Jun 11
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VIDEO

By 2020 Newsletter week 24

First Of Two 118 Metre Trimarans For Fred. Olsen Express Completes Sea Trials In Australia

BAJAMAR EXPRESS, the first of two Austal Auto Express 118 trimarans under construction for Fred. Olsen Express of the Canary Islands has completed its sea trials in Western Australia.

“Over the past weeks, BAJAMAR EXPRESS has achieved an average speed of 37.6 knots at 85% MCR, carrying 80% from maximum deadweight; confirming the vessel’s outstanding capability to achieve high-speed performance, while delivering optimum comfort for passengers and crew,” says Austal in a press release.

Capable of transporting 1,100 passengers and 276 cars at a cruising speed of over 37 knots, the new ferries for Fred. Olsen Express feature class-leading interior amenities and facilities, including multiple bars, kiosks, a retail shop and children’s play area and will operate on Fred. Olsen Express’ Santa Cruz, Teneriffe and Agaete, Gran Canaria routes in the Canary Islands from the 3rd quarter of 2020.

Jun 11
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BC Ferries New ISLAND DISCOVERY Entered Service

By 2020 Newsletter week 24

BC Ferries’ newest vessel, ISLAND DISCOVERY, officially commenced service on June 10 on the Texada Island – Powell River route.

ISLAND DISCOVERY is the first of a series of Damen hybrid-electric ships designed for future full electric operation. The ships are fitted with hybrid technology that bridges the gap until shore charging infrastructure and funding become available.

Her entry into BC Ferries’ fleet allows for the retirement of the 59-year old NORTH ISLAND PRINCESS.

The second vessel in the Island Class series, ISLAND AURORA, will replace QUADRA QUEEN II on the Port McNeill – Alert Bay – Sointula route next week. QUADRA QUEEN II will become a relief vessel.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BC Ferries created a short video with messages from

community representatives, so people can take a virtual tour of the ship instead.

Jun 11
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THREE SHIPS DOWN MEMORY LANE

By 2020 Newsletter week 24

Today we go back to the English Channel.

EARL GODWIN (1966, SVEA DROTT)

  • Photo taken in the summer of 1984 in Weymouth
  • Scrapped in 2018

SENLAC (1973, SENLAC)

  • Sealink Dieppe Ferries, Dieppe-Newhaven
  • Photo 22 July 1986. We were sailing to Brighton when SENLAC passed behind us at full speed.
  • Built in 1973 by Arsenal de la Marine Nationale Française, Brest, France.
  • Scrapped in 2010.

nf PANTHER (1972, DJURSLAND)

  • P&O Ferries, Boulogne-Dover
  • July 1984
  • Built as DJURSLAND in 1972 by Elsinore Skibs & Machine Building, Denmark.
  • Scrapped in 2005.
Jun 04
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Start Of Steel Cutting For Onorato Armatori’s First New Building In China

By 2020 Newsletter week 23

Onorato Armatori group announced the start of the steel cutting of the first of two new ro-pax units ordered last year to Guangzhou Shipyard International in China by Fratelli Onorato Armatori, company jointly controlled by Achille and Alessandro Onorato, sons of Vincenzo.

This first new building is set to enter service for Moby between Livorno and Olbia, Sardinia island (Olbia). She will be named MOBY FANTASY, thus reactivating a name previously used for another ferry which was sold for scrap few years ago.

The new ship is expected to be delivered in summer 2022 while the second ro-pax unit will follow the following year.

These vessels, which may be followed by further two new buildings currently in option, will be over 237 meters long and 32 wide, 67,000 GT, 550 cabins, 2,500 passengers and 3,800 lane metres ro-ro capacity.

The new ships, designed by OSK-Shiptech, will be slower compared to the most-modern vessels currently employed by Moby but more fuel efficient. With a 23.5 knot service speed and Wärtsilä 9L46F diesel-engines they will burn around 30% less fuel. The new ro-pax ships will be also fitted with hybrid exhaust gas scrubbers and will be LNG-ready.

Jun 04
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Passenger Transport Between Sardinia And Italy Reopens – Excluded Ferry Companies Protest

By 2020 Newsletter week 23

Italy’s transport minister announced on June 2nd that passenger transport to and from Sardinia island could re-open.

In a first phase only the ferry company operating the territorial continuity (i.e. Tirrenia – Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione) is allowed to start.

For all the other players operating on the same routes (Corsica Sardinia ferries, Grimaldi, Grandi Navi Veloci and Moby) the restart-date is June 13th.

The same rule applied for air transportation. Only public airline firm Alitalia was allowed to start.

This decision has been fiercely opposed by the shipowners and logistics associations Confitarma and Federlogistica supporting respectively Grimaldi and Grandi Navi Veloci’s interests. They ask the minister to rethink the act, also recalling antitrust issues as the measure would distort competition among ferry operators.

Jun 04
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Tallink Grupp To Reroute ISABELLE To Operate On The Paldiski-Kapellskär Route

By 2020 Newsletter week 23

ISABELLE is going to operate on the Paldiski-Kapellskär route from Sunday, 7 June until the end of August.

Currently REGAL STAR operates on the only route currently open between Estonia and Sweden, ensuring a vital transport link.

As demand for cargo capacity and also for passengers with vehicles has increased in recent weeks and in order to ensure that sufficient space is available for social distancing, the company has decided to add ISABELLE.

She will still predominantly transport cargo between the two countries, but will also take passengers with vehicles, who need to travel between the two countries for reasons other than tourism and leisure.

Jun 04
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Ferry Companies Like Color Line Will Be Able To Save Thousands Of Norwegian Jobs In The Tourism Industry

By 2020 Newsletter week 23

A new analysis from Menon Economics and the University of Southeast Norway shows that up to 30,000 jobs can be lost in tourism if Norway does not take necessary measures for the industry. Color Line has sent a press release about this.

By opening the borders to the Nordic countries and Germany this summer, approx. NOK 14 billion of revenue from foreign tourists coming to Norway by sea in the summer of 2020 could be saved. The analysis concludes that opening the borders of these countries will be the most powerful single initiative to revive the tourism industry this summer.

Jun 04
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More Freight Capacity Between Finland And Sweden With VIKING GLORY

By 2020 Newsletter week 23

Cargo capacity on Finnish sea routes will increase when VIKING GLORY enters service in 2021. The vessel will replace AMORELLA and provide about 500 lane metres of additional capacity on the Turku–Stockholm route.

Key figures:

  • 133,000 cargo units on the northern Baltic Sea annually
  • Cargo market share 4% in 2019

The transportation of lorry drivers has been taken into consideration to a greater extent than previously in planning GLORY’s interior. In the quiet part of VIKING GLORY, lorry drivers have their own section, which includes some 70 cabins as well as sauna facilities and a lounge,” says Viking Line’s freight director, Harri Tamminen.

Jun 04
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Stena Line Reduces Freight Capacity As Covid-19 Impacts Business Volumes

By 2020 Newsletter week 23

Stena Line will be reducing freight capacity on its Belfast – Liverpool (Birkenhead) service due to a decline in freight demand as a consequence of the Coronavirus crisis. Roro vessel STENA FORECASTER will be removed from service resulting in a reduction of 10 trips per week.

On March 9th, Stena Line launched its largest ship ever on the Belfast – Liverpool route, the brand-new STENA EDDA. STENA EDDA replaced the smaller STENA LAGAN and at the time increased capacity for both freight and travel customers.

In early 2021, Stena Line will replace STENA MERSEY with a further new ship, STENA EMBLA. These two new ropax ferries will increase freight capacity by almost 30% and will double passenger capacity compared with the vessels they replace.

Jun 04
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FERRY FINANCE

By 2020 Newsletter week 23

After A Strong Year Attica Group Can Handle The Storm

  • +37% EBITDA €78.02m
  • +21% Net income after taxes €20.85m compared to €17.27m for fiscal year
  • 2018 which included one off gains of €15.80m
  • +11% Revenue increase €405.40m

The positive financial results are mainly attributed to the synergies generated from the acquisition of Hellenic Seaways Maritime s.a. which is consolidated for the first time on a full year basis.

Attica Group saw a significant increase of liquidity reserves to €105.33m at the end of the year,  compared to €59.42m on 31 December 2018.

The upward trend of traffic volumes during the first two months of year 2020 was disrupted by the outbreak of the pandemic. The management proceeded immediately with an action plan to mitigate the impact.

The management anticipates that the Group will present losses for the fiscal year 2020.

Additionally, it is expected that the Group’s liquidity fully covers its cash flow needs.