Corsica Ferries Adapts Through Diversification

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New freight activity on Algeria, Spain and Ireland.

“The pandemic makes diversification necessary, says Corsica Ferries Sardinia Ferries’ CEO Pierre Mattei.

Toulon – Algeria – Cartagena

Since several months a Corsica Ferries ship connects Toulon with Algeria for the export of new cars. The ferry is chartered by Toulon-based TAS.

As published earlier, CORSICA MARINA SECONDA (right on the picture) started to take trucks on the way back (from Cartagena to Toulon), avoiding the Sunday road ban and improving the environmental footprint.

Irish Sea

Pierre Mattei confirmed that MEGA EXPRESS FOUR (left on the picture) has been chartered for two months by Irish Ferries, for the routes from Ireland to the UK and to France.

Grimaldi Group Splits Ancona – Greece, Introducing Separate Links To Igoumenitsa And To Patras

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How it is: a daily Ropax service Ancona – Igoumenitsa – Patras

How it will be: 5 ropax and 2 roro vessels

Ancona – Patras: 6x/week

Ropax 1: EUROPA PALACE (1,600 pax / 270 cars / 135 trailers)

Ropax 2: ZEUS PALACE (1,380 pax / 100 cars / 120 trailers) end of March (until then CRUISE BONARIA)

Ancona – Igoumenitsa: 7x/week

Ropax 3: FLORENCIA (950 pax / 160 cars / 135 trailers)

Ropax 4: CORFU (950 pax / 160 cars / 135 trailers)

Brindisi – Igoumenitsa: 7x/week

Ropax 5: EUROFERRY OLYMPIA

Venice – Bari – Patras: freight only 3x/week.

Roro 1

Roro 2

Grimaldi Group Explains Its Greek Reshuffle

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Grimaldi Group explains its strategy after some articles in the Greek press suggested a war

declared by the Grimaldi Group on the Italy-Greece Adriatic route, related to overcapacity on Piraeus – Crete.

Adriatic Sea

“The pandemic and the new market conditions asked for a radical reorganisation of its Adriatic services. Grimaldi split Ancona – Igoumenitsa – Patras into 2 services (Ancona – Igoumenitsa and Ancona – Patras).”

Grimaldi Group also removes its passenger service from Venice to Greece and dismisses its Brindisi-Patras ropax service by leaving only one vessel on Brindisi – Igoumenitsa.

Through this move the Grimaldi Group confirms its strategy of “competing in a serious and responsible way, sometimes removing tonnage if necessary, but always aiming at offering top quality services to its customers.” Adjusting capacity to the market conditions, or what the company wants to say is that there is one ship too much on the Piraeus – Crete line.

Crete

Its brand Minoan has 3 vessels: KNOSSOS PALACE and FESTOS PALACE on Piraeus – Heraklion and KYDON PALACE on Piraeus – Chania.

Competitor Attica – ANEK joint venture operates with 4 vessels: BLUE HORIZON and KRITI 1 on Piraeus-Heraklion land BLUE GALAXY and ELYROS on Piraeus – Chania.

Attica – ANEK joint venture should sail with 3, not 4 ships, says Grimaldi Group.

Hellenic Ministry Of Shipping Decides Further Financial Support For The Hellenic Coastal Shipping

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  • The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy decided further financial support to the Greek Ferry Operators by EUR 12 million
  • The total financial support package for the Hellenic Coastal Shipping is EUR 67 million
  • A series of measures for the support of seafarers are still into force (special purpose compensation, unemployment benefits, extension of the insurance of unemployed seafarers, subsidization of the employer’s contributions for the active seafarers, partially financial support -by the State- for the rents of the unemployed seafarers
  • The measures to support maritime labour have a total cost of EUR 15 million

Latest News From Moby’s Debt Restructuring Plan

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News provider Reorg Research reported some details about Moby’s latest debt restructuring proposal: “Recovery for bank lenders will differ from that of bondholders, who will be able to choose between a 30% upfront payment or a smaller initial cash recovery that would also include future proceeds deriving from asset sales”.

The new restructuring proposal “targets the sale of about eight vessels of Moby and subsidiary Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione fleet in five years’ time.”

The proposal also includes the creation of a shipco which would buy the group’s fleet and lease it back to Moby. Investment fund Europa Investimenti would participate in the shipco”.

The Onorato-controlled company sent an updated restructuring proposal to its creditors earlier this month.

TS Laevad: A Reliable Ferry Service In A Challenging Year

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  • Last year Estonian company TS Laevad served a total of nearly 2 million passengers (-18%) and a bit less than a million vehicles
  • Traffic was especially affected by Covid-19 from mid-March until beginning of May, with 92% less passengers than the year before
  • As the restrictions eased, the number of passengers began to recover rapidly, exceeding the 2019 level by 1% in August – October
  • Virtsu – Kuivastu: -20.6% passengers (1,408,920) and -9.9% cars (692,992)
  • Rohuküla – Heltermaa: +4% lorries, -8.9% passengers (566,986) and -2.5% cars (276,964)

Stena Line Plans To Launch Fossil-Free Ships Before 2030

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Stena Line plans to start operating two fossil-free battery powered vessels on the 50-nautical-mile route between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn no later than 2030.

  • Plan is to order first vessel latest in 2025
  • STENA ELEKTRA will be the world’s first fossil-free ferry of its size
  • 200m, 1000 passengers, 3,000 lane metres freight capacity
  • Will run on battery power for approximately 50 nautical miles, the distance between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn
  • The battery capacity will need to be approximately 60-70 MWh and the vessel will be charged in port
  • Stena Line also looking into combining the electrification with other alternative fossil free fuels such as fuel cells, hydrogen and bio methanol for longer reach of the vessels

NMT Shipping Charters LIEKUT

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NMT Shipping announced the charter of Flensburg roro newbuilding LIEKUT, “to accomplish market commitment to West Africa.”

The vessel was delivered to a SIEM Company in March 2020 but hadn’t sailed so far.

The roro vessel will normally join the SeaRoad fleet for three years, as from March 2021 (see SIEM press release). She will replace SEAROAD TAMAR on the Bass Strait (Tasmania-Australia) until SeaRoad’s new vessel is constructed.

FERRY PORTS

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Study About Fixed Link Helsingör -Helsingborg Handed Over

The Swedish Transport Administration, the Danish Road Directorate and the Swedish Transport, Building and Housing Agency have together investigated the possibilities for a new fixed link Helsingör and Helsingborg.

The investigation has been ongoing for three years (2018-2020) and has been handed over to the Governments.

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