Sunnmørsposten writes (in Norwegian) that shipowner Per Sævik (Havila Holding AS) submitted a tender to build and operate four of the eleven ships needed for a service like the one operated now by Hurtigruten. The company tendered via its subsidiary Havila Kystruten AS.
Last week was the deadline for submitting tenders for the new coastal contract 2020-2030.
Photo: Havila
The news site El Tambor (in Spanish) says that the CEO of the Barreras Shipyard announced the imminent order for a 180m ro-pax, during the keel laying of the first Ritz-Carlton cruise yacht. They add that the owner has not been announced yet, however, they think it might be Naviera Armas.
According to Noord Hollands Dagblad (in Dutch), reserve ferry SCHULPENGAT will be withdrawn after a faithful service since 1991. The island of Texel is now being served by TEXELSTROOM, since 2016.
SCHULPENGAT will probably be recycled environmentally friendly. No buyer has been found yet.
Total Croatia News (in English) writes that Jadrolinija has the intention to invest €45 million in two second-hand and two new catamarans.
From an interview with Pierre Mattei in Corse Matin (in French) we highlight the following topics, which we think are relevant.
Photo: Mike Louagie
Catamaran WESTPAC EXPRESS has arrived in Belfast, to be refurbished at Harland & Wolf. Owned by Irish Continental Group it is unclear what her future will be.
Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione S.p.A., fully owned by Moby S.p.A., sold the 1995-built ro-ro PUGLIA to EuroAfrica Shipping Lines, to operate under the Unity Line brand. The 50-cabin-berth / 1,780 lane meter ship has been renamed COPERNICUS and is on her way to Poland.
Accommodation ship WIND SOLUTION has been sold to a Greek company, probably SeaJets (to be confirmed). She was built as a ferry in 1969, under the name PRINSESSAN CHRISTINA.
Færgerederierne, the Car Ferry Section of the Danish Shipowners Association celebrated its 50 years on January 12. Chairman John Steen Mikkelsen welcomed the many guests to the celebration onboard DFDS’s cruise ferry PEARL SEAWAYS. He emphasized that the ferries are central to the Danish infrastructure, with over 32 million passengers, 10 million cars and 20 million tons of goods annually.
At the beginning of the new year we have decided to add a new feature, for free. You can now download a list of most shortsea ro-ro vessels, ro-pax ferries and high-speed crafts, mainly under construction for operators in Europe, North America and Australia.
TT-Line Company Pty Ltd and German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft GmbH & Co. KG have signed a letter of intent for the construction of two new ships to replace the current Spirit of Tasmania vessels.
TT-Line chairman Mike Grainger said the companies would now commence contract negotiations and agree to final design specifications.
“FSG was endorsed by the Board after the company short listed a number of international shipyards to build the new tailor-made vessels,” he said. “As previously announced, we expect to place an order for the new vessels in the first half of the 2018 calendar year and for them to be delivered in time to commence operations on Bass Strait in 2021.”
Some particulars:
Length: 212m
Passengers + Crew: 2000
Freight lane meters: 2519
Car lane meters: 1714
Cabins: 284
Recliners: 195
Photo: FSG
In its half-year company summary dated 5 January 2018, Irish Continental Group presents an overall growth.
The Group revenue for the first half of the year grew by 3.7% to €156.1 million
In the Ferries division revenue increased by 2.4% to €93.7 million (€91.5 million) and EBITDA decreased by 4.2% to €22.9 million (€23.9 million).
Car volumes and summer tourism volumes went up, respectively +2.2% and +0.4%.
Ro-ro volumes increased only +0.5%.
The company has two ferries on order.
Dover handled 2,601,162 lorries in 2017 – up on the previous record by almost 10,000 units. It brings the total increase over the last five years to 33%.
The latest figures underline the need for a post-Brexit trade deal that ensures continued traffic fluidity at this crucial gateway which handles up to 17% of the UK’s entire trade. As Europe’s busiest ferry port, there remains no substitutable capacity elsewhere in the UK to handle Dover’s trade volumes, says Port of Dover.
James Hookham, the Freight Transport Association’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “The ease with which vehicles and their loads can pass through Dover and the French ports will be a big test of the post-Brexit arrangement. With ro-ro traffic growing at the current rates, getting clarification on how any future Customs procedures at Dover and elsewhere will work is the top priority for European logistics and supply chain managers in 2018.”
Jean-Marc Puissesseau, President-General Manager of Port Boulogne Calais, added his support for fluid trade post-Brexit. He said: “Like the Port of Dover, the Port of Calais is expecting to confirm record freight traffic this year, with 2 million heavy goods vehicles passing through in 2017.
Photo: Port of Dover
