Now owned by CMA CGM, the logo change marks a new chapter in the history of La Méridionale and follows the order of two new ships.
Deltamarin, part of China Merchants Group, has signed a contract with China Merchants Jinling shipyard (Weihai) for the approval and detail design of La Méridionale’s upcoming ro-pax vessel project.
As a part of the contract, Deltamarin will be responsible for providing both the approval and detail design services for the construction of the new ro-pax vessel pair. Deltamarin has earlier provided the shipyard with consultancy and contract design services on the project.
The CMA CGM Group finally confirmed what we announced last week: the French container giant enters into exclusive discussions to acquire La Méridionale.
A press release (in French) says that the planned acquisition will enable:
-The recovery of the Company and the preservation of the employment of French crew under the 1st French register flag,
-The investment in fleet and in the energy transition of the company.
La Méridionale has decided to continue operating the ro-ro line between Marseille and Morocco, however, no longer calling at Barcelona.
Earlier there was a fear that the route would be stopped completely.
The news comes from French magazine Le Marin. If La Méridionale sells PELAGOS, this will affect the line between Marseille and Morocco (a route that is not performing well).
Trade unions are already ringing the alarm bell and have asked the resignment of the Director General.
Photo Jean-Pierre Fabre
STEF-owned ferry company La Mériodionale has decided to thank CEO Benoit Dehaye for his services (source: Mr Dehaye’s Linkedin).
After 12 years of service, he’s being replaced by Guillaume de Feydeau, former crisis and restructuration manager at SNCM. (Who is Guillaume de Feydeau? Linkedin)
French maritime journal Le Marin expects the route between Marseille and Morocco to be in jeopardy.
The Assembly of Corsica voted on Tuesday 20 December 2022 the attribution of the delegation of maritime public service (DSP) to Corsica Linea (the red ships) and La Méridionale (the blue ships).
Aim: guaranteeing territorial continuity between mainland France and Corsica.
Duration: from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2029.
Annual cost: EUR 106.7 million (against 93 million for the actual DSP)
Routes:
Marseille-Ajaccio: Corsica Linea/La Méridionale, alternating, daily
Marseille-Bastia: Corsica Linea, 7/7
Marseille-Ile Rousse: Corsica Linea 3/7
Marseille-Propriano: Corsica Linea 3/7
Marseille-Porto-Vecchio: La Méridionale 3/7
Political:
Separatist and Autonomist Opposition voted against, denouncing an increase in costs and the postponement of the creation of a public shipping company (…).
The European Commission had to be convinced that a maritime public service is necessary.
- Corsica Linea and La Méridionale, the two candidates for the DSP 2023-2029 (Delegation of Public Service) cannot open the bookings for 2023, because the DSP has not been finalized yet
- The Government said it did not want to increase the budget of EUR 187 million.
- A big issue is the fuel compensation, which was EUR 21 million in 2021, and EUR 56 million in 2022.
- Another issue is the complaint of local freight forwarders, saying that up to 400 trucks a month have to stay on the quay because a lack of capacity.
- Although it is about a public service, several people complain about the fact that the decision-making process is not transparent.
As from 20 October 2022, La Méridionale will connect Tanger Med with Barcelona and Marseille.
- GIROLATA on Tanger Med – Marseille every 5 days
- PELAGOS on Tanger Med – Barcelona twice a week (previously assigned on Tanger Med – Alicante – Marseille).
STEF, specialist in temperature-controlled transport and logistics for food products, announced a turnover of €3.5 billion for the year 2021, up 11.5%, including €950 million for the 4th quarter, which is up by 15.2%.
During Q4, La Méridionale achieved the expected performance on its crossings to Corsica under the current public service delegation.
On the Marseille-Tangier line, the company was affected by the closure of the Moroccan borders which considerably reduced passenger traffic in early December, even though its freight activities are showing a steady increase in fill rate.
