Feb 18
1

Grimaldi Looking At The Possibility To Link Ionian Islands With Brindisi

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Explaining to a local media the reorganization of the short sea network between Italy and Greece, Grimaldi Group revealed the project to launch new lines from the the port of Brindisi to the small islands of Corfù, Zante (Zakynthos) and Kefalonia.

The ropax link between Brindisi and Corfù had been already operated in the last few years, during the summer season.

Guido Grimaldi, commercial director of the short sea routes, specified that they are studying the project but all depends on the lifting of travel restrictions.

Feb 18
2

Brittany Ferries Is Extending The Suspension Of Some Services

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The move follows continued stringent travel restrictions for passengers on both sides of the Channel. Only essential travel is currently permitted, and there is little prospect of this easing in the near future.

Four ships that are currently laid-up, but which had been due to resume service in late March, will not now resume service until mid-May at the earliest.

Overview of the revised plans
Feb 18
1

Destination Gotland: First Passenger Shipping Company With Large-Scale Blending Of Biogas

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As the first major ferry operator in the world with both freight and passenger traffic, Destination Gotland begins with large-scale and continuous blending of biogas.

As of this week, the mixture of biogas will increase from one to ten percent, which will result in a reduction in emissions corresponding to 9,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

In 2019 and 2020, Destination Gotland invested in two new ferries that run on LNG.  Since the vessels’ engines are built to also run on biogas, this was a crucial investment in order to be able to gradually increase the proportion of biogas in the tank.

 

Biogas is a renewable energy source produced from biodegradable household waste or residues from the agricultural and food industries. Biogas production is an example of how to get as much as possible out of raw materials and promote the circular economy.

The price of biogas is still significantly higher compared to natural gas, and the fuel change involves a large investment. The profit in the form of sharply reduced emissions, however, makes the investment justified, says Christer Bruzelius, CEO of Destination Gotland.

Feb 18
1

“Not Enough Cabins?” Corsica Ferries Again Rejected From Public Service Contract

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“Corsica Ferries has taken note of the decision of the Corsican Assembly to reject its offers for the next maritime public service contract (DSP 2021-2022), without even bothering to enter into negotiations,” says CEO Pierre Mattei.

He said that’s Corsica Ferries’ offer was almost € 100 million cheaper over 22 months of DSP.

“In 2019 our offer was rejected because of a missing USB-stick, and now it is because our vessels are ‘not having enough overnight sleeping facilities’,” says the CEO.

A second reason for the rejection is the fact that Corsica Ferries –in its response to the tender- wrote that the additional ferry journeys would be made by mutual agreement between the ferry company and the Assembly of Corsica. Normally it is the Assembly that imposes these additional trips, but in the pre-tender chat the Corsican Assembly said that these additional trips had to be decided by mutual agreement…. Basically, the Assembly contradicts itself.

A new transitional maritime Public Service Contract, from 1 March 2021 to 31 December 2022, between the Corsican ports and Marseille, will be voted next week by the Corsican Assembly.

Source: Pierre Mattei on LinkedIn, in French
Feb 18
1

Fjord1 Wins Double Ferry Route Contract

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  •  Statens Vegvesen (Norway’s Road Administration) has set Fjord1 ASA as the winner of the contract for operating the two connections Bognes – Skarberget and Drag – Kjøpsvik in Nordland.
  • The contract is for 10 years (01.12.2022 until 30.11.2032, with an 18-month extension option).
  • The route is actually operated by Torghatten Nord.
  • One of the conditions was the zero-emission character of the operation.
Feb 18
1

Brittany Ferries Sees Vaccination-Led Travel Corridors As A Solution

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As government hits its target for 15 million Covid vaccinations in the UK, Brittany Ferries says now is the time for a re-think on travel corridors.

“Vaccine roll-out is moving apace in the UK, thanks to the NHS, volunteers and support of the armed forces,” said Christophe Mathieu Brittany Ferries CEO. “While France and Spain are a little behind, the ramp-up is gaining significant momentum. We all believe that vaccines are the way out of this dreadful crisis.

So by spring we think there will be a clear case for the adoption of vaccination-led travel corridors – or in our case sea lanes – that allow holidays to go ahead this summer and for hope to return.”

Read more: Brittany Ferries newsroom
Feb 18
1

Refurbishment Prepares NORRÖNA For New Consumer Behaviour

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“Passengers used to buy tickets for berths in shared 4-person cabins, but these sales have more or less disappeared. In contrast, Norröna’s 12 luxury cabins are often sold out. We have gradually got more comfortable cabins, and there is no doubt that the new 50 cabins will be highly sought-after,” says Jóhan av Reyni, Smyril Line’s maritime director.

In collaboration with naval architects Hauschildt Marine and shipyard Fayard, Smyril Line’s ropax ferry NORRÖNA has been retrofitted with more luxurious facilities.

At 8 AM on 1 March, the retrofitted ferry will set sail for Hirtshals, where the ship will resume its North Atlantic route from 6 March.

The investment is worth EUR 13 million.

Feb 18
3

FERRY PORTS

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Sustainable Transport Node Initiative By Four Ports

Ports of Stockholm, Belfast, Lübeck and Ghent have applied for EU grant funding to invest in the role of ports as a node and driving force in sustainable transport provision.

The joint application is for green ports of the future to be multi-modal nodes for sustainable and smart mobility through innovation and research within electrification and development of alternative fuels.

The overarching goal is the significant reduction of air pollutant emissions within port areas.

For Ports of Stockholm, the planned project includes the possibility to scale up existing onshore power electricity connection capabilities to be able to charge heavier road vehicles and to provide large-scale battery charging facilities for RoPax ships. Stena Line, a customer of the ports in both Stockholm and Belfast, is one of the additional alliance partners in the EU application for investment in electrification and battery-powered shipping.

The application also includes testing of emission-free machinery within the port areas, a study and pilot trial of autonomous passenger boats and last mile delivery services, as well as charging capabilities for smaller passenger vessels.

Source: Ports of Stockholm
Feb 18
1

Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge To Merge

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The City of Antwerp and the City of Bruges have reached an agreement to merge their respective ports.

The agreement marks the start of a unification process that is expected to take a year to finalise. Once completed, the ports will operate under the name ‘Port of Antwerp-Bruges’. As a result of the merger, the ports will be able to strengthen their position within the global supply chain and continue their course towards sustainable growth.

Source: Port of Zeebrugge