Nov 30
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Finnlines’s first lengthened vessel redelivered

By 2017 Newsletter week 48

YOUTUBE

Remontowa S.A. shipyard in Gdansk has finished the first lengthening project for Finnlines. FINNTIDE (2012) has been lengthened by 30m in less than two months, adding 1,000 lane meters of garage deck.
After the modification she has a capacity of 4,213 lane meters.
The lengthening is part of Finnlines’ Energy Efficiency and Emission Reduction Investment Programme, which was launched this year. Through this EUR 70 million investment programme, the Company will lengthen four of its “Breeze series” ro-ro vessels with options for two more ships. The whole lengthening programme will be completed by May 2018.
FINNTIDE has returned to the normal operation on Uusikaupunki/Turku–Travemünde route on 26 November 2017. The next vessel to be converted leaves for the shipyard on 28 November 2017.

Photo: Remontowa

Nov 30
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Former Baltic Ferry WELLAMO sank in Vietnamese waters with loss of life

By 2017 Newsletter week 48

Silja Line’s former WELLAMO (1975) was anchored in the beautiful waters of the Vietnamese Van Phong Bay (Khanh Hoa) since 2010. She was used as a hotel ship. She was under tow to Haiphong for overhaul when she was hit by typhoon Damrey. She sank on November 4 in the Quy Nhon Sea, four nautical miles southeast of Quy Nhon. In total 11 bodies have been found on several ships that sank because of the same typhoon.
WELLAMO has served companies as DFDS (DANA GLORIA, KING OF SCANDINAVIA), Color Line (COLOR VIKING) and Fjord Line (JUPITER), and has been lengthened in 1988 .

Nov 23
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Meet the team

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

Perhaps you asked yourself who we are? What better way than having a picture taken in front of a ferry?
The entire Ferry Shipping Summit team is ready for you, and wishes you a very enjoyable read of this Ferry Shipping News.

This photo of the Ferry Shipping Summit team was already published a couple of weeks ago. Some readers suggested to add the names. Here you are, from left to right: Anita van Schie (Eventmanager), Ron Maes (Senior Advisor), Frans Baud (Director), Mike Louagie (Editor), Bo-Lennart Thorbjörnsson (President), Sandra Snijder (Webmaster), Mats Wanders (Assistent).

Nov 23
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Finally! Port of Lübeck (LHG) employees say yes to restructuration plan

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

At a general meeting of the ‘ver.di’ union, the employees of the Lübecker Hafen-Gesellschaft (LHG) finally approved the restructuring plan (November 21) with a 60% majority.
After years of disputes and discussions the dockworkers have said yes to flexible work and cost reductions.
The necessary cost reductions will strengthen the competitiveness of LHG, while the long-term tariff period (until 2022) gives the company a better competitive position. It was feared that customers would move to the nearby port of Rostock.

Photo © LHG / Christiane Schröder

Nov 23
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Swedish Maritime Administration’s new fairway due and pilot fee system hits the ferry sector

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

The SMA (Swedish Maritime Administration) will introduce a new fee system for its fairway dues and pilot fees. It is the intention of the SMA to implement this new system on 1 January 2018.
Two of the taxation components are the passenger and cargo fees, which affect the ferry industry.
To see the full explanation about the fees, click on the link below.
Finnish politicians and ferry owners, such as Viking Line, have protested. The new system means, in short, that the more passengers and the more freight a ship carries, and the more often it arrives at a Swedish port, the more expensive it will be for the operator.

Nov 23
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Wärtsilä to deliver high efficiency and low emissions for new Viking Line ferry

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

Wärtsilä will supply the engines, the navigation system, and a broad scope of other products and systems for the environmentally friendly cruise ferry being built for Viking Line. The ship is being built at the Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry yard in China and there is an option for a second vessel.
Commencing in early 2021, the new vessel will operate between Turku and Stockholm. The ship is the first LNG fuelled ferry of this size and standard to be built in China.

Nov 23
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Opening of the newly upgraded Brodick Ferry Terminal postponed

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

An official opening ceremony was due to take place on Monday November 27. The new Brodick terminal on the Isle of Arran was expected to be operational and open to the public. However, the new passenger access system has not yet received its final certification, because of a defect relating to the automated door closure on the passenger access system.
The extensive redevelopment project at Brodick Ferry Terminal represents a major investment of around GBP 30 million, led by CMAL.

Photo © Mike Louagie

Nov 23
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Adding a container feeder proves to be a good idea for P&O Ferries

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

P&O Ferries carried 14,804 units on its new dedicated lift unit freight service between Zeebrugge and Hull since the launch in May.
P&O Ferries has chartered the 118m container feeder ELISABETH to service the route. The ship makes three round-trips per week between Zeebrugge and Hull, complementing P&O Ferries’ existing ro-pax service between the Belgian port and the Humber.
The Zeebrugge hub rail connectivity has been very beneficial to attract business.
P&O Ferries sees a growing proportion of its cargoes originating in Central and Eastern Europe. Exporters from Britain benefit from onward connectivity to northern Spain and Gothenburg via services operated by lines in partnership with P&O Ferries.

Photo © P&O Ferries

Nov 23
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Groupe Eurotunnel has changed its name to Getlink

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

Although it is not a ferry company it might be interesting to know that ‘the Channel Tunnel’ has changed its name from Groupe Eurotunnel into Getlink, as noted on the Paris and London Stock Exchange (GET, Euronext Paris and Euronext London)
Getlink now leads the businesses of four major commercial brands

  • Eurotunnel, the cross Channel service with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle and Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Freight
  • Europorte, the leading private rail freight operator in France,
  • ElecLink, the future electrical interconnector between the UK and France,
  • CIFFCO, the leading private European railway training centre.

Each year, Getlink transports more than 20 million passengers, 1.6 million trucks, 2.6 million cars, and, soon, also 1 gigawatt of electricity.
In a press release, Getlink says boldly that their services “have always been the safest way to cross the Channel and to transport goods,” adding that they are “amongst the most environmentally friendly.”

Nov 23
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Eight Norwegian ferry routes to be replaced by motorway infrastructure investment

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

Norway’s new National Transport Plan (NTP) for the period 2018-2029 has been presented. Over the next 12 years Norway will spend almost NOK 1 billion on transport.

Some highlights:

  • The building of the famous 1.7km ship tunnel in the Stadhavet Sea, to cut short the journey of the Hurtigruten ships in these vey rough waters.
  • A new fast ferry route Bergen – Ålesund.
  • A ferry-free (!) motorway E39, which is the coastal road between

Kristiansand and Trondheim. It will replace no less than eight ferry connections. The first goal is to bring Bergen and Stavanger closer to each other.

Photo: Stad Ship Tunnel © Norwegian Coastal Administration