What will be the future of Hellenic Coastal Shipping? This question is currently under discussion in Greece by the executives of the ferry sector, as the Ferry companies’ turnover is reduced by €300 million, compared to 2019, while their losses reach €100 million.
The Finnish Government approved the State of Finland’s guarantees on Viking Line´s liquidity loans up to €38.7 million. Using the liquidity loans, Viking Line aims to further secure its cash position and ensure business continuity during the exceptional situation caused by the coronavirus crisis. In addition to the Finnish State guarantees, commercial banks are guaranteeing €4.3 million.
The arrangement is compliant with EU State aid regulations.
The Swedish Transport Administration Färjerederiet has begun a procurement of four new hybrid electric road ferries for two routes in the Stockholm archipelago, Ljusteröleden and Vaxholmsleden.
Greek ship-owner Marios Iliopoulos of Seajets has acquired four cruise ships in the last three months. (the man in the middle of the picture)
According to experienced market executives, it is estimated that the ships’ pre-corona value was $500 million. They were purchased about $7.5 million each.
The market excludes the possibility for Mr. Iliopoulos to form a cruise company. These ships will either be chartered to other cruise companies or sold at 2019 prices.
Ships: QUEEN OF THE OCEANS (2000, Wikipedia), AEGEAN MAJESTY (1996, Wikipedia) and AEGEAN MYTH (1993, Wikipedia), PACIFIC ARIA (1994, Wikipedia).
After nearly 34 years working for Rederij Doeksen, of which 20 years as MD, Paul Melles will say goodbye to Rederij Doeksen per 31 December 2020.
Paul Melles (60) will be succeeded by Dirk Spoor, who is currently working in the company as the Head of Hospitality and HR.
Dirk Spoor (38) started working for Rederij Doeksen in 2010.
Paul Melles will remain involved with Rederij Doeksen: “Royal Doeksen has offered me the position of Technical Director. In my new job I will support the existing activities of the holding company (the companies Rederij Doeksen, Royal Huisman and Waterbus), but I will also start new projects. In the past years I have gained a lot of knowledge and experience, especially when it comes to sustainability. That is definitely a field I will advise the different companies about and I am very much looking forward to that.”
Hurtigruten is reorganizing their operations in two different entities: Hurtigruten Expeditions and Hurtigruten Norway.
From 2021, Hurtigruten’s coastal operation between Bergen and Kirkeness will consist of 7 custom (re)built ships and operate under a separate entity with a yet to be named CEO.
Four new ships will be operated by another company, Havila Kystruten.
“Positive” September for the Port of Piraeus
Port of Piraeus presented an increase of 4,5% in container traffic in September, according to the monthly data published by COSCO Shipping Ports. In Q3, a decrease of 4,1% was recorded as well as a total decrease of 5,5% in the nine-month period.
In any case, the data of the last quarter of the year are expected with great interest as they will reveal the annual total loss that the port will have due to the consequences of the pandemic, as well as the dynamics that Piraeus maintains in relation to other rival Mediterranean ports.
GNV has suspended the ropax link between the ports of Civitavecchia and the Sicily island (i.e. ports of Palermo and Termini Imerese) after the ‘port of Rome’ increased port dues applied to roro and passenger traffics, embarked and disembarked.
The decision (which seems to be still reviewable) was taken by the port authority of Civitavecchia in order to balance the financial losses coming after the Covid emergency which cancelled all the cruise season and most of the ferry traffic this year.
The dockworkers company protested against the new increased port dues warning that several shipowners (Grandi Navi Veloci and Grimaldi for the news cars handling) are already thinking to move their ships to other ports in Italy.
The MSC-controlled ferry company will go on serving the line between Sicily and Central-Southern Italy through the port of Naples.
A New Ferry Company? Morocco Cruise Line
Suddenly a new ferry project pops up. Morocco Cruise Line got the authorization to start the transportation of passengers last July, from the Moroccan Minister of Development (source: Bladi.es)
The route will be Sète – Tanger, and also the port of Motril could be used.
Freight could already start end of this year.
Which ship(s) is currently unknown.
Modern Batteries Meet Veteran Ferry
Batteries have been installed on WASA EXPRESS (1981, ex TRAVEMÜNDE, SALLY STAR…). In a black out they can supply energy to the most important pumps on board. This means that WASA EXPRESS now can sail with only one generator, instead of two.
Wasa Express is probably the first passenger ferry in the world where such a back-up solution for critical pumps has been installed. The solution designed by the innovation company eMarine Engineering Nordic Ab means that Wasa Express saves 25 tonnes of fuel (approx. 80 tonnes of CO2) per month.
