Mar 24
Love4

Cypriot authorities will announce the ferry operator for the Piraeus-Cyprus line by the end of the month

By 2022 Newsletter week 12

By the end of March, the Cypriot Evaluation Committee will announce the ferry operator for the subsidized Piraeus-Larnaca or Limassol line.

  • The specific ferry connection concerns 22 sailings without a stopover.
  • Itineraries will start in April or May and will end in September or October.
  • The one-way passenger ticket will cost 50 euros, while the 2-way ticket will be set at 80 euros.
  • Cars will be only accompanied and the price for the 2-way ticket will be 150 euros, while motorcycles will pay 100 euros. These prices are the highest that the shipowner can set, while based on the subsidy he has the right if he wants to reduce them in order to make the line more competitive.
  • The aim of the specific ferry connection is to provide alternative connectivity between Greece and Cyprus as at the moment it is served only by plane. It is worth noting that the last time there was a Cyprus-Greece ferry connection was 21 years ago.
Mar 24
Love4

Liberty Lines to restart a high-speed ferry line between Italy and Croatia

By 2022 Newsletter week 12

The Sicilian ferry company Liberty Lines controlled by the Morace family announced that from the end of May (Saturday 28/5) it will operate a new maritime connection from Trieste to Istria and Mali Lošinj, thus saving tourists the usual queues to cross the borders between Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.

Regular daily services (with the exception of Tuesdays) will be guaranteed until September 25th with departures from the Pier IV in Trieste. On the route will be deployed the modern monohull fast ferry MARCO M.

For the Morace controlled company this represents a comeback since in the past, with the brand Trieste Lines, the group already operated a line from Trieste to Pula, Rovinj and Piran.

Mar 24
Love4

DAUERFLORA supplies Cruise Gate Hamburg with hand disinfection dispensers

By 2022 Newsletter week 12

DFI DAUERFLORA International GmbH, the expert in green design, has added hand disinfection devices to the product portfolio.

The complete hygiene equipment for hands contains disinfection dispensers, paper dispensers and waste bins of a renowned German manufacturer. It offers a comprehensive solution for all public areas, food preparation areas and sanitary rooms.

DAUERFLORA has just supplied Cruise Gate Hamburg with hand disinfection dispensers.

All devices are characterized by an appealing design, high functionality, and reliability.

One new feature of the different series is the optional linking via WiFi which ensures the monitoring of the single devices.

For the first time digital diagnosis of consumption and of the frequency of use is possible.

This avoids time-consuming manual control, and containers are reliably filled at any time.

These state-of-the art dispensers and serial devices can be ordered now and are deliverable at short notice.

Meet DAUERFLORA at the Ferry Shipping Summit, Malmö 19-20 May.

Mar 24
Love4

Grimaldi awarded thr line Civitavecchia-Arbatax-Cagliari

By 2022 Newsletter week 12

Grimaldi Euromed has been awarded the subsidized line between Sardinia and Italy mainland, more specifically connecting the ports of Civitavecchia, Arbatax and Cagliari.

Ropax CATANIA has been operating the route for the last 6 months and will be deployed for the next 12 months.

The tender launched earlies this year from the Italy’s transport ministry was for a regular link to be served for 12 months with one ro-pax ship aged less than 30 years and capable of transporting no less than 600 passengers and 820 lane metres ro-ro cargo.

Tender price was fixed at EUR 13 million.

Mar 24
Love4

Minoan Lines’ icon Mr Antonis Maniadakis decides to leave his position of Managing Director

By 2022 Newsletter week 12

Minoan Lines, a Grimaldi Group Company, announced the decision of Mr Antonis Maniadakis to terminate his mandate of Managing Director of the Cretan company.

In a spirit of continuity, Mr. Maniadakis will be replaced by Deputy Managing Director Mr Lucas Sigalas.

Mr Sigalas will take service at the conclusion of the Annual Shareholders Meeting of Minoan Lines which will take place next 31st of May in Heraklion. Mr Maniadakis will continue in his role until this date.

Mar 17
Love4

ANDROS QUEEN left Japan for Greece

By 2022 Newsletter week 11

On March 15, 2022 ,Golden Star Ferries’ ANDROS QUEEN (former SILVER QUEEN) left the port of Muroran for Greece. She was purchased from Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen (Silver Ferry) on February 9, 2022 for EUR 7.354 million and delivered to a Greek crew on March 9, 2022.

The ship is currently sailing for the port of Busan and expected to arrive in Greece in early April

Mar 17
Love4

Energy crisis “brings” ferry ticket increase in Greece

By 2022 Newsletter week 11

On March 15, 2022, SEEN (Association of Passenger Shipping Companies) met with the Hellenic Minister of Shipping and Island Policy and informed him about the forthcoming serious impact of the energy crisis that has already affected the Hellenic Coastal Shipping, threatening tourism as well as the islanders’ cost of living.

More specifically, SEEN urged for support measures by the government for the summer season, otherwise, there will be an increase in ferry ticket prices up to 25% (for passengers and vehicles).

At the same time, they are examining solutions such as speed reduction, unified sailings as well as reduction of the sailings’ frequency (ANEK-Blue Star Ferries announced recently such a reduction on the Piraeus – Chania line for the next four Saturdays, 19 March – 9 April 2022).

Furthermore, SEEN underlined that the additional operating costs due to expensive fuels exceed EUR 280 million on an annual basis, while they made seven proposals to the Minister in order to deal with the current situation.

  • Imposition of a “ceiling” on marine fuel prices based on the average price of last December
  • Temporary reduction of VAT to 6% and its return to 13% when fuel prices fall to last December’s level
  • Enhancement of liquidity with the immediate payment of more than EUR 42 million owed by the state to the ferry companies for subsidized lines which have already been done
  • Subsidizing employers’ contributions as was the case during the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak
  • Announcement of additional public service lines as happened during the pandemic
  • Increase at least by 30% of subsidies for the existing one-year duration barren lines
  • Temporary suspension of mandatory discounts

Source: newmoney.gr

Mar 17
Love4

Two new Scottish vessels to be built in Turkey

By 2022 Newsletter week 11

The preferred bidder has been named for a contract to build two new ferries for Islay, Scotland. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd intends to award the contract to the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Turkey, following a 10-day standstill period.

The ferries have been designed by the naval architects of NaValue, in Flensburg.

The new vessels will bring an almost 40% increase vehicle and freight capacity on the Islay routes, a reduction in emissions and improve the resilience of the wider fleet.

The first vessel is expected to be delivered by October 2024 and will enter service following sea trials and crew familiarisation. The second vessel will follow in early 2025.

Mar 17
Love4

Irish Continental Group: 20% higher revenues in a challenging year

By 2022 Newsletter week 11

Financial Summary for the full year 2021   

+20.7% Revenue €334.5m (€277.1m)

+24.2% EBITDA (pre non-trading items) €52.3m (€42.1m), principally due to increased revenues and a continued focus on cost optimisation

+98.1% EBIT (including non-trading items) €-0.2m (-10.4m)

+74.5% Basic earnings per share

In 2021, the Group commenced Irish Ferries’ services on the new Dover – Calais route. The services commenced on the 29 June 2021 with the deployment of THE ISLE OF INISHMORE, followed by ISLE OF INNISFREE onto the route on the 16 December 2021.

The Group purchased a third ship for the route, the ISLE OF INISHEER. (H1, 2022)

In 2020, the Group was successful in the public tender to operate a container depot at the new Dublin Inland Port.

Dublin Ferryport Terminals placed an order for five new electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes which will be delivered and commissioned in the second half of 2022. This is in addition to four similar units previously commissioned. The deployment of these electric cranes will allow to meet the target of reducing emissions in the container terminals by 70% in 2025 (versus 2020) and reaching net zero emissions in the container terminals by 2030.

Furthermore, the delivery of these cranes and the relocation of the empty depot facility to the Dublin Ferryport Inland Depot will increase the capacity of Dublin Ferryport Terminals.

Year-end net debt, after strategic capital expenditure of €41.7 million, was €142.2 million, 2.6 times EBITDA under banking covenant definitions.

The Group is in a strong financial position with available liquidity comprising cash and committed bank facilities of €118.9 million at 31 December 2021.

Source: Irish Continental Group