damen Ferry 3508, the new class is designed to carry a maximum of 250 passengers both sitting and standing and 50 vehicles (scooters and motor bikes) in a mix of air-conditioned and open but sheltered areas.

Feb 03
4

DFDS: restated comparison figures for logistics business units

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Following the completion of the acquisition of HSF Logistics Group, and consolidation of the company from 14 September 2021, the Logistics Division was, as previously announced, reorganised in two new business units: Dry Goods and Cold Chain.

The cold chain logistics activities embedded in DFDS’ three former Logistics business units – Nordic, Continent and UK & Ireland – were merged with the HSF Logistics Group to form the Cold Chain business unit. The remaining activities of the former business units are organised in Dry Goods.

Comparative figures for Q1-4 2020 and Q1-3 2021 for the new business units have been restated accordingly and are disclosed in the table below.

Feb 03
4

Increasing numbers for Grendi on the Italy – Sardinia RoRo link

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Grendi Trasporti Marittimi, the shipping line controlled by the Musso family and active on the RoRo freight link between Italy mainland and Sardinia, announced good results for the 2021 financial year.

On the regular line connecting the ports of Marina di Carrara with Cagliari and Olbia the two long time chartered-in ships ROSA DEI VENTI and WEDELLSBORG transported:

  • 111,110 Teu container (+17.9%)
  • 31,789 trailers (+33.9%)
  • 406,084 lane metres (+33.8%)
Feb 03
4

Regione Sardegna announced the technical details for the ship to be deployed on the subsidized S.Teresa – Bonifacio route

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As for the maritime continuity between the port of Santa Teresa di Gallura, in Sardinia, and Bonifacio, in Corsica, Regione Sardegna officially communicated the mandatory conditions for the ship to be deployed on the route.

The single ropax vessel must have at least 100 passengers and 170 lane metres capacity, speed exceeding 10 knots and fitted for mooring in both the mentioned ports. Maximum acceptable length is 75 metres and beam 14 metres.

The subsidized operator will be obliged for 6 years to guarantee 4 return trips per day, with 60 minutes time for every trip.

Tender price is EUR 13.5 million.

Jan 27
4

Groundbreaking hydrogen ferries contract for Norway’s most challenging ferry crossing

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Norwegian Public Roads Administration and EQT-owned Torghatten Nord signed the contract to operate ‘Vestfjordstrekninga’ from 2025 till 2040. The ferries will run on hydrogen.

The contract is worth NOK 4.9 billion.

Vestfjordstrekninga connects Bodø, Røst, Værøy and Moskenes and is the longest ferry connection in Norway with 278 kilometres in total. Crossing the Vestfjorden between Bodø on the mainland and three islands in Lofoten involves a close to 100 km open ocean crossing above the Arctic Circle and is considered Norway’s most challenging ferry crossing.

Tourism makes the summer traffic very busy. It is also an important connection for the business development in the community.

Two new ferries will be used on Vestfjorden, with a minimum of 85% hydrogen-based fuels. The ferries will be bunkering between 5 and 6 tons of hydrogen per day.

The two ferries currently operating the routes will be converted from using LNG to use biofuels, and they will accompany the new ferries in the summer tourist season. The two hydrogen fuelled ferries will operate year-round and will daily require 5-6 t green hydrogen. They will also be able to use other fuels if needed.

From left Anders Sæternes (department director ferry, Statens Vegvesen), Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård (Labor Party) and Torkild Torkildsen (CEO of Torghatten Nord).

Photo: Kent Even Grundstad / Torghatten Nord

Illustration: Gaute Larsen, Statens vegvesen

The new ferries will be about 120 m long and with capacity to carry 120 cars and 599 passengers.

The ships will be developed by Norwegian Ship Design .

Jan 27
4

FORZA and TENACIA to start a 5-year bareboat charter with GNV

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The sister ships FORZA and TENACIA —owned by Grimaldi Holding— will start a new 5-year bareboat charter with Grandi Navi Veloci, starting in February.

Broker sources suggest that the daily rate should be EUR 14,500 for the first three years, 14,750 for the fourth and 15,000 for the fifth. No options included for extending the period or for purchasing the ro-pax sister vessels.

Since September 2020 both the ferries have been operating for GNV in sub-charter from Trasmediterranea.

Both have a capacity of 2,000 lane meters and 1,000 passengers and are currently deployed on the routes linking Italy mainland to Sicily (Civitavecchia – Palermo) and Spain with the Balearic Islands (Barcelona – Palma).