New hybrid electric vessel for Norled

By | 2023 Newsletter week 10 | No Comments

Norled and Brødrene Aa have entered into a contract for the construction of a new hybrid electric vessel, to be named BRE.

It will be used as a reserve vessel on Norled’s routes from Bodø to Væran and Gildeskål.  On these services she will have a hybridization rate of 70% electric operation.

When not operating on these routes, BRE will operate as a 100% electric sightseeing boat for Brim Explorer.

  • Passengers :  130 with space for luggage, bicycles and kayaks
  • Speed : 30 knots
  • Length : 24 metres
  • Battery : 1.2 MWh
  • Construction : Carbon Fibre

Photo: Brødrene Aa

Condor Ferries buys Straitsman

By | 2023 Newsletter week 10 | No Comments

With significant global interest, it is Condor Ferries that has succeeded in buying the ro-pax STRAITSMAN from Bluebridge Ferries, New Zealand.

As reported last week by FSN, operators including CTMA and CMAL/NorthLink Ferries were also in the running to acquire the ship.

Re-named and upgraded, the 125-metre vessel will enter service between the UK and France and the Channel Islands in the autumn.  Condor has said that the move will bring “greater resilience, capacity and connectivity”.

Condor Ferries has promised an overnight service in both directions from the UK and Channel Islands.  The new vessel will also provide additional passenger capacity in the event of Condor’s fast craft being affected by bad weather.

The larger fleet will also assist with inter-Island frequency and help to develop the growing freight services from France.

Built in 2005, the 400-passenger STRAITSMAN is very close in design to Condor’s existing ro-pax ferry, COMMODORE CLIPPER.  She previously operated in Europe as Bornholm’s DUEODDE.

Photo: Condor Ferries

Guernsey will not buy a new passenger ferry for the island

By | 2022 Newsletter week 37 | No Comments

In January 2022, the Policy & Resource Committee of Guernsey announced its intention to buy a ferry to lease to Condor Ferries.

“The idea was that a conventional ferry would add support to Condor’s current cluster of ships, which would give more security and an enhanced service to the island,” said the President of the Committee, Deputy Peter Ferbrache

Last week, the Policy & Resources Committee said it has abandoned plans to buy the island a new passenger ferry.

A Tunnel Connecting Finland And Estonia?

By | 2021 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments
  • 26 April 2021, Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications and Estonia’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure signed a MoU on cooperation between the two countries in the transport sector.
  • The urpose of the MoU is cooperation in the transport sector and exchange of information between the countries in order to promote large-scale transport projects, such as the Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel, Rail Baltica, Trans-European Transport Networks, and North Sea-Baltic Sea core network corridor.
  • The MoU provides an improved environment for applying EU funding for the projects.

FERRY SHIPPING

By | 2019 Newsletter week 47 | No Comments

Condor Ferries CEO Welcomes the Expertise of the New Owners

See also our extra news flash from 14 November 2019.

Paul Luxon, Condor Ferries’ CEO, said in a statement that he is delighted with the agreement between the current shareholder, Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, to sell its 100% interest in Condor Ferries to a consortium of Columbia Threadneedle Investments, the majority shareholder, and Brittany Ferries.

“The new shareholders wholeheartedly share our vision and strategy for maintaining and developing essential Channel Islands’ lifeline ferry services across the freight supply chain, Islander travel and tourism sectors. Having met with senior executives of CTI and BF on several occasions, the company welcomes such experience and expertise from the new shareholders and having introduced them to key stakeholders including politicians and senior civil servants, discussions on fleet replacement and future investment will continue.”

He added that Condor Ferries’ management and staff will continue to deliver the five-year business plan that is underway. “We will continue to focus on providing efficient and effective sea connectivity to support the Channel Islands’ economies”.

EXTRA NEWS

By | 2019 Newsletter week 46 | No Comments

Brittany Ferries and Columbia Threadneedle Investments reach agreement to acquire Condor Ferries from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets

Brittany Ferries, in consortium with the Columbia Threadneedle European Sustainable Infrastructure Fund (ESIF), has reached an agreement to acquire 100 percent of Condor Ferries from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA).

Contracts have been signed and the deal is expected to be executed following scrutiny by relevant regulatory authorities. Brittany Ferries will hold a minority stake.

Condor Ferries is an operator of lifeline freight and passenger ferry services. Each year, Condor Ferries carries approximately 1 million passengers, 200,000 passenger vehicles, and over 900,000 freight lane meters between Guernsey, Jersey, the United Kingdom, and the Port of St. Malo in France.

Brittany Ferries began operations in 1973. Today its fleet includes twelve ships connecting France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain. It operates from three ports in the UK, Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth and carries around 2.5 million passengers every year, as well as 210,000 freight units.

ESIF is a new open-ended, evergreen fund that invests in European mid-market equity assets, managed by leading global asset management group Columbia Threadneedle Investments.

IN THE MEDIA

By | 2019 Newsletter week 26 | No Comments

Brittany Ferries Might Be Interested in Condor Ferries

An internal letter from Brittany Ferries informed its employees that the company might be interested in taking over Condor Ferries, together with a co-investor.
Brittany Ferries would not like to see Condor being taken over by a competitor.
The BF management said it was too early to comment.

Condor Ferries is currently owned by The Australian Macquarie Fund.