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Tag: Interview | Ferry Shipping News

Jun 21
2

Interview with Dr. Emanuele Grimaldi, head of the Grimaldi Group and President of ICS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments

Interview with Dr. Emanuele Grimaldi, head of the Grimaldi Group and President of ICS

In collaboration with Jan-Philip Eckmann we have the pleasure to share the article published in RoPax 12 (May 2023). Key points discussed include:

  1. Fleet Expansion and Innovation: Grimaldi has introduced 12 new RoRo Eco-class vessels, ordered 15 ammonia-ready Pure Car & Truck Carriers, and plans to use innovative technologies such as the “gate rudder” to reduce carbon intensity by 50%.
  2. 2022 Performance: 2022 was the best year in Grimaldi’s history, surpassing 2021, with notable performance from Grimaldi Lines, ACL, and Finnlines.
  3. Baltic Sea Operations: Finnlines reported strong results due to new Eco-class vessels, increased passenger numbers, and the introduction of a new Irish service.
  4. New Services and Competition: New services between Sweden and Poland have started, and new Super Star RoPax vessels have been introduced between Finland and Sweden, despite reduced cargo to Russia.
  5. Environmental Initiatives: Grimaldi focuses on sustainability, with plans for ammonia-ready propulsion systems, carbon capture technologies, and solar panels on new vessels. The group also proposes a tax and reward system to incentivize the use of green fuels.
  6. Market and Route Developments: Grimaldi’s new routes include Naples to Palermo and expanded services in the Balearic Islands. They see potential in Igoumenitsa for growth in cargo traffic from Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, and Turkey.
  7. Digitalization and AI: The company has optimized routes using digitalization, achieving 3% fuel savings, and plans further advancements in AI for operational efficiency.
  8. Future Fuel and Emission Strategies: Grimaldi explores various zero-carbon fuels and carbon capture techniques, aiming to comply with global emission targets by 2050. The company advocates for a global approach to carbon taxation led by the IMO.

The interview highlights Grimaldi’s commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and strategic growth in the shipping industry.

CLICK ON COVER TO READ

Read the interview here
Sep 06
0

TOP STORY

By | 2019 Newsletter week 36 | No Comments

Short Interview With Torben Carlsen CEO And Peder Gellert EVP, DFDS Group

 FSN met the DFDS top executives in DFDS House, Copenhagen, talking about present and future.

With many DFDS activities on the UK -Continent trade, Brexit was a natural topic. Torben Carlsen says that DFDS has worked with both the UK and the continental customs, as well as with freight customers, to find smooth digital solutions.

All customs have been very cooperative and especially the UK is aware about the challenge and is as prepared as possible.

DFDS pointed out that it is of course also the Belgian, Dutch, Swedish and French side that will be affected and prepares itself.

In general, DFDS believes that there might be a period of 3-6 months with some problems, but the very big and important UK/EU trade eventually will find its forms.

DFDS is also prepared to restart the tax-free business, even if the profitability is not what it used to be.

In DFDS, approximately 80 % of the business is freight related when including the DFDS Logistic, and 20% is passenger related. However, the passenger revenue is bigger than at any time before in the long DFDS history.

On the tonnage side, the confirmed 4+2 big 6,500 lane metre China-built ro-ro ferries are partly delivered, under way or in preparation. The first two delivered are sailing in the Mediterranean and the next two will be in North Sea operation. Number 3, HOLLANDIA SEAWAYS is expected in November, December.

For the cruise ferry routes Amsterdam – Newcastle and Copenhagen-Oslo, DFDS is working on tonnage alternatives.

All together DFDS is operating 55 ships, in the Baltic, North Sea and the Med.

Peder Gellert informs that the big organisation is very customer- and market-driven. All back offices are common, but sales/marketing are as close as possible to the market. DFDS is focused on digital transformation, especially on the marketing side. These activities are mainly common for the group.

In the environmental area, DFDS is doing its best to improve and develop. An investment in biofuel producer Mash Energy is one example of the new CRS ambition. There are preparations to test one of the ships engines with the biofuel.

For the next 5 years the focus will be:

  • Growth solutions to selected industries like, forest/metal, automotive and cold chain transport.
  • Digitalise services to accelerate growth.
  • Develop and expand the ferry and logistic network.
  • Create more value for passengers.
Jun 06
0

IN THE MEDIA

By | 2019 Newsletter week 23 | No Comments

Interview with CEO Of Corsica Linea

Some highlights of an interview with Pierra-Antoine Villanova:

  • Three years after the start, the restructuration phase is over. Turnover was €170m in 2016, €200m in 2017 and €220m last year. Net result is €10m, which means we still need to make efforts.
  • Market share on Corsica has grown from 10% to 14%.
  • Mr Villanova does not believe in low-cost. He sees a customer that wants quality of service.
  • Corsica Linea is the second largest employer of French seafarers (“which cost 3 times the price of Italian crew”).

Investment and ecology:

  • Shore power for PAGLIA ORBA (done), PASCAL PAOLI (winter) and JEAN NICOLI (winter).
  • Scrubbers from Ecospray for these three ferries. (€25m)
  • Order for 1 LNG Ferry expected to be placed at a European yard in 2019, with delivery in 2022 or 2023. Tenders out. Finance OK.
Source: Go-Met.com (in French)
May 02
0

INTERVIEW

By | 2019 Newsletter week 18 | No Comments

Polferries and Port Of Ystad: Getting Ready for Growth

Polferries (Polska Żegluga Bałtycka) announced in June 2017 that a keel laying ceremony was held for the new ro-pax ferry. Since then it has been very quiet about the newbuilding project. Ferry Shipping News had a simultaneous interview with Piotr Redmerski (PR), CEO Polferries, and Björn Boström (BB), CEO Port of Ystad.

Click here to read the interview
Mar 22
0

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

By | 2019 Newsletter Week 12 | No Comments

On Day 1 of the Ferry Shipping Summit, Irish Ferries got the award for the “Ferry of the Year 2019” (see special edition of this newsletter).

Let us have a closer look at the award winner. Ladies and gentlemen, here is W.B. YEATS!

Mar 14
0

Interview Björn Blomqvist, Rederi Ab Eckerö

By | 2019 Newsletter week 11 | No Comments

Rederi Ab Eckerö, based in the Åland Islands province of Finland, is a company with a diverse portfolio: two ferry lines, a cruise line, a roro cargo tonnage provider and even a bus company. Ferry Shipping News’, Finland-based freelance correspondent, Kalle Id, had a question and answer session with Björn Blomqvist, the managing director Rederi Ab Eckerö, in the cargo offices of the company’s Finland-Estonia subsidiary Eckerö Line in Helsinki last week.