The Norwegian Ministry of Transportation and Communication has requested that the two Hurtigruten ships currently in operation shall only sail along the coast of Northern Norway between Bodø and Kirkenes until further notice.
Stena Line has announced that STENA EMBLA, the last of its three new ferries destined for the Irish Sea, has successfully completed its sea trials in China’s Yellow Sea.
She will arrive home around Christmas, in time to start operating on the Belfast to Birkenhead route in early 2021, alongside sister ship STENA EDDA.
The new vessel replaces the STENA MERSEY, which has successfully operated on the Belfast to Birkenhead route for 10 years. She will then head off to join sister ship STENA LAGAN in Turkey where both ships are being extended, before re-deployment on the Baltic Sea.
Ferguson is investing more than £500,000 in a new tower crane to support the future growth of the business.
The existing tower crane, which has stood in the shipyard for 37 years, has reached the end of its serviceable life and is being demolished to make way for a bigger and better version.
VIKING XPRS now utilizes shore power in Tallinn.
Project in cooperation with ABB Industrial Automation.
PRIDE OF BRUGES has left the Zeebrugge-Hull route to stand in for PRIDE OF HULL on Europoort-Hull. Reason: an engine room fire on PRIDE OF HULL. The fire broke out shortly after the ship set sail from Hull at 8.30pm on 20 October en route to Rotterdam.
FRS took over the traditional Elbe ferry Glückstadt – Wischhafen on October 21, 2020
Ms Both-Walberg, who had been managing the family-run shipping company in the third generation, handed over the steering wheel to FRS on board the ferry GLÜCKSTADT. As a family-run company with more than 150 years of company history, FRS is taking over from the northern German ferry line.
From left to right: Birte Dettmers and Tim Kunstmann (FRS), and Ms Both-Walberg
Stena Line: Ropax Expansion on Nynäshamn – Ventspils
Once rebuilt, the STENA MERSEY and STENA LAGAN will be used on the Nynäshamn – Ventspils route in 2021.
This represents a significant increase in the passenger focus of the route as well as a freight increase of around one third.
- STENA LAGAN is currently at the shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey.
- STENA MERSEY is in the Irish Sea.
The UK Government has signed agreements with 4 ferry operators to provide capacity equivalent to over 3,000 trucks per week, mitigating the risk of disruption as the UK and EU adjust to new border processes at the end of the transition period.
The contracts with Brittany Ferries, DFDS, P&O and Stena, collectively worth £77.6 million, will focus on 9 routes serving 8 ports in areas less likely to experience disruption. These include Felixstowe, Harwich, Hull, Newhaven, Poole, Portsmouth, Teesport and Tilbury.
The BONANZA EXPRESS, part of the Fred Olsen fleet since 1999, was the first high speed acquired by Fred.Olsen Express and also the first ever to sail in the waters surrounding the Canary Islands.
Data: 717 pax / 170 cars / 38 knots / Incat-built
The unknown buyer would be a newcomer on the Malta-Italy market.
The pandemic continues to pressure the ferry industry in a way never seen before.
This might require another approach in the top management.
Earlier, it was Janette Bell who left P&O Ferries.
On 13 October Arne Roland took over from Rickard Ternblom, who has led Fjord Line since 2015.
Arne Roland will act as CEO until a new is found. Roland has extensive management experience, including from Aker-systemet and CHC Helikopter Service.
Linkedin job offer for new CEO
Brittany Ferries’ newest vessel GALICIA made her maiden test call in the ports of Cherbourg and Portsmouth this week.
More relatively good news comes from the financial side of the business.
Normandie Region decided on Monday 12 October:
- Extended depreciation of vessels from 30 to 35 years
- This will reduce the charter rates by €2m/y = €10m over 5y.
- SOMANOR (*) will pay the important maintenance works of owned ships, at a ratio of €7m/y = €35m over 5y.
Conseil Régional de Bretagne will decide on Thursday 15 October:
- €30 million of financial assistance, of which €15 million will be made available immediately.
- This aid is about deferring charter fees on the ships owned by the regions.
- The money is not a subsidy.
A big issue in France is the fear to lose the French Flag. Brittany Ferries is one of the biggest employers of French crews.
(*) SOMANOR
- Brittany Ferries …………………………………….. 24,65 %
- Senacal…………………………………………………. 48,55 %
- Senamanche………………………………………….. 26,80 %
The financial news provider Reorg Research revealed that “Fortress Investment Group, Clessidra Sgr and Europa Investimenti are amongst the funds discussing with Moby about a possible new money provision amid the group’s restructuring”, according to some sources. The process is in progress, but nothing has been decided yet.
Moby has been in talks with some investment funds for a deal designed to potentially unlock a standstill with creditors, as reported. The funds would be willing to provide new money to the group or, alternatively, buy its bonds and subsequently close a restructuring agreement with the company and its banks, according to sources.
The Onorato family-controlled company has to present a restructuring proposal by October 28 but it is expected to request a 60 days extension to the Court of Milan, where it filed for creditor protection under the concordato preventive procedure at the end of June.
Moby closed the first half of 2020 in red for EUR 50 million and the overall financial exposure increased to EUR 643 million, of which 160 million with banks, 295 million with bond holders and 140 million with subsidiaries.
Starting in January, Wallenius SOL will charter FIONIA SEA and JUTLANDIA SEA for the Kemi-Oulu-Husum-Zeebrugge-Antwerp-Vaasa route. (technical details)
“With 3,300 lane metres and a capacity of approximately 300 TEU we will have new and expanded opportunities for container loads,” says Jonas Wåhlin, General Manager Wallenius SOL.
Once they enter service, TAVASTLAND will call at Kaskinen – a new port on the route map – as well as making more calls at Kemi, Oulu, Husum and Lübeck.
Wallenius SOL will be adding additional capacity when its newly built roro’s enter service at the end of 2021. The LNG / ice class vessels offer 5,600 lane metres and a capacity of up to 800 TEU.
The first of two new high-speed craft for Trinidad and Tobago was floated out from Incat’s drydock on Hobart’s Derwent River on October 9. BUCCOO REEF (technical details), will be delivered later this year.
Austal is also building for Trindidad and Tobago. The APT JAMES (technical details) is a high-speed ropax catamaran under construction in Vung Tau, Vietnam.
The Government of Trinidad & Tobago announced that roro CABO STAR (ex FINNFOREST fakta om fartyg) will be chartered for an additional two years at the reduced rate of USD 16,000 per day (instead of the initial rate of USD 21,000 per day).