Tag

Tag: France | Ferry Shipping News

Jul 01
2

The Start of a Hot Summer on the Channel (but where are the passengers?)

By | 2021 Newsletter week 26 | No Comments

PRIDE OF BURGUNDY – P&O Ferries fifth ship on its Dover-Calais route – arrived on 28 June at the Port of Dover, returning to service after being laid up (and even for sale).

The P&O ship arrived the day before the start of Irish Ferries on Dover-Calais, with presently one ship: ISLE OF INISHMORE. Irish Ferries operates up to 10 sailings a day.

PRIDE OF BURGUNDY’s return follows P&O Ferries’ freight space sharing agreement with DFDS on the Dover-Calais route.

Passenger travel is still limited due to Covid-related restrictions. Belgium, France and Spain are “amber list” zones, which requires travellers to go in quarantine when arriving in the UK.

France allows vaccinated travellers from the UK, with a PCR-test.

If not vaccinated you can only travel to France if you have pressing grounds for travel, including tests and quarantine. [France Diplomacy]

Brittany Ferries is suffering from the lack of passengers. In 2 years, the company will have transported only 25% of passengers compared to the usual traffic – and this even though passenger transport represents 80% of its activity. CEO Christophe Mathieu told politicians that “the 2021 season is going to be as catastrophic as that of 2020.” [Source France Bleu]

Oct 08
0

IN THE MEDIA

By | 2020 Newsletter week 41 | No Comments

Transmanche Ferries Is in Survival Mode

Interview with Jean-Claude Charlo, Managing director of DFDS in France

  • End of August: -64.3% 99,000 pax (278,000 passengers over the same period in 2019)
  • Adapted capacity: since May 4 instead of 6 departures, followed by one ship laid up early September.
  • Freight volume loss of 18.3% since 1/1/2020.
  • Together with Brittany Ferries we fought to get State aid. But… we have to pay tax on this public money. In other words, we are going to have to give back what we have been given.
  • Focused on: saving jobs of French crews
Source: Actu.fr (in French)
Oct 02
0

Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A. Saw Increase in Total Revenues Despite Decrease in Volume

By | 2020 Newsletter week 40 | No Comments

H1, 2020, has seen an overall increase in port revenues, despite the decrease in cargo traffic, which is directly related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

+5.3% turnover EUR 34.69 million (32.95)

  • Revenue from containers +14%
  • Revenue from conventional cargo -10.3%
  • Volume containers -1.7%
  • Volume conventional cargo -15.6%

-4.8% EBITDA EUR 13.9 million (14.6)

Source: THPA
Oct 02
0

IN THE MEDIA

By | 2020 Newsletter week 40 | No Comments

Calls for Extra Ferries to France in Event of No-Deal Channel Chaos

Food processors and the farm organisations have expressed serious concerns that Ireland’s multi-billion-euro export trade to the European mainland could be halted by chaos at the English Channel ports in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

British warnings of possible gridlock at Dover and other ports have cranked up the pressure on the Irish Government to outline contingency measures.

It is understood that IBEC has called for funding to be set aside in the Budget to support a direct daily ferry service from Ireland to the continent in the event of the English Channel ports being effectively closed.

Source: Independent
May 14
0

UK: No Quarantine Measures Would Apply To Travellers Coming From France At This Stage

By | 2020 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

The Prime Minister of the UK and the President of France agreed to work together in taking forward appropriate border measures. This cooperation is particularly necessary for the management of our common border.

No quarantine measures would apply to travellers coming from France at this stage; any measures on either side would be taken in a concerted and reciprocal manner. A working group between the two governments will be set up to ensure this consultation throughout the coming weeks.

Jan 24
0

France Triggers €50m Contingency Plan In Case Of No-Deal Brexit

By | 2019 Newsletter week 4 | No Comments

There are strong fears that Britain would leave without a deal on 29 March.

“In such conditions, the government’s responsibility is to make sure the country is ready. That’s why I have decided to trigger the plan for a no-deal Brexit,” the French prime minister, Édouard Philippe, has said.

Five decrees will be issued soon, including authorisation for major investment in new infrastructure such as border control checkpoints, roads, lorry parks and warehouses at the ports and airports “most concerned” by the prospect of no deal, Philippe said.

Authorities will also start hiring 600 extra government employees to deal with the consequences for cross-border trade of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, including customs, veterinary and other inspectors to carry out the necessary checks on goods, livestock and food products.

Source: The Guardian
Oct 11
0

French Industry Leaders Ask France To Stop Dreaming About Brexit

By | 2018 Newsletter week 41 | No Comments

Several leaders of big maritime companies and ports have submitted an article regarding the Brexit. Familiar name is Jean-Marc Roué, big boss of Brittany Ferries.Other co-authors are representing the Port of Cherborg, Port of Caen, Port of Le Havre, Chamber of Commerce of Normandie, etc.

“France, stop dreaming!” is the urgent request from the industry leaders. “Don’t see Brexit as an opportunity!” Indeed it seems that Paris is looking with envy at London’s position as financial heart, and the hope is that after Brexit Paris can get a piece of this cake.

The leaders write that a hard, no-deal Brexit, would hit the regions facing the Channel.

Until now, freedom of movement of goods and people have created a healthy regional economy. The Brexit is a threat to everything that has been acquired.

The leaders ask that the French State helps them to put as fast as possible the necessary infrastructure in place, without the usual substantial administrative procedures. There is no time to lose. Ferry operators and ports need to be able to adapt the ports for making a smooth transportation flux possible, since the UNited Kingdom will become a non-EU country.

Source: La Tribune (in French)
Feb 08
0

More French union concerns over flagging of CONNEMARA

By | 2018 Newsletter week 06 | No Comments

French media Le Courier / Le Progrès (in French) reports about the Brittany Ferries plan to open the route Cork – Santander with the chartered ro-pax CONNEMARA, and more particularly about the concerns from the different unions. Not flying the French flag is an issue in France. It is a European flag (Cyprus), but some see it as a flag of convenience.
Brittany Ferries promised to have the CONNEMARA flying the French flag in three years.

Dec 14
0

Juncker Plan in France: signature of first green financing in maritime sector for Brittany Ferries

By | 2017 Newsletter week 50 | No Comments

The European Investment Bank (EIB), Société Générale and Brittany Ferries announced the first green maritime financing under EIB’s €750 million Green Shipping Guarantee (GSG) programme put in place last year by the EIB and Société Générale, for Brittany Ferries’ HONFLEUR. This new vessel will be Brittany Ferries’ first LNG-powered ferry, to be built by Flensburger (FSG).
Société Générale acted as the main arranger of the €142.6 million financing for the acquisition of the HONFLEUR, which includes a tranche of €49.5 million fully guaranteed by the EIB.

Rendering H. Krüger

Read press release here