CEO David Stretch will be leaving P&O Ferries, to pursue new opportunities outside of the Group.
David Stretch took over the reins at P&O Ferries following the departure of CEO Janette Bell in August 2020.
David Stretch will be replaced in his role by Peter Hebblethwaite, as interim CEO, whilst maintaining his current role.
Peter Hebblethwaite has served both as Director Overnight Routes and Managing Director – RoPax during his three years with the company.
On 1 January 2022, UK customs procedures become more stringent. (*)
As a result, freight customers demand for earlier arrivals into the UK, and improved frequency. Therefore, DFDS and CLdN have entered into a Space Charter Agreement.
DFDS and CLdN will each provide one additional vessel, on a rotation Rozenburg – Vlaardingen – Killingholme from Sunday through Friday.
“At the moment we do indeed arrive at Killingholme at 07:00, but the early arrival (at 05:00) of this additional sailing makes all the difference for customers as it allows them to do an extra trip in the UK, which is very interesting given the traction problem there,” says a CLdN spokesman. “In addition, the earlier arrival is important for certain product groups.”
In Rotterdam, customers will have the possibility to load and discharge cargo in either Rozenburg and/or Vlaardingen.
DFDS and CLdN will continue operating all sailings independently including all related commercial activities.
This additional service will start on 11 January 2022.
Extra advantage: by going to C-Ro’s terminal in Killingholme, any congestion at DFDS’ terminal in Immingham will be relieved.
(*) [BOM, border operating model, explained by Dutch Government]
Remarks
November 18, Ponte Ferries has finally started its service between Malta and Sicily, with HSC ARTEMIS (former BONANZA EXPRESS).
The much-anticipated service between Wine Wharf quay in Valletta (Malta) and Augusta (Sicily) will initially operate five trips a week, and the itinerary allows for flexible and late departure times to enable passengers to bridge public holidays.
The start was made possible thanks to a temporary permit issued by the Italian authorities.
Ponte Ferries operates in competition with the shorter Pozzallo – Valletta route offered by Virtu Ferries. However, Augusta is closer to Catania.
Fjord1’s first nine months and third quarter 2021: Safe and stable operations
Q3
First nine months
Outlook
Fjord1 is confident that there will continue to be a strong demand for safe, environmentally friendly, and reliable transport in coastal regions in the future. Fjord1 assesses new tender opportunities in the Norwegian market on an ongoing basis, as well as opportunities outside of Norway.
Fjord1’s strong contract portfolio is worth NOK 21.8 billion through 2034, excluding options and index regulation, which offers a solid platform for profitable growth.
The company had net interest bearing debt of NOK 5.3 billion at the end of September 2021, down from NOK 5.8 billion at the end of September 2020. The company plans for a lower investment level going forward and expects the main part of the cash flow from operating activities and proceeds from the sale of infrastructure assets to be used to reduce interest-bearing debt further.
Click on the cover, access the download page of Fjord1, and download the report
Vehicle traffic returned to the ferry system in record numbers this summer with pent up demand from the domestic market for seasonal holidays and recreational travel once Provincial Health Officer COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted.
In the three months ended September 30, 2021, BC Ferries carried:
+28% p ax 7.0 million (but -9% compared to the same period in 2019)
+20% vehicles 3.0 million vehicles (+3% compared to the same period in 2019)
New fare choices, including advance purchase Saver fares, were launched on the three Metro Vancouver – Vancouver Island routes late in fiscal 2021. These new fare choices contributed to increased vehicle traffic on traditionally lower utilized sailings, less sailing waits overall, and enabled BC Ferries to safely carry higher overall levels of vehicle traffic than in previous summer seasons.
Q2
+111% Net earnings $79.9 million (37.8)
+28% RevenueIn December 2020, BC Ferries received $308 million through the Safe Restart Program, a federal-provincial initiative intended to help provinces and territories safely restart their economies. The goals of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Program are to mitigate the impact of revenue losses and COVID-19-related spending, to help restore the level of annual earnings required to maintain service levels, and to keep fare increases to affordable levels through March 31, 2024.
FINNECO III, the third and last hybrid roro vessel in a series, was launched in China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu) on 22 November 2021.
When entering the Finnlines traffic, the new vessels will reduce environmental impact of the fleet and improve energy efficiency. Lithium-ion battery systems will allow zero-emission port visits and low-emission two-stroke engines, emission abatement systems, solar panels and an innovative air lubrication system will cut emissions further.
The hybrid roro vessels will start in Finnlines’ Baltic, North Sea and Biscay traffic in 2022.
Roro ship particulars
French Minister of the Sea, Annick Girardin, has renewed the State’s commitment to pay a subsidy of 45 million euros to Brittany Ferries.
She came to Roscoff on 18 December, to meet Brittany Ferries’ president Jean-Marc Roué (photo) and staff (source: France Blue).
The money comes with a condition: no job loss.
In 2020, the company had more than 2,400 full time employees.
The company also obtained 10 million euros of debt waiver, long-term partial unemployment for 3 years, reimbursement of social charges for 4 years (the “net wage”), not to mention the loan guaranteed by the State, 117 million euros granted in 2020.
19 November 2021. Jean-Marc Roué, Brittany Ferries’ President, officially opened the first freight ferry link between Le Havre and Rosslare in 25 years.
The event was held in the presence of Thomas Byrne, Irish Minister of European Affairs, and Edouard Philippe, Lord Mayor of Le Havre and political heavyweight, who is rumoured to have presidential ambitions for the elections of 2027.
From late May until early September 2022, Cherbourg will be linked with Portsmouth and Poole. The sailings will be operated on Brittany Ferries’ behalf by Condor Ferries using its fast ferry CONDOR LIBERATION.
Period: 27 May – 5 June and 15 July – 4 September
Days: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Timetable: Portsmouth 07:00 Cherbourg 11:00 / Cherbourg 11:45 Poole at 13:15
The service will complement Brittany Ferries’ conventional car-ferry sailings from Poole to Cherbourg which will resume on 28 March 2022.
The new Visentini-built LNG-powered ropax will be named A GALEOTTA, after Pascal Paoli’s flagship.
Sea trials are planned for May 2022.
Pasquale Paoli was a Corsican patriot, statesman and military leader who was at the forefront of resistance movements against the Genoese.
Ropax A GALEOTTA has a dedicated website (in French): gnl.corsicalinea.com
