Aug 31
2

Zante Ferries is selling its ships

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On August 27, 2024, the Greek owned ferry operator Zante Ferries invited its shareholders to attend an extraordinary General Assembly that will take place at Zakynthos on September 22, 2024. There, it will be decided the fate of its ferries DIONISSIOS SOLOMOS (1990) and ADAMANDIOS KORAIS (1987) that will probably be sold.  

 Zante Ferries was founded in 1991 at Zakynthos and operated exclusively in the Ionian Sea. In 2008, they came to the Aegean Sea and routed ADAMANDIOS KORAIS -initially on the Central Aegean- and then Western Cyclades. In 2017, they brought the larger DIONISSIOS SOLOMOS on the line and left the Ionian service permanently.  

 After the selling off its ships, Zante Ferries will suspend its services within the Hellenic Coastal Shipping after 33 years. 

 Photo: Zante Ferries 

Aug 31
2

Daleela’s Greece – Cyprus connection extended 3 more years

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On August 23, 2024, the Cypriot Ministerial Council announced the extension of the agreement for the Greece-Cyprus line for 3 more years (2025, 2026, 2027). 

 According to the information, they reached that decision after evaluating the performance indicators, which revealed that since 2022, RoPax DALEELA has transported more than 21,000 passengers and more than 7,000 cars. 

 DALEELA is owned by Arab Ship Management (Jordanian interest) and chartered to Scandro Holding Ltd. Greece (Piraeus) – Cyprus (Limassol)  

The line has been subsidised with 5.5 million euros per year for the first three years (a total of 16.5 million euros). 

 Photo: Dimitris Mendakis 

Aug 31
1

IMAGE CARDS

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Hyundai Mipo Dockyard held a keel laying ceremony for the second of CLdN’s new G9e vessels at their shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. 

This new ship will feature two conventional main engines along with two large 6 MW shaft generators, which can be used for power generation or electric propulsion. The design offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing for future integration of new fuels, fuel cells, and battery technology.  

Compared to CLdN’s largest vessels currently in operation, Celine and Delphine, the new ships will reduce CO₂ emissions by 40% while maintaining the same cargo capacity. 

The delivery of both vessels is scheduled for the first half of 2025. 

The picture shows representatives from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, DNV (the classification society), and the Anglo-Eastern Technical Services Site Team, who are overseeing the process on behalf of CLdN. 

Source: CLdN on Linkedin 

P&O Ferries started running their ‘Turn-up and Go’ space charter with Irish Ferries on the Dover-Calais route, meaning ships will always be fully loaded for freight at peak, allowing freight to clear the port up to 25 per cent faster.  

The agreement is good for the customers (no waiting) and it also lowers the carbon footprint of the cross-Channel route by always fully loading the vessels. 

During the trial period, which began on 8th July, more than 12,000 freight vehicles were transferred between the two operators. 

 

A brand new 144,000 square meter port terminal was inaugurated at the Port of Gothenburg. The investment, amounting to approximately 60 million EUR, has been under construction for the past six years and was made to meet the increased transportation needs of Swedish industry. 

 Named “Arendal 2”, the terminal is also part of the port’s strategy to concentrate its terminal operations in the outer port area, further from the city center, and with direct connections to the port’s road and rail infrastructure as well as the local growing industrial cluster. 

Source and photo: Port of Gothenburg  

Aug 24
2

Rederi AB Eckerö H1: All-time high cargo and passenger volumes during the period March to June 

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Key points summarising the first six months of 2024: 

  • Passenger and Cargo Records: The period from March to June 2024 saw all-time high cargo and passenger volumes, with March and June setting new records for the Finland-Estonia route. 
  • Impact of Dockings: The docking of FINLANDIA and ECKERÖ at the beginning of the year led to a 6% reduction in departures, contributing to a 6% decrease in total passenger numbers compared to the first half of 2023. 
  • Cargo Growth: Despite fewer departures, cargo volumes grew by 3% compared to the first half of 2023, with a 9% increase in cargo units transported per departure. 
  • Revenue Decline: Sales for the first half of 2024 were 99.5 million EUR, a 3% decrease from the same period in 2023, mainly due to the reduced number of departures. However, sales per passenger increased by 4%. 
  • Profit Margins and Operating Result: The operating result was 2.7 million EUR, down from 6.5 million EUR in the previous year. Adjusted for vessel sales, the operating result was negative at -0.5 million EUR. 
  • Fleet Updates: The company sold SHIPPER in January 2024 for 4.5 million EUR, resulting in a pre-tax profit of 3.2 million EUR. 
  • Market Share: The company’s passenger market share on the Finland-Estonia route decreased slightly to 27%, while the cargo market share remained steady at 36%. The Åland-Sweden route maintained a dominant passenger market share of over 80%. 
  • Fuel Efficiency Gains: The docking and maintenance of FINLANDIA led to a significant improvement in fuel efficiency, with a 12% reduction in fuel consumption compared to the first half of 2023. 
  • Financial Position: Net debt was reduced to 5.5 million EUR by the end of June 2024, down from 10 million EUR at the end of June 2023, while the equity ratio improved to 50.1%. 
  • Outlook: The company reported a strong start to the third quarter, with record cargo and passenger volumes in July, but noted ongoing geopolitical instability as a potential risk factor for the remainder of the year. 

Source: Rederi AB Eckerö PDF 

Photo: Eckerö – Kaupokalda.com  

Aug 24
2

Q2/H1 Results Gotlandsbolaget

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  • Revenue and Profitability: Revenue for January-June 2024 increased to 989.0 MSEK, with a reduced operating loss of -39.4 MSEK, driven by stronger results in Gotlandstrafiken. (but also negatively affected by establishment costs from the share in Gotland Alandia Cruises). 
  • Strategic Expansion: Gotlandsbolaget acquired DFDS’s Oslo-Copenhagen route, including two cruise ferries and 800 employees, aligning with their growth strategy in passenger shipping. 
  • Operational Highlights: Renewal of the Gotlandstrafiken contract for 2027-2035, with an option for two more years. 
  • Future Outlook: Focus on expanding on-land operations on Gotland and enhancing energy and technology initiatives. 

At the end of June, Gotlandsbolaget secured the contract to operate Gotlandstrafiken from 2027 to 2035, with an option for a two-year extension. The bid, which was competitive across the EU, is based on using a Swedish flag, Swedish crew, and Swedish agreements, with financial and strategic management handled by a Danish subsidiary. If Sweden updates its tonnage tax system, Gotlandsbolaget plans to shift full management responsibilities back to Gotland, pending a government decision by 2025. 

Source: Gotlandsbolaget (in Swedish) 

Aug 24
2

AdonisHR merges with Ripple Operations to Create the Leading Crew Success Platform

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Ripple Operations has recently acquired AdonisHR through a strategic partnership with Bleecker Street Group, a global technology holding company.  

Here’s what this means for the customers: 

  • Expanded Solutions and Services: By joining forces with Ripple Operations, AdonisHR is now able to offer a more comprehensive suite of software solutions focused on enhancing crew performance, safety, and operational efficiency.  
  • Accelerated Innovation: With the backing of Bleecker Street Group and Ripple Operations’ extensive resources, AdonisHR is poised to accelerate the development of products and services. This means staying ahead of industry trends and providing solutions that meet the evolving needs of the maritime sector. 
  • Global Reach and Support: Ripple Operations’ global platform and expertise will enable  to expand the reach, offering stronger support and more relevant solutions to maritime organizations worldwide. 
  • Leadership Excellence: Heather Combs will be the new CEO of AdonisHR through Ripple Operations. Heather brings extensive experience in driving strategic growth within the tech sector. Her leadership will be instrumental in pushing the boundaries of crew management and setting new industry standards. 
  • Next-Level Training Solutions: As part of this integration, AdonisHR is transitioning its Adonis LMS module to Ripple Operations MLS, a cutting-edge learning management system specifically designed for the maritime industry.  
Aug 24
2

Finnlines will open a route from Turku to Rostock

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With this route, new opportunities will arise for Finnish companies’ imports and exports. 

The schedule of FINNPULP, which operates the Turku–Travemünde–Rostock line, is well-suited for export and import shipments between Finland and Germany. In Travemünde, the vessel will load at 13:00 on Sunday, and in Rostock at 23:00, after which it will depart for Finland, arriving in Turku at 9:00 on Tuesday. The return journey to Germany will start on Friday at 20:00. The vessel will arrive in Travemünde at 7:00 on Sunday and in Rostock at 17:00. 

The first departure under the new route will be from Germany on Sunday, August 25. 

Source: Port of Turku 

Aug 24
2

Zeabuz has signed an LOI with Haugesund Kommune to deliver technology for Norway’s first autonomous city ferry

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The Research and Development project by Haugesund Kommune aims to develop a national pilot for an autonomous zero emission city ferry. The test period will initially last for two years, in which the vessel’s autonomy technology will gradually introduce self-driving capabilities and reduction of crew.   

Following the LOI agreement, Zeabuz will deliver the autonomy software onboard, equipping the ferry with the technology needed to safely conduct self-driving operations in complex traffic scenarios. The route will connect the city islands, make the recreational island Vibrandsøy accessible to the public, and is expected to boost local development, business and tourism in the area. To start it will travel between Haugesund Center, Risøy and Vibrandsøy. After the initial two-year test period, Haugesund Kommune intends to expand the route to also cover additional locations such as Karmøy. 

Zeabuz is a spin-off from the leading research community for autonomous vessels at NTNU in Trondheim, renowned for pioneering the world’s first autonomous urban ferry prototypes. 

Source: Zeabuz 

Aug 24
2

Publication: 21st edition of the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) 2023

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The 21st edition of the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) 2023 report has been published. Here is a summary of the parts concerning RoRo traffic: 

  • RoRo Traffic Overview (2023): RoRo traffic at Republic of Ireland (ROI) ports decreased by 2%, totaling 1.17 million units. Dublin saw a 4% decline, while Rosslare grew by 9%, achieving a record 204,693 units. 
  • ROI-GB Routes: Experienced a 2% decline, with Dublin and Rosslare both showing decreases. The shift away from the UK Landbridge remains consistent post-Brexit. 
  • ROI-EU Routes: Fell by 2% overall, with Dublin seeing a 9% decline, but Rosslare continued growth due to a service shift from Cork, marking another record year. 
  • Market Shares: Dublin’s market share declined slightly, while Rosslare’s share of ROI-EU traffic increased, reflecting the ongoing shift in trade routes post-Brexit. 
  • The trend between accompanied and unaccompanied RoRo cargo remained stable. Accompanied RoRo traffic, typically involving shorter routes like those to Great Britain, saw a slight decrease, particularly on ROI-GB routes. Unaccompanied RoRo traffic, often used for longer EU routes, maintained its post-Brexit growth trajectory, especially through ports like Rosslare, which saw an increase in direct EU traffic. The shift away from the UK Landbridge continues to influence these patterns, with unaccompanied cargo becoming more prominent on direct EU routes. 

Click on the cover to access the document: 

Aug 24
2

CLdN opens new access gate at Purfleet terminal

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CLdN opened the new access gate to its London terminal in Purfleet, UK. This two-year, multimillion-pound project will significantly improve access to the terminal for customers and deliver on commitments with the local authorities to divert terminal traffic away from residential areas.    

The new access to the east of the terminal will significantly reduce traffic along London Road – the road running along the north side of the terminal. The investment included the construction of a new access road and roundabout, new freight access gates (including an automated camera system for checking the condition of trailers) and the improvement of access roads within the terminal. The new access will also enable CLdN to increase capacity at the terminal in line with planning permits.    

Source: CLdN