French Politicians Publish a Letter in Le Marin to Defend the French Flag

By | 2025 Newsletter week 36 | No Comments
  • 18 French politicians (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Corsica, Occitanie) wrote an open letter in Le Marin.
  • They accuse GNV, controlled by MSC, of “predatory dumping.”
  • GNV operates RoPax routes from Sète to Morocco and Algeria.
  • French Politicians claim MSC injected €290 million in 2024, covering losses.
  • Strategy seen as undermining “sustainable” operators and national sovereignty.
  • French unions denounce unfair competition via Italian ship register.

Source: Le Marin (in French)

Irish Continental Group Half-Year 2025 Results

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Color Group reported satisfactory results for H1 2025, despite fewer passengers and freight units compared to 2024.

  • Revenue: NOK 2.9bn (down NOK 30m vs 2024)
  • EBITDA: NOK 255m (vs NOK 389m in 2024, which included a NOK 45m one-off gain)
  • Volumes: 1.6m passengers, 76,000 freight units (12-m equivalents)

CEO Trond Kleivdal

  • Demand for routes and products remains high.
  • Lower activity due to:
    • Extended shipyard stays for environmental upgrades.
    • Weak freight market.
    • Reduced travel appetite in Norway from weak krone.
  • Group expects a satisfactory annual result. Growth expected in foreign markets.
  • On track with green transition and digital transformation.

Kleivdal warned of rising climate costs hitting the industry:

  • EU Emissions Trading System already adds significant costs.
  • IMO rules from 2028 could lead to double taxation on emissions.
  • Calls on Norway to ensure the industry is not unfairly exposed.

Click on the cover below to access the report

Color Line’s H1 Affected by Pandemic – Strong Customer Base Is Encouraging

By | 2020 Newsletter week 36 | No Comments

Traffic volumes in H1, 2020:

  • -62% passengers 621,781 (1,634,408)
  • -4.2% freight units 85,759 (89,503)

Financial figures H1, 2020:

  • Operating revenues NOK 1,116 million (2,278) from which:
    • Revenue Cargo NOK 248 million
    • Norwegian Government compensation scheme NOK 129 million.
  • Operating loss/profit NOK -189 million (290)
  • Operating loss (EBIT) NOK -490 million (-8)

Facts

  • Adverse effects in connection with the measures imposed by the authorities in response to the coronavirus.
  • Extensive cost-cutting measures, including temporarily laying off employees (approximately 2 200 personnel).
  • Color Line suspended all passenger traffic on all its services in mid-March, with the exception of two ships operating between Norway and Denmark and a ro-ro vessel operating between Norway and Germany.
  • In mid-June, the company resumed passenger-carrying services between Norway and Denmark. At the same time, services to Germany were again permitted, with passenger embarkation in Oslo only, combined with goods traffic.

Outlook

  • Color Group is expecting to report earnings that are substantially lower than last year, and results will very much be dependent on the nature of the restrictions imposed by the authorities in the coming months.

+    Strong customer base, modern tonnage, excellent track record.