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Tag: Corsica | Ferry Shipping News

Mar 29
1

Monthly figures Corsica

By | 2024 Newsletter week 13 | No Comments

ORTC (Corsica Transport Office) published the monthly traffic statistics.

January February
Passengers Airport 158,010 (+7.4%) 144,841 (+2.1%)
Passengers Ferry 86,610 (+4.4%) 75,316 (-13.1%)
Passenger Cars 36,251 (+0.7%) 32,310 (-10.7%)
Freight (tons) 147,392 (+4.8%) 162,615 (+26.2%)

The monthly reports can be downloaded here (in French)

Oct 13
0

Sicilian Region finally orders the long-awaited ferry

By | 2023 Newsletter week 41 | No Comments

A new ferry, fully owned by the Sicilian Region and entirely “made in Sicily” will provide service to Lampedusa and Pantelleria.

  • The new vessel will be built entirely in the Fincantieri Palermo shipyard.
  • The delivery of the vessel is scheduled for 2026.
  • It will operate on routes between Sicily and the islands of Lampedusa and Pantelleria.
  • LOA
  • GT 14,500.
  • 19 knots.
  • 1,000 people – 200 cars.
  • Dual fuel engines, MDO –
  • A photovoltaic system, along with energy storage in a battery pack, will allow the vessel to remain in port with zero emissions for approximately four hours.
Oct 13
0

DFDS September Volumes: Freight 2% Lower, Passengers 9% Higher

By | 2023 Newsletter week 41 | No Comments

Ferry – freight:

  • Total volumes in September 2023 were 1.9% below 2022.
  • North Sea volumes were slightly below 2022 as firm automotive volumes were offset by mainly lower volumes between Sweden and the UK.
  • Mediterranean’s growth trend improved in September as volumes were back on level with 2022.
  • Channel volumes were also on level with 2022.
  • Baltic Sea volumes were below 2022 due to lower demand from both the continuing impact of the war in Ukraine and a decline in the transport of construction materials.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 10.5% to 38.6m from 43.1m in 2022-21. The decrease was 4.4% adjusted for Channel.

Ferry – passenger:

  • The number of passengers increased 9.4% driven by primarily more Channel passengers.
  • The number of cars increased 0.6%.
  • The total number of passengers increased 37% to 4.5m for the last twelve months, 2023-22, from 3.2m in 2022-21.
Oct 13
0

Moby announced two new routes between mainland Italy and Corsica (and Sardinia)

By | 2023 Newsletter week 41 | No Comments

1) Genoa – Ajaccio (Corsica) – Porto Torres (Northwestern point of Sardinia)

The extension of the line to Porto Torres will further increase interchange between Sardinia and Corsica, both from a tourist and a commercial point of view. This bridge between Corsica and Sardinia will be added to the connection that Moby already ensures all year round with the Bonifacio – Santa Teresa di Gallura.

2) Piombino – Bastia: fastest of all the mainland lines to Corsica.

New for this route will be the livery of the ships that will serve the island, with the Moor’s head symbol of the French island and other typical Corsican elements.

Feb 03
4

Does Corsica need subsidies for the ferry services?

By | 2022 Newsletter week 5 | No Comments

“The current Maritime Public Service Delegation (DSP) between Corsica and Marseille expires on December 31, 2022. The European Commission’s questioning of the very existence of the public service principle puts a sword of Damocles on the territorial continuity,” writes Corse Net Infos in a long article in French, quoting several political stakeholders (but not the ferry operators).

Some interesting elements, quotes, remarks of the debate:

  • Brussels does not see the need to subsidize a service which could very well be provided by private companies. Compensation is against the rules of the market and free competition.
  • Why is what is granted to other regions, such as Croatia or Greece, becoming problematic for Corsica?
  • A decision needs to be taken soon, because the new (multi-year) DSP should start on 1 January 2023.
  • Why only having Marseille as continental port? Toulon, Nice or even Livorno are closer to Corsica. Less fuel. Better utilization of ships.
  • The need to resolve the “painful legacy of the past”.
  • What sense does it make to have ‘market tests’ if the market is changing? (which it does)
  • Corsica, today, imports 90 to 95% from France. We want a system where Corsica is economically connected with Tuscany, Sardinia and Catalonia.
Feb 25
1

Victory For Corsica Ferries, At Last

By | 2021 Newsletter week 8 | No Comments

The Administrative Court of Appeal of Marseille condemns the Territorial Collectivity of Corsica to pay Corsica Ferries France the sum of €86.3 million in compensation for the damage it suffered as a result of the illegal subsidy provided by the Collectivity to SNCM.

This subsidy was given for the ferry service provided by SNCM and CMN between the Port of Marseille and Corsica, in the period between July 2007 and December 2013.

On top of the payments for the public service contract, the alliance SNCM/CMN received 40 million per year for the so-called additional service for the transport of passengers during peak periods.

The European Commission considered in 2013, that the financial compensation paid by

Corsica under this additional service were incompatible with the freedom of competition in the internal market. In 2014 the Commission ordered the refund of this illegal subsidy.

After endless legal fights, Corsica Ferries has finally obtained a favourable decision.

Press release from the Court (in French)
Sep 24
0

IN THE MEDIA

By | 2020 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

No Corsican Regional Ferry Company before 2025

A Corsican public-private partnership (SEMop) ferry company was supposed to be created on 1 January 2021, to provide the ferry services between Marseille and the five ports of Corsica.

This new approach was due to replace the actual public service delegation (PSD) system.

SEMop would have as shareholders the Corsican Community (50.1%) and private operator(s) (49.9%), for a duration of seven years.

Only one private operator showed up: the alliance Corsica Linea – La Méridionale.

The idea of creating a SEMop is being abandoned. Why?

  • The shipowners’ group was asking EUR 776 million for 7 years. Too much says Corsica, who offered EUR 570 million.
  • The coronavirus outbreak has a substantial impact on traffic. The offer presented by Corsica Linea – La Mériodionale is no longer in line with the real needs.

What now? Probably the solution will be to extend the actual PSD one year… or more.

Source: Corse Matin (French)
Aug 13
0

A New High-Speed Ferry Link between Sardinia and Corsica

By | 2020 Newsletter week 33 | No Comments

The Naples-based ferry company Navigazione Libera del Golfo, controlled by the Aponte family and run by Maurizio Aponte as a CEO, is opening a new high-speed ferry line linking the ports of Santa Teresa di Gallura in Sardinia and Bonifacio in Corsica.

On the same routes both Blu Navy and Moby are already active but with ro-pax vessels.

The deployed catamaran is the PONZA JET which can accommodate 350 passengers (no cars) and will cover the distance between Santa Teresa and Bonifacio in 15 minutes, much less than the car ferry service offered by the competitors which takes at least 50 minutes.

The new high-speed ferry link is expected to run until mid-September.