Nov 16
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Ro-ro and ferry: Port of Toulon’s golden niche markets

By 2017 Newsletter week 46

The French port of Toulon has again seen a significant rise in freight traffic from Turkish operator UN RoRo. The last twelve months have seen a rise of 9.7% of freight (= 66,345 units). The nine first months of 2017 have even been better, with an increase of 13% to 14%.
Ships sail almost full at 90% of their capacity, both inwards and outwards.
In the beginning of this year one the vessels –UN AKDENIZ– was reintroduced after lengthening. YouTube link
A second vessel will be lengthened soon.

Toulon is strongly associated with Corsica Sardinia Ferries, with here as well an excellent twelve months. The ferries transported more than 1.5 million passengers, an increase of 6.4%.
The new line to Sardinia was good for some 100,000 passengers. Next year Corsica Ferries will open a new route to Mallorca.
Moby Lines could return in 2019, for a link with Bastia (which will be operated out of Nice in 2018).
Freight to and from the island of Corsica has gone down, which can be explained by the competition of Corsica Linea from Marseille.

Photo © UN RoRo – Source: L’Antenne (in French)

Nov 16
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SHORT NEWS

By 2017 Newsletter week 46
  • FRS Caribbean, a subsidiary from Flensburg-based FRS Group, has expanded its route network. In addition to existing Miami – Bimini route the same high-speed passenger-only craft SAN GWANN will sail to Freeport, Grand Bahama. The route will be Miami-Bimini-Freeport-Bimini-Miami.
  • Algerie Ferries’ TARIQ IBN ZIYAD was victim of a car deck fire during the night of November 11, when she was under way from Marseille to Algeria. The captain decided to change course to Alcudia on Mallorca, to evacuate all guests. The crew managed to extinguish the fire. From the 500 passengers, 26 had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Nobody was injured. On November 13 Algerie Ferries’ TASSILI II was diverted to pick up the stranded passengers and their cars.
  • STENA SCOTIA has been fitted with a scrubber installation.
  • Fjord1 ASA has issued a NOK 1 billion unsecured bond loan, for the financing of up to six new ferries. This order is imminent, and comes in addition to the eight ferries already ordered. Stock exchange announcement
  • After a two-month charter MOBY DADA, the former St Peterline ship, will leave Barcelona on Thursday November 16. Together with GNV’s AZZURRA and RHAPSODY she was chartered by Madrid to house police officers during the Catalan crisis. Nicknamed “Tweety’s boat” she has been criticized by the men who stayed onboard. They will now be moved to hotels, which are available because of the low season.
  • Visentini-built ro-pax ferries NAPOLES and SICILIA are now longer on the fleet list of Stena RoRo. They have been acquired in September Kanalion Marine, a company registered in Cyprus with Juan Adolfo Utor Martinez as director. He is president of Balearia, the company that has been chartering the two ships.
Nov 09
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Dear reader,

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

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.

editor@ferryshippingnews.com

Nov 09
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Tallink Grupp’s Q3 interim report

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

Q3 in figure

  • 2.9 million passengers (+2%)
    Revenue EUR 282.7 million (EUR 273.6 million) +3.3%
    EBITDA EUR 75.4 million (EUR 67.1 million) +12.3%
  • Net profit EUR 47.8 million (EUR 42.8 million) + increased by 11.7%.

In Q3, the Group’s revenue and operating result were impacted by following operational factors

  • After the rerouting of ships in December 2016, carriage capacity increased on a number of operated routes.
  • During June and August, one cruise ferry operated the Tallinn – Helsinki route in contrast to two cruise ferries in last year.
  • Increased competition on Tallinn – Helsinki route.
Nov 09
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Acciona’s nine-month report

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

Trasmediterránea is only one of the companies belonging to the well-performing Acciona Group. In its 9M report, Acciona says that the Trasmediterránea EBITDA fell to €40 million, due to an increase in fuel costs derived from higher oil prices. The revenues were rather flat, with -2%.
In the period from January till September more passengers (+1.3%), more freight (+2.9%) and more cars (+5.6%) have been transported.
Recently Acciona reached an agreement to sell its 92.7% stake in Trasmediterranea to the Naviera Armas Group, something which is planned for 2018, Q1.

Nov 09
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Oil prices reached the highest levels in more than two years

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

The price of a barrel of North Sea Oil (BRENT) is flirting with USD 62, more than double the price level after the plunge below USD 30 at the beginning of last year.
Analysts see the strength of the global economy and geopolitical uncertainty as main reasons. Crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s bold efforts to consolidate authority in Saudi Arabia in his hands has certainly created stress on the market, especially since we know he is in favour of a reduced oil production.
In the ferry industry it will especially be the fast ferry operators who will feel the impact of a higher fuel bill, and the ones carrying mainly passengers. It is not so easy to raise prices. Freight operators usually have bunker surcharge clauses in their contracts (BAF or Bunker Adjustment Fee), making them less affected since the surcharge is being paid by the shipper, and eventually the end consumer.

Photo © Mike Louagie

Nov 09
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Finnlines is on the way to a third record-breaking year

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

Finnlines can look back with great satisfaction on the first three quarters of the year.
The January–September 2017 result improved by almost 12%, and was the best nine-month result in Finnlines’ history.

  • Revenue EUR 404.5 (361.1) million, +12%
  • EBITDA EUR 120.5 (114.3) million, + 5.4%
  • Result EUR 67.9 (60.9) million, +11.5 %
    Continuing the positive news, Q3 was Finnlines’ best ever quarter
  • Revenue EUR 145.2 (130.4) million, +11.4 %
  • EBITDA EUR 50.7 (49.6) million, +2.2%
  • Result EUR 32.5 (30.3) million, +7.0%

Finnlines sees the recovery of Finland’s economy as one of the explanations for its success, apart from the different actions to strengthen its competitive position. The growth of 10% is reflected in the export and import volumes.

In response to growing demand, Finnlines will be expanding its fleet.

  • EUROPALINK, actually in the Med on Livorno-Palermo, will be rejoining Finnlines early next year on Malmö–Travemünde.
  • NORDLINK, now on Malmö-Travemünde, will be redeployed on the Naantali–Kapellskär route via Långnäs.

Infographic © Finnlines

Nov 09
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Ontario Government chooses Damen for its two new ferries

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

The Government of Ontario and Damen Shipyards Group have signed a contract for the two ferries to operate in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes.
The ferries will be a 68-metre Damen Road Ferry 6819 and a 98-metre Damen Road Ferry 9819.
The ferries will be based in Kingston and Loyalist Township, at the northeastern end of Lake Ontario. The larger of the two new ferries will serve the nearby Wolfe Island while the smaller will serve Amherst Island, just a few kilometres to the west.
Ferries transport approximately 850,000 passengers and 420,000 vehicles between Wolfe Island and Kingston each year, and approximately 290,000 passengers and 136,000 vehicles to and from Amherst Island annually.
The ferries are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2019 (Amherst) and at the end of 2020 (Wolfe).
Both will be hybrid-ready, enabling them to be fitted with batteries when required.

On the photo © Damen, from left to right: Mark Gerretsen (MP for Kingston and the Islands), Leo Postma, (Sales Manager, Damen Shipyards Gorinchem), Sophie Kiwala (Member of Provincial Parliament), Mike Bossio (MP of Hastings-Lennox and Addington).