Nov 09
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First of four GRP Eco Fast Ferries for Baleària launched

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

Gondan is building four GRP ‘Eco Fast Ferries’ with a capacity for 350 passengers for Baleària. On November 3, the first one was launched and it is scheduled that this unit will be delivered at the end of the year.
The 28m-long 28-knot wave-piercing vessels have been designed focusing on eco-efficiency, comfort and speed. Solar panels supply the necessary energy for onboard services.
The ferries will have two cutting-edge technology 1,450 hp diesel engines.
These catamarans, which will be finished between the end of this year and the middle of 2018, are designed to be able to operate on the different routes between the Balearic Islands.

Photo © Gondan

Nov 09
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WDR orders catamaran ferry for the North Frisian Wadden Sea

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei Föhr-Amrum GmbH (W.D.R.) and Dutch shipyard Talsma have signed the contract for the construction of a 34m passenger-only catamaran.
She will enter service in spring 2019 and expand the existing WDR conventional ferry offer to passengers without cars.
The aluminium vessel has been designed by Conoship from Groningen, and can accommodate around 150 passengers in winter and 250 in summer.
The challenge was to find a suitable vessel that has the best performance within the speed regulation parameters in the protected Wadden Sea. Her maximum speed will be 20 knots, which against the current will still allow her to reach 16 knots.

Photo © WDR

Nov 09
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IN THE PRESS

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

High VAT harms competitiveness of Greek coastal shipping

Greek online media Ekathimerini writes that, when comparing Greece with other EU countries, the VAT rate on ferry tickets is one of the highest. The article is based on a study titled “The Contribution of Passenger Shipping to the Greek Economy” which has been published by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE). The authors believe that the reduction of VAT on ferry tickets would give the Greek islands an economic boost without provoking a negative fiscal impact.

Photo © Mike Louagie

Nov 09
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Color Line interested in Norway’s coastal route

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

According to Skipsrevyen, Color Line has declared its interest to enter the Norwegian coastal operations actually operated by Hurtigruten. The Norwegian State has decided that the license to operate “the world’s most beautiful sea voyage” is open for tenders. Norled, Toghatten and now Color Line are showing interest, together with a couple of other companies. Deadline for the submission of the bids is January 3.

Nov 09
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Hurtigruten AS buys back RICHARD WITH and NORDLYS

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

After having leased the two ships, Hurtigruten AS has reacquired the vessels through a bond loan with a term of three years. Purchaser is Coastal Holding, a subsidiary of Silk Topco, a UK pension fund which also owns Hurtigruten.
Both vessels were built at the Volkswerft in Stralsund, in 1993 and 1994.

Source: Maritimt Magasin – Photo © Robert Cranna / Hurtigruten

Nov 09
Love1

SHORT NEWS

By 2017 Newsletter week 45
  • BC Ferries’ NORTHERN SEA WOLF, the small car ferry acquired for the new route from Port Hardy – Bella Coola, is on its way to British Columbia. Formerly known as AQUA SPIRIT she departed from the port of Piraeus on November 3 for the 10,097 nautical mile journey to her new home in British Columbia.
  • High-speed ferry KRILO ECLIPSE arrived under tow in Piraeus. After one season in Croatia, she has been bought by Golden Star Ferries. Her new name will be SUPERSPEED.
  • Grimaldi Group was awarded the “Leadership Excellence Award” by the US-based Panorama magazine. During a three-day event Italian excellence was introduced to an American audience.
  • Faergen has sold ro-pax HAMMERODDE to Stena RoRo. However, it will continue to operate between Køge and Bornholm until 1 September 2018, when Molslinjen takes over the service from Faergen. Which plans Stena has for the ship is unknown.
Nov 09
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A video to explain Brittany Ferries’ LNG bunkering

By 2017 Newsletter week 45

When Brittany Ferries takes delivery of HONFLEUR in 2019, she will be the first passenger ship in the world to be equipped with on board cranes that allow standard-size 40 feet LNG containers to be lifted into a fixed position.
These containers will be transported by truck to Ouistreham from an LNG terminal at Dunkerque. Driven on board, they will be hoisted into position alongside a fixed LNG storage tank located at the rear of the superstructure. Upon the next call at port, empty containers will be returned to waiting trucks by crane and replenished with full units.
“Refuelling infrastructure is key to the uptake of cleaner fuels like LNG, throughout the transport sector,” said Christophe Mathieu, Brittany Ferries CEO. “But we cannot wait for widespread storage in ports to deliver the next generation of cleaner vessels. Our team has addressed this problem in an innovative way.”
HONFLEUR will operate alongside Brittany Ferries’ MONT ST MICHEL on three daily return sailings, between Ouistreham and Portsmouth.

Nov 02
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Deal between Attica and Grimaldi Group consolidates Greek ferry scene

By 2017 Newsletter week 44

The fight for the ownership of Hellenic Seaways (HSW) is over. Attica Holdings and Grimaldi Group have reached an agreement on October 26, where HSW will be almost fully owned by Attica

  • Minoan Lines, a Grimaldi Group company, will transfer all its HSW shares (48.53%) to Attica Holdings, for €78.5 million. The latter already became the majority shareholder in August when acquiring 50.3% of the share capital from Piraeus Bank.
  • Attica Ferries Maritime Company will sell ro-pax SUPERFAST XII to a company within the Grimaldi Group. Price tag: €74,5 million. The SUPERFAST XII is currently operating on the long route Piraeus – Patmos – Leros – Kalymnos – Kos – Rhodes & Syros – Katapola, for the Blue Star Ferries brand.
  • Fast (car) ferry HIGHSPEED 7 will change hands from Hellenic Seaways to Minoan Lines for €25 million. HIGHSPEED 7 operates from Heraklion to Santorini
  • The completion of the deal will need to be approved by the Greek competition authority.

This deal is the most logic solution for the control over HSW, where two competitors basically both owned half of the company, with Attica at a small advantage. There was only one way: either Grimaldi, or Attica had to become the sole owner.

Now that Attica fully controls HSW, it will certainly create a high degree of rationalization on the Greek domestic routes. Attica/HSW will have the Aegean, and Grimaldi Group will –via Minoan Lines– have the Crete routes to Piraeus and Santorini / Cyclades. Grimaldi gets money to invest, and gets two modern ships.

Attica/HSW will now be able to reshuffle ships and routes for a better utilization. This economy of scale will be something attractive for investors. The domestic horizon will change, for sure.
It is noteworthy to remember that Attica also has a cooperation with ANEK Lines, on Crete (Heraklion and Chania, the headquarters of ANEK) and in the Adriatic. Could this cooperation develop further? Time will tell.

Part of the deal is the sale of the SUPERFAST XII to a company within the Grimaldi Group. This ro-pax was built in 2002 bij Flender Werft, Lübeck.

Photos © Mike Louagie