Nov 23
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Viking Line’s business review for the period January – September

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

Viking Line Group published its results for the first 3 quarters:
Consolidated sales: EUR 399.6 million (397.3 million)
Operating income: EUR 6.3 million (14.8 million).
Consolidated income before taxes: EUR 4.6 million (11.6 million).
Income after taxes: EUR 3.8 million (9.7 million).
In last week’s newsletter we already wrote that Viking Line’s assessment is that operating income for 2017 will decline, mainly because of the competition and the bunker prices.

Nov 23
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Seatruck Ferries are celebrating 10 booming years of operation in Dublin Port

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

From small beginnings with the single ship the CELTIC STAR, the Seatruck Dublin services have gone from strength to strength. To give an idea: Back in October 2007 Seatruck moved just over 3,000 units of freight from Dublin. Ten years later: 21,000 units. Seatruck Ferries are now one of the largest freight movers in the port.
In the busy midweek period Seatruck now operate 4 daily services to Liverpool and a daily service to Heysham. Seatruck also operate on the popular Warrenpoint – Heysham route.
With driver shortages continuing, Seatruck are expecting an ongoing switch to unaccompanied trailer movements.
In December, a new loading ramp will be installed in the Port of Heysham, which is now directly linked to the motorway network via the new M6 Link.
Seatruck are working closely with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland on the Newry Southern Relief Road project, which will link Warrenpoint Harbour directly to the Belfast – Dublin motorway.

Photo: CLIPPER POINT and SEATRUCK PROGRESS in Dublin Port © Gordon Hislip

Nov 23
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TOTE decides for largest LNG retrofit in North America

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

TOTE’s Alaska subsidiary has contracted with MAN Diesel & Turbo to carry out the conversion of two ro-ros to run on LNG.
NORTH STAR and MIDNIGHT SUN will be retrofitted with first works starting at the end of this year at the Victoria Shipyard in British Columbia.

Photo: Pictured at MAN Diesel & Turbo’s Headquarter in Augsburg (from left): Stefan Eefting – Senior Vice President and Head of MAN PrimeServ Augsburg; Peter Keller – Executive Vice President of TOTE; Per Rud – Senior Vice President and Head of After Sales – Marine & Power Plants

Nov 23
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Hurtigruten wants to bid for the entire coastal route

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

Probably it is not a surprise: Hurtigruten has decided to tender for the coastal express service on the Norwegian Coast. Recently the Norwegian State produced an official invitation to bid for the new coastal service agreement, which has been divided in three segments. The actual contract with Hurtigruten expires in 2020/21
Several companies are believed to have shown interest.
The deadline for submitting tenders is 3 January 2018.
Next year Hurtigruten celebrates its 125th birthday, which means they have built up an amazing, unrivaled knowledge. And of course, so far they are the only company with 11 dedicated ships (with side loading ramps).
On a press conference CEO Daniel Skjeldam said Hurtigruten was going to bid for the entire package. “Nobody knows the Norwegian coast like us,” he said. He also added that even without the renewed agreement Hurtigruten would continue to operate cruises along the coast, in a different way though. Some ports which are part of the actual ‘lifeline’ contract would be dropped and locals would no longer be able to use the ships as public transport. In this case Hurtigruten could stay longer in marquee ports and offer more and different excursions.
Who will it be? We’ll know probably end of March 2018.

Nov 23
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What’s up St Peterline?

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

Managing director of the ferry operator Moby SPL LTD Sergei Kotenev gave an interview to Russian online media ‘Expert’.

Some highlights

  • The company went from two ferries to one. This required creating a new, complex timetable.
  • Depending on which crossing, guests can stay up to 72 hours without a visa in St.Petersburg. The new element is an overnight stay on board. This initiative is successful, but not as much as SPL would like. Therefore, next year SPL plans to create a new schedule with a two-week cycle. If necessary, SPL (Moby Lines) can supply the second vessel.
  • International sanctions against Russia did only affect the visits to St. Petersburg slightly. Sergei Kotenev says that prices are very attractive for foreign visitors.
  • No relaxation of visa procedures for Russians expected in the actual political climate. However, the Russian passenger is important. Average age 35-55 years.
  • Main target markets are Scandinavia, Germany and China.
  • St. Petersburg as the cultural capital not only of Russia, but of the world. Destination with huge potential, however the political situation makes it necessary to adjust business plans every year, every quarter.
  • If business booms Moby can easily transfer a ship from the Med to the Baltic.
  • For a while SPL ran the services from the Marine Façade terminal. Since this is a passenger-only terminal the ferry operator had to move to Maritime Station where ferry cargo is accepted.
  • In winter ice-class ships are needed, and these are hard to find. A dedicated vessel should be build. Kotenev says that “we have a project for a cruise ferry, which is designed to travel more than the traditional five days.”
Nov 23
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SHORT NEWS

By 2017 Newsletter week 47
  • Former ferry VÄSTERVIK, which has been bought by Inter Shipping, is in the Perama drydock until the end of November. The vessel is going to operate on the Algeciras – Tanger Med link as from early spring.
  • Traghetti delle Isola decided to charter European Seaways’ GALAXY for the Trapani (Sicily) – Pantelleria service. Pantellaria is an island 100km southwest of Sicily. She replaces the LAMPEDUSA, which has engine issues.
  • In January TT Line’s PETER PAN will be sent to Bremerhaven for lengthening (by 30m). During the two-month shipyard stay, the ferry is also to receive a new fuel-efficient bulbous bow. As a stop gap solution TT Line will charter DFDS’ PATRIA SEAWAYS. As the former TT TRAVELER she is a familiar ship on the routes between the continent and Sweden.
  • High-speed ro-pax monohull AELOS KENTERIS I will be sold by auction on December 6. She belonged to the fleet of bankrupt NEL Lines.
  • Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told the delegates of the national maritime conference “Les Assises économie de la Mer” in Le Havre that France would ask the IMO to add the Mediterranean to the list of Emission Control Areas.
Nov 23
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GLEN SANNOX launch

By 2017 Newsletter week 47

Watch the moment the GLEN SANNOX was launched from the slipway at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow. She will serve CalMac’s Ardrossan – Arran ferry route. She is going to be the first LNG ferry in the UK to run on liquefied gas and was launched by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on November 21.
The ferry is designed to carry 127 cars or 16 HGVs or a combination of both and up to 1,000 passengers. The vessel is due to be delivered in Winter 2018/2019.

Photo © Stòras Mara Cailleanach Earranta (CMAL)

Nov 16
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Irish Continental Group not affected by weak Sterling

By 2017 Newsletter week 46

ICG published a trading update, covering carryings for the year to date to 11 November 2017.

  • Ro-Ro freight: 247,700 (246,500) =+0.5%
  • Cars: 385,100 (376,800) = +2.2%
  • Passengers: not included in the update.

Trading update with financial information for the first ten months of 2017.

  • Consolidated Group revenue: EUR 288.9 million = +3.1%
  • Ferries Division total revenues: EUR 184.4 million = +1.4%

Remarks

  • In the period since 30 June carryings grew at 1.6% underperforming market growth rates as the division has focused on higher yielding accompanied freight traffic in advance of the introduction of the new ferry W.B. YEATS.
  • The Euro value of the division’s Sterling originating revenues have been affected by weaker Sterling but this has been partly mitigated by offsetting improvement from Sterling based costs.
  • Higher bunker costs.