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 %

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

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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.

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Jadrolinija (1)

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Jadrolinija has acquired OSLOFJORD, primarily for its international route between Croatia and Italy.

The ship is expected in Croatia at the end of this month, after which it will go to a shipyard, probably Viktor Lenac.

OSLOFJORD was built in 1993 at the Swedish shipyard Bruce Shipyard, was equipped in Norway and completely renovated in 2014 in Finland. Most cabins were then removed. A crossing between Dubrovnik and Bari is to take about six and a half hours. [timetable]

The vessel has been used a day ferry between Sandefjord and Strömstad, with tax free sales as main income. Since both Croatia and Italy belong to the EU, duty free sales will not be possible.

Photo: Mike Louagie

Jadrolinija (2)

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Croatia’s government granted approval to Jadrolinija to borrow 10.7 million euro from local banks to buy two passenger ships.

Erste & Steiermaerkische Bank will provide a loan of 5.2 million euro that will finance 80% of the purchase price of catamaran DANICA (IMO n°9871763).

Privredna Banka Zagreb will provide the other loan, worth 5.5 million euro, which will cover 80% of the cost of the catamaran KATA (IMO n°9862138).

Source: SeeNews

Photo: Dragec – Shipspotting

Jadrolinija rejects all bids in tender to build three e-ships

By | 2023 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

Croatian media reported earlier this week that the state-owned ferry company Jadrolinija said it has rejected all seven bids submitted in a public procurement procedure for the construction of three electricity-driven passenger ships, with an estimated total value of EUR 45 million.

None of the submitted bids was eligible, according to a notice published by Jadrolinija in state gazette Narodne Novine.

According to documents, published in Narodne Novine, four foreign shipbuilders – Spanish Astilleros Armon, Estonian Baltic Workboats, Italy’s Cantiere Navale Vittoria and Dutch Holland Shipyards – submitted bids in the tender for the construction of the vessels.

The other bidders were three consortia led by local companies – a tie-up of the Brodotrogir Cruise shipyard and engineering company Tema Automatizacija; a consortium of local shipyard Dalmont and engineering companies TSI and Inmel; and a consortium of local shipyard Iskra Brodogradiliste 1 and engineering company Navis Concept, Turkish marine engineering company Gozuyılmaz and Tukish shipyard Ozata.

The tender was opened in January.

Jadrolinija’s ferry DUBROVNIK sold to unknown buyer

By | 2023 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

According to recent information, Jadrolinija’s DUBROVNIK (1978, former DUCHESSE ANNE) was sold, probably to a Greek ferry operator for the Italy-Albania service.

However, Croatian media supports the idea that she might be scrapped.

The Irish-built vessel was serving on the Bari – Bar and Bari – Dubrovnik lines since 1996 and currently is at the Viktor Lenac shipyard in Croatia.

The ship was initially offered for sale on October 15, 2022, following a tender announced by the Croatian national shipping company at an estimated minimum price of EUR 2.85 million. However, none of the interested companies offered the minimum price and the ship was led to a second tender, where she was eventually sold at EUR 1,8 million.

What remains to be seen is who the mysterious buyer is.

Jadrolinija celebrates 75 years

By | 2022 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

Zadar, 5 December 12, a ceremony was held onboard MARKO POLO to celebrate Jadrolinija’s 75th birthday.

The party included employees, partners and numerous guests, including the State Secretary for the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure and the representative of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Josip Bilaver, the representative of the President of the Croatian Parliament Rade Šimičević, Members of Parliament and Zadar County Prefect Božidar Longin.

After the stressful pandemic years, there is a return to the figures from 2019, which was also referred to by the President of the Management Board, David Sopta, in his welcome speech.

“This year marks a return to the figures from the record year 2019, despite the global energy crisis and the drastic increase in energy prices. This means that we will see the end of the year with more than 12 million passengers and more than 3 million vehicles.”

He pointed out that over the past few years, 5 ships have joined the fleet, while the acquisition of new ships is expected next year.

Jadrolinija to buy three new full-electric ferries

By | 2022 Newsletter week 21 | No Comments

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, for the very first time, Jadrolinija has initiated the procedure of purchasing full-electric vessels that will transport passengers in the Dubrovnik, Sibenik and Losinj areas, as was confirmed by the President of the Management Board of the national shipping company, David Sopta, for Rijeka portal Novi list.

A preliminary consultation procedure has since been initiated, as part of the public procurement procedure for three Jadrolinija ferries which will be up to 55 metres long and boast a transport capacity of at least 370 passengers, with fully electric propulsion.

Jadrolinija intends to finance the construction of these new vessels through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Jadrolinija transported over 10 million passengers last year

By | 2022 Newsletter week 2 | No Comments

Croatia Week writes that Jadrolinija transported 10.5 million passengers and 3.1 million vehicles last year, which is 85% of the 2019 result and 40% more passengers and vehicles than in the pandemic year 2020.

Even though 2021 was good in terms of business results, the company is cautious about its revenue estimate and expects revenue to be lower than in the pre-pandemic years.

Losses in 2020 were significant and the decline in the number of passengers and vehicles transported has significantly affected the operator’s revenue and liquidity.

In December 2021 the government granted Jandrolinija support in the amount of HRK 52 million to cover its fixed costs. (EUR 7 million)