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Tag: European Commission | Ferry Shipping News

Mar 01
1

European Commission opens in-depth State aid investigation into French compensation to maritime transport companies

By | 2024 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether the public service compensation granted to Corsica Linea and La Méridionale for the provision of maritime transport services to Corsica between 2023 and 2030 is in line with EU State aid rules.

At this stage, based on its preliminary assessment, the Commission considers that additional information is necessary to determine whether the public compensation paid to Corsica Linea and La Méridionale is in line with EU State aid rules, and in particular with the 2012 Service of General Economic Interest (‘SGEI’) Framework.

For this reason, the Commission has decided to open an in-depth investigation to assess whether:

  • The inclusion of transport of towed freight and truck drivers in the contracts is justified by a public service need, given the presence on the market of a commercial offer developed from the neighboring port.
  • The volume of freight traffic to be transported pursuant to the contracts does not exceed the public service need identified by the French authorities.

In addition, additional clarifications are needed to conclude that the contracts comply with EU rules on public procurement.

Source: European Commission

Feb 16
1

A strong result for Wasaline – continued reduction in environmental impact and a record year in the passenger segment

By | 2024 Newsletter week 07 | No Comments

During the financial year, further measures have been taken to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. Emissions of CO2 have decreased by 23%. During the year, the use of LNG increased. In the autumn, Aurora Botnia operated one day a week with certified Biogas. Utilization of the battery technology was also optimized. All of this contributed to this decrease.

Since the start of traffic of AURORA BOTNIA in 2021, Wasaline has reduced its CO2 emissions by 29% per trip and in 2023 CO2 emissions were reduced by 23%.

The passenger side showed an increase compared to 2022, despite that the bookings decreased significantly in the last quarter due to the recession.

Passenger volumes increased by 4.4% and turnover by 5.4%.

Departures increased by 2.7% to 1,164 departures.

Cargo lost volumes. Mainly it was imports to Finland that decreased. All shipping to Russia was cancelled and demand for paper decreased, which led to the amount of cargo units falling by 5.9%

The result before appropriations and taxes amounted to +3.2 million (2022 +3.3 million).

TRAFFIC STATISTICS

(numbers) 2023 2022
Departures 1 164 1133
Passengers 279 590 267 757
Passenger Vehicles 63 647 55 661
Cargo units 20 886 22 191

 

KEY FIGURES

(1000 €) 2023 2022
Revenue 29 107 29 293
Operating profit 2 902 3 292
Operating profit % 10,0 % 11,2 %
Equity ratio 61,7 % 63,05 %
Feb 16
1

European Commission closes State aid investigation into Danish and Swedish public financing of Øresund fixed rail-road link

By | 2024 Newsletter week 07 | No Comments

The European Commission has concluded that the State guarantee model granted by Denmark and Sweden for the construction of the Øresund fixed rail-road link does not constitute new aid within the meaning of EU State aid rules.

The Commission has also found that part of the tax support implemented by Denmark constitutes new aid that is disproportionate and therefore not compatible with the Treaty. Denmark must now recover the incompatible aid, including interest.

In October 2014, following a complaint by a ferry company, the Commission found that Denmark and Sweden’s support to the consortium owning and operating the Øresund fixed rail-road link, Øresundsbro Konsortiet I/S, was in line with EU State aid rules.

Denmark and Sweden’s support took the form of a State guarantee on the loans taken out by the consortium to finance the link. Denmark also provided the Danish parent company of the consortium, A/S Øresund, with special tax treatment as concerns depreciation of assets and fiscal loss carry forward.

In September 2018, the General Court partially annulled the Commission’s 2014 decision on procedural grounds.

Continue to read here.

Jun 18
0

FERRY PORTS

By | 2020 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules the prolongation until end 2023 of various Italian support measures for maritime transport under Italy’s “International Registry” scheme. The scheme encourages shipping companies to register their ships in Europe and so ensure higher social, environmental and safety standards.

Italy has also committed to a number of changes to its scheme to avoid undue competition distortion as well as to prevent any discrimination between shipping companies and registries of different European Economic Area (EEA) States.

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Oct 10
0

European Commission Approves €47 Million Public Support For Greek Port Of Igoumenitsa

By | 2019 Newsletter week 41 | No Comments

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Greece’s plans to grant €47.3 million of public support for the construction of a new quay in the port of Igoumenitsa.

The aim of the project is to decrease congestion, harmful emissions and the risk of accidents, by relocating the port’s international activities to a new quay situated out of the city of Igoumenitsa.

The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules. It found that the public support was proportionate and necessary for the implementation of the investment. Furthermore, the Commission considered that Igoumenitsa, while being a relatively small port with limited transport volumes at EU level, is part of the core trans-European transport network (TEN-T).

Sep 20
0

EU Transport Commissioner Violetta Bulc Visits North Sea Port

By | 2018 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments

On 16 September North Sea Port received the visit of EU Transport commissioner Violetta Bulc. North Sea Port is the company managing three merged ports: Ghent, Terneuzen and Vlissingen.

In Terneuzen, the EU commissioner visited the building site of the New Lock. She was able to see the enlargement of the maritime access to the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal. Europe is supporting this project with a contribution of EUR 48m.

In 2022, the first ship will be sailing through the New Lock.

Ghent is an important base for DFDS.

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Jan 25
0

EU agrees with rescue loan for Croatian shipbuilder Uljanik

By | 2018 Newsletter Week 04 | No Comments

The European Commission has found Croatian plans to grant Uljanik shipyard a State guarantee for a €96 million short-term loan are in line with EU State aid rules. The measure will allow the company to meet urgent liquidity needs while preparing a restructuring plan.
The Commission found that the aid is necessary to prevent Uljanik from going out of business immediately and avoid significant (1,800) job losses. Moreover, the company’s liquidity needs over the next months are based on reasonable assumptions and will be monitored by an independent auditor on the basis of weekly liquidity plans. Finally, Croatia committed to notify a restructuring plan for the company within a maximum of six months.

Uljanik has several ships on order or under construction, such as ro-ro’s for CLdN and an expedition cruise yacht for Scenic.

Photo: Uljanik

Press Release European Commission