In a very natural and human way he talks mainly to the DFDS people, about why the long passenger routes had to be closed down temporarily and how agreements with Governments will help to re-employ the same staff after the crisis.
The format is very simple: just talking selfie-style, as he was talking to you personally. Because of the simple way of filming and communicating one can better feel Mr. Carlsen’s emotions, making it very honest.
“Good afternoon everybody. My name’s Janette Bell and I’m the chief executive of P&O Ferries.
These are unprecedented times and I wanted to say a few words to the thousands of people who work for us, the millions who travel with us and of course the millions more who rely on our trucks and ships.”
Vincenzo Onorato has his own public Facebook page and published an emotional letter (in Italian).
“In 62 years of life, I’ve never spent a single day without a fight.”
For many months now we have fought the assault of the speculative Funds that wanted to tear us apart for mere economic interests. We have faced the attacks of competition increasingly determined to destroy our reality on the seas.
Now, a new emergency, the Coronavirus is haunting our country and the entire planet.
We are still the first sea infrastructure in the country. Each year, we transport around 8 million passengers and about 600k trucks. We employ about 5.800 people from our country.
We are suffering: our first source of income, passenger traffic, has been practically reduced to zero. We will survive with the awareness that our unity makes us strong.
My thoughts go especially to the people of our Islands, who live mainly on tourism and I am very worried about them too.
It is necessary to have Faith in our Lord, but also on our abilities and determination to come out of this.
We’ll get through this too and we’ll be stronger than before.
The country will be stronger than before, the islands will rise stronger than before.
I am on the bridge day and night.”
In a very vulnerable way, he starts by explaining his ‘bald look’. It is the first time he has appeared on a video since his cancer treatment started. He lays out the facts as they stand. This is an authentic message from a leader.
Financial Aid to Fehmarn Project is State Aid Says Commission
After an investigation of the financing granted by Denmark to the Fehmarn fixed link project, the European Commission concludes that this constitutes State aid – as maintained by Scandlines.
The investigation was necessary, as the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2018 annulled the European Commission’s initial decision given in 2015, thereby removing the financial foundation for the Fehmarn project.
The ruling finds in favour of Scandlines’ claims by concluding – as opposed to the Danish state’s original assertion – that, firstly, the financial aid to the Fehmarn project constitutes State aid and, secondly, that both the amount and the aid period must be limited. These measures were not part of the initial decision.
The European Commission thus confirms by its approval that the use of State guarantees on loans and State loans must be limited to covering a debt of maximum EUR 9.3 billion, and maximum the first 16 years of operations.
When the European Commission’s decision has been made public in full, Scandlines will decide whether to appeal against parts of it.
In a press release, Incat Tasmania announced an order for a new generation fast ferry for South Korean coastal passenger transport company Seaworld Express Ferry.
The 76m high speed wave piercing catamaran ferry will accommodate up to 700 passengers and 79 cars when it enters service on the new route between Jindo and Jeju early 2022.
Seaworld Express Ferry is the largest ferry company operating between the Korean Peninsula and Jeju Island, the country’s largest island and most popular domestic holiday destination.
BC Ferries Matches Capacity to Meet Current Demand
BC Ferries is cancelling the additional sailings scheduled in April, in response to an approximately 40% decline in traffic as a result of COVID19.
Customers with reservations on cancelled sailings on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay, Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay – Langdale routes will be contacted by Customer Care and moved to the next available sailing.
Customers with reservations on cancelled sailings on the Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands will be refunded.
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that ferry travel across Scotland must be for essential travel only.
From now on ferries will be for those who live on theislands, who have an essential need to travel to or from the mainland, and for essential supplies or business. Nothing else.
The Association for the Pharmaceutical Industry has appealed for the transport of medicines and other critical goods to be secured.
“The shipping companies in Finland ensure that maritime transport of medicines to Finland is secured on our vessels. The vessels are a vital part of Finland’s security of supply. This will ensure access to medicines in Finland and to Finns everywhere in our country,” says Tiina Tuurnala, President and CEO of the Finnish Shipowners Association.
“Access to groceries, such as food and pharmaceuticals, is ensured in Finland. In its rulings on exceptional circumstances, the Government has stated that the transport of goods and freight is secured. The shipping companies, authorities and the emergency preparedness organization cooperate actively to ensure that all freight is transported.”
Almost 90% of Finland’s imports and exports are transported by sea, in this sense Finland is an island. In addition to the cargo ships, Finnish passenger ships are an important part of security of supply.
La Meridionale-controlled ferry GIROLATA sailed back from the port of Termini Imerese to Marseilles because the time charter was put in off hire by Grandi Navi Veloci due to the Coronavirus emergency, Ferry Shipping News understood.
In Italy all the passenger services with the islands were closed by the Government and the roro and ropax ships are allowed to operate just for transporting cargo. Furthermore, as from March 25, only essential cargoes can be distributed.
MSC-controlled Grandi Navi Veloci chartered-in the ferry GIROLATA from La Meridionale from January to the end of September 2020, with an option for extending the contract for further three months. The companies agreed for a deck & engine and full catering charter for the ship deployed on the Civitavecchia – Termini Imerese maritime link. Once the emergency will be overcome the ferry should go back to serve the same link in Italy (in two months).
