Saos Ferries’ HSC NISSOS arrived in Greece

By | 2023 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

On May 31, 2023, Saos Ferries’ HSC NISSOS (ex ALCANTARA DOS) arrived under tow (tug BAS VIKING) in Greece, after a 12-day voyage.

The ship was purchased from the Spanish Acciona Logistica S.A. on April 17 and left the port of Almeria on May 19.

She will undergo necessary repairs and refit and she will be probably introduced -next year- on the Sporades Islands or Dodecanese run.

BLUE STAR 1 returns to Greece

By | 2023 Newsletter week 21 | No Comments
  • After 26 months in the Irish Sea, Blue Star Ferries’ BLUE STAR 1 returns to Greece.
  • Since March 2021 the ship was chartered by Irish Ferries for Pembroke-Rosslare, replacing ISLE OF INISHMORE.
  • The ro-pax will enter service on July 1, 2023 on the Piraeus – Paros – Naxos – Santorini line, replacing her fleet mate BLUE STAR PATMOS on her afternoon sailings (17.30).
  • BLUE STAR 1 will call at Syros (three times a week) and the port of Anafi (twice a week).
  • The ship will serve that line until September 11.

Photo: Blue Star Ferries

Attica Group: a new giant with 45 ferries

By | 2022 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

The merger of ANEK with Attica Group will lead to the formation of a new shipping giant in Greece. It will operate 45 ferries on all the main Greece and Italy lines.

With the specific agreement a significant write-off of the ANEK’s’ debts by EUR 156,4 million was decided. Attica Group will only pay EUR 80 million from the total of EUR 236,4 million.

After the completion of the agreement, which is expected by March 2023, Attica group will control four companies in Greece: Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways and ANEK Lines.

Attica Group also operates in the Western Mediterranean with a 49% stake in Africa Morocco Line.

Successful bid for Cyprus-Greece ferry link

By | 2022 Newletter week 16 | No Comments

The deputy ministry of shipping announced on Monday that it had completed the evaluation of tenders for a ferry link between Cyprus and Greece, writes Cyprus Mail.

The winning company behind the successful bid has already been chosen, although not yet announced publicly.

A press conference where the successful bid will be announced is set to take place next week. During the conference, routes will also be unveiled as well as details concerning the fleet of ferries.

ANDROS QUEEN left Japan for Greece

By | 2022 Newsletter week 11 | No Comments

On March 15, 2022 ,Golden Star Ferries’ ANDROS QUEEN (former SILVER QUEEN) left the port of Muroran for Greece. She was purchased from Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen (Silver Ferry) on February 9, 2022 for EUR 7.354 million and delivered to a Greek crew on March 9, 2022.

The ship is currently sailing for the port of Busan and expected to arrive in Greece in early April

Energy crisis “brings” ferry ticket increase in Greece

By | 2022 Newsletter week 11 | No Comments

On March 15, 2022, SEEN (Association of Passenger Shipping Companies) met with the Hellenic Minister of Shipping and Island Policy and informed him about the forthcoming serious impact of the energy crisis that has already affected the Hellenic Coastal Shipping, threatening tourism as well as the islanders’ cost of living.

More specifically, SEEN urged for support measures by the government for the summer season, otherwise, there will be an increase in ferry ticket prices up to 25% (for passengers and vehicles).

At the same time, they are examining solutions such as speed reduction, unified sailings as well as reduction of the sailings’ frequency (ANEK-Blue Star Ferries announced recently such a reduction on the Piraeus – Chania line for the next four Saturdays, 19 March – 9 April 2022).

Furthermore, SEEN underlined that the additional operating costs due to expensive fuels exceed EUR 280 million on an annual basis, while they made seven proposals to the Minister in order to deal with the current situation.

  • Imposition of a “ceiling” on marine fuel prices based on the average price of last December
  • Temporary reduction of VAT to 6% and its return to 13% when fuel prices fall to last December’s level
  • Enhancement of liquidity with the immediate payment of more than EUR 42 million owed by the state to the ferry companies for subsidized lines which have already been done
  • Subsidizing employers’ contributions as was the case during the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak
  • Announcement of additional public service lines as happened during the pandemic
  • Increase at least by 30% of subsidies for the existing one-year duration barren lines
  • Temporary suspension of mandatory discounts

Source: newmoney.gr

Greek Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis: Short-haul ships could be electric in the future

By | 2021 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

On the occasion of the 26th United Nations Conference in Glasgow, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis gave an interview to SkyNews. The interview focused on energy and maritime policy, among others. The basic parts of that interview are:

 

Question: Greece owns about one-fifth of the world’s fleet. Shipping is one of the activities that is most responsible for emissions right now. How can this be stopped?

Pr. Minister: Let’s put things in perspective. 90% of world trade is done by ship. Shipping is responsible for 3% of world emissions. It’s not trivial, but it’s not huge. Shipping should take its share. But it is not clear what technology will solve the problem. That’s why we need more research and development (R&D). We need to focus more on the solutions that are currently being developed.

Question: Are we talking about nuclear-powered ships or hydrogen-powered ships?

Pr. Minister: No, hydrogen is probably the most likely scenario. But we are the managers and we have to work with the shipyards, we have to work with the manufacturers of large machinery types. They are the ones who will guide the technological innovations. Shipping will be the customer of the technology, they will produce. But at the same time, we need to have a vision for the future of shipping. That is why we are setting up, in cooperation with the European Union, a research institute to explore the future of sustainable shipping. Because honestly now we do not have the answer.

Finally, referring to the prospects of energy transition of the Hellenic Coastal Fleet, the Greek Prime Minister stressed the following: “…when we talk, for example, about shipping and short-haul ships, one could imagine that these ships could be electric in the future.”

Source: Athens News Agency – Photo: Elektra

Travelling By Ferry In Greece (Summer 2021)

By | 2021 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

On 14 May 2021, the Greek Minister of Shipping and Island Policy announced the revised health protocols concerning the transports by ferry in view of the summer season 2021. More specific:

  • The capacity of ferries with cabins increased to 85%
  • The capacity of ferries without cabins increased to 80%
  • The capacity of the High-Speed Crafts that have special filters increased to 80% as well

Furthermore, passengers that wishing to travel by ferry should have:

  • either a vaccination certificate (14 days after the second dose)
  • a 72-hour PCR test or a 24-hour rapid test or a 24-hour self-test or a certificate of illness (2 months after disease and up to 9 months)
  • all domestic and foreign travelers, over the age of 5, are obliged to carry these special documents
  • the ferry companies will carry out all the necessary control checks on the documents mentioned