Nov 05
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IN THE MEDIA

By 2020 Newsletter week 45

Lack of Expertise, Poor Negotiating at Root of Quebec Ferry Fiasco, Auditor General Finds

“STQ (Société des traversiers du Québec)’s procurement of ropax F.-A.-GAUTHIER was doomed from the start because of a lack of in-house expertise and the lack of experience at the negotiating table,” says a “Report of the Auditor General of Québec to the National Assembly for 2020-2021, October 2020”

 

  1. STQ did not have all the expertise to successfully carry out the project to build a ship of the scale of the MV F.-A.-Gauthier and was unable to obtain the resources necessary to make up for that shortcoming.
  2. The process used to select the shipbuilder was not in line with naval industry practices.
  3. STQ was unable to capitalize on several areas of negotiation with the shipbuilder.
  4. The measures put in place by STQ to mitigate risks in the event of the interruption of an essential ferry service were insufficient.

Report of the Auditor General of Québec to the National Assembly: Full Report in French

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Report of the Auditor General of Québec to the National Assembly: Summary in English

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Nov 05
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SHORT NEWS

By 2020 Newsletter week 45

Second Rail-RoPax Ferry for Russian Far East Launched

On October 30, United Shipbuilding Corporation’s Amursky Shipyard (Russian press release) launched the second of two Rail RoPax ferries.

The two ferries will be used on the Vahini-Kholmsk line (Russian Far East, between mainland and Sakhalin Island).

ALEKSANDR DEYEV and VASILY OSHCHEPKOV have been designed by MEB (Marine Enginering Bureau) for the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK).

Nov 05
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New Tender for the Removal of THEOFILOS of Anen Lines

By 2020 Newsletter week 45

The Port Authority of Elefsina announced that on December 10, 2020 will take place one more scheduled public open tender –following a Greek law about potential shipwrecks- for the removal of the old THEOFILOS of Anen Lines.  The former NILS HOLGERSSON is rusting away at Karavostasi B’ (Elefsis bay) since 2018 and considered dangerous for the navigation and safety in the area. The starting price for the tender was set to around EUR 1.5 million.

Nov 05
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BLUE STAR DELOS Stops Sailings to Undergo Scrubber Conversion

By 2020 Newsletter week 45

November 4, 2020. Blue Star Ferries’ ropax BLUE STAR DELOS was transferred to the Perama repair zone (Dock 1) in order to undergo her scheduled scrubber conversion. The popular “blue” ship is expected to return in service in February 2021, while she will be replaced by her fleetmate BLUE STAR CHIOS.

The sisters BLUE STAR CHIOS and BLUE STAR MYCONOS will follow, undergoing a similar conversion.

Nov 05
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VIDEO

By 2020 Newsletter week 45

POVL ANKER Looks Like Reborn

Orskov Yard has just completed a major upgrade of POVL ANKER. After a six weeks yards stay the ferry headed home to Bornholm looking like the vessel did in 1978 when it was first delivered.

Oct 29
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FERRY SHIPPING

By 2020 Newsletter week 44

Moby’s Rescue Plan Postponed until the End of the Year

According to some sources familiar with the matter, Moby Group asked the Court of Milan an ex extra-time of 60 days for presenting its financial restructuring plan to be submitted to the creditors (banks and bondholders). Among the reasons behind the request there is also the Covid-19 emergency. If approved by the Court, the new deadline will be postponed until the end of the current year.

Earlier this month the financial news provider Reorg Research revealed that the Onorato-controlled ferry group is in talks with come investment funds about a possible new money provision amid the group’s restructuring.

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.