Interview with Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line, in RoPax 13 (May 2024):

By | 2024 Newsletter week 26 | No Comments
  • Performance in 2023:
    • Stena Line had a decent year in terms of volume and customer satisfaction.
    • The company faced high costs due to increased salaries, spare parts, and interest rates.
    • Brexit did not negatively impact traffic between Ireland and the UK, which remains stable and growing.
  • Market Challenges:
    • The Baltic Sea region was significantly impacted by the Ukraine war and higher interest rates, affecting macroeconomic activities.
    • Competition is intense, with other operators reducing prices.
  • Expansion and Investment:
    • Stena Line expanded in the Mediterranean by acquiring a 49% stake in African Morocco Link (AML).
    • New logistics hubs were established in Liverpool and Dublin, enhancing operations between Ireland and the UK.
    • The company is also developing a new port in Immingham, transitioning some services from Killingholme.
  • Sustainability Efforts:
    • Stena Line continues to explore green fuel options, including methanol and hybrid solutions combining biodiesel and batteries.
    • The “Stena Electra” project remains of interest, but its future depends on infrastructure investments in electricity.
  • New Ventures:
    • Stena Line sees potential in the Morocco-Spain route, emphasizing the strategic importance of Morocco’s infrastructure investments and its role in connecting Europe and Africa.
  • Future Outlook:
    • Despite market fluctuations, Stena Line is focused on infrastructure investments rather than acquiring customers.
    • The company remains adaptable in its approach to fuel and propulsion systems, seeking to balance sustainability with economic feasibility.

Read the full interview in RoPax magazine: PDF

CEO of CalMac stepping down

By | 2024 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

In a press release, the CalMac Board acknowledges the challenges faced by island communities and vows to enhance operational performance, resilience, and communication. CEO Robbie Drummond steps down immediately, and Duncan Mackison assumes the interim CEO role until a permanent successor is appointed.

His resignation comes the week after the CEO of Ferguson Marine, the company building the two delayed ferries for CalMac, was sacked.

New CEO for Molslinjen announced

By | 2023 Newsletter week 8 | No Comments

The current CEO of ForSea, Kritian Durhuus is to become the new CEO of Molslinjen.  Molslinjen’s takeover of ForSea was completed at the end of January and the two companies are in the process of merging.

The vacancy has arisen as current Molslinjen CEO Carsten Jensen is leaving the post to become the new CEO of Nordic Ferry Infrastructure in Oslo.

Nordic Ferry Infrastructure (NFI) is a holding company that will in future own both Molslinjen and the Norwegian transport company, Torghatten.

Kristian Durhuus will join Molslinjen on 15 March 2023.  In the interim period Carsten Jensen will remain responsible for Molslinjen.

Photo: Molslinjen

Barry O’Connell appointed new CEO at Dublin Port Company

By | 2022 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

Barry O’Connell will be Dublin Port Company’s new CEO from 14 November 2022, following an open and competitive recruitment process.

Barry joins Dublin Port Company from the Coca-Cola System, where he has held multiple senior executive roles in bottling operations around the world since 1992.

Barry replaces Eamonn O’Reilly, who stepped down from the role on 31st August after twelve highly successful years.

David Stretch to step down as CEO of P&O Ferries

By | 2021 Newsletter week 47 | No Comments

CEO David Stretch will be leaving P&O Ferries, to pursue new opportunities outside of the Group.

David Stretch took over the reins at P&O Ferries following the departure of CEO Janette Bell in August 2020.

David Stretch will be replaced in his role by Peter Hebblethwaite, as interim CEO, whilst maintaining his current role.

Peter Hebblethwaite has served both as Director Overnight Routes and Managing Director – RoPax during his three years with the company.

Carsten Nørland Succeeds Søren Poulsgaard Jensen as Scandlines’ CEO

By | 2021 Newsletter week 35 | No Comments

“Søren has done an excellent job and positioned Scandlines well for the future as a green and competitive provider of critical infrastructure connecting Continental Europe and Scandinavia. Carsten Nørland brings the right commercial and international skills and experience to carry on the good results in the coming years towards the opening of the Fehmarn tunnel and beyond,” says Chairman of Scandlines’ Supervisory Board, Vagn Sørensen.

Carsten Nørland is 52 years old and holds a MSc. in Economics and Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School. Before his seven years at Royal Unibrew, he held leading positions with international responsibilities in Copenhagen Airports, Flügger and Masterfoods/MARS inc.

Kristian Durhuus Is ForSea’s New CEO

By | 2020 Newsletter week 21 | No Comments

Kristian Durhuus succeeds Jens Ole Hansen, who has been acting as interim CEO of ForSea since February and who will now continue in his position as COO.

Since 2011, Kristian Durhuus has held the position of COO of Copenhagen Airport. Prior to that, he held managing roles within a number of larger organizations including LSG Lufthansa Service and G4S.

FERRY SHIPPING

By | 2020 Newsletter week 10 | No Comments

Heidi Wolden Becomes New CEO of Norled

The board of Norled has appointed Heidi Wolden (50) as the new CEO of Norled (as from 1 May)

Norled is one of Norway’s largest ferry companies. With more than 1,000 employees, the company operates over 80 vessels.

Heidi Wolden was CEO of the construction and housing group Kruse Smith, a position she has held since June 2017. Before that, Wolden had more than 20 years of experience in Equinor.

The move comes after the company was sold last summer from DSD (det Stavangerske Dampskibsselskab) to the Nordic infrastructure fund CapMan Infra and the Canadian company CBRE Caledon Capital Management. Norled’s former CEO Ingvald Løyning is also CEO of DSD, and until recently he held both positions in parallel.

CapMan is an investment and asset management company that seeks active value creation in the portfolio companies as well as real estate and infrastructure investments. In 2019, CapMan had over € 3 billion under management.

CBRE Caledon Capital Management Inc., is a provider of infrastructure and private equity solutions and represents over $ 9 billion on behalf of institutional investors globally.

INTERESTING

By | 2019 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

“This Is Why Our New Shipping Company Will Be A Success”

Quote from Ragnar Johansson, CEO Wallenius SOL.

What began as an idea in a port in Kotka has now, after ten years, resulted in a completely new Swedish shipping company. The ambition is to secure long-term infrastructure for the industry in the Gulf of Bothnia.

New CEO for Trasmediterranea

By | 2019 newsletter week 19 | No Comments

Francisco Oviedo Raposo (Madrid, 1971) has been named CEO of Trasmediterranea, the centennial shipping company that has recently been acquired by Grupo Armas.

The new CEO has extensive experience in the sector and has been linked for more than twenty years to the maritime port sector. Oviedo has been director of Ports of OHL Concesiones during the last ten years and before CEO of Boluda Corporación Marítima.

He holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration and a master’s degree in Commercial Management and Marketing (ESIC). He has a solid background in finance and has led important investment and divestment processes, legal reorganization and refinancing in companies in the sector.