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Tag: Marseille | Ferry Shipping News

Feb 03
4

Does Corsica need subsidies for the ferry services?

By | 2022 Newsletter week 5 | No Comments

“The current Maritime Public Service Delegation (DSP) between Corsica and Marseille expires on December 31, 2022. The European Commission’s questioning of the very existence of the public service principle puts a sword of Damocles on the territorial continuity,” writes Corse Net Infos in a long article in French, quoting several political stakeholders (but not the ferry operators).

Some interesting elements, quotes, remarks of the debate:

  • Brussels does not see the need to subsidize a service which could very well be provided by private companies. Compensation is against the rules of the market and free competition.
  • Why is what is granted to other regions, such as Croatia or Greece, becoming problematic for Corsica?
  • A decision needs to be taken soon, because the new (multi-year) DSP should start on 1 January 2023.
  • Why only having Marseille as continental port? Toulon, Nice or even Livorno are closer to Corsica. Less fuel. Better utilization of ships.
  • The need to resolve the “painful legacy of the past”.
  • What sense does it make to have ‘market tests’ if the market is changing? (which it does)
  • Corsica, today, imports 90 to 95% from France. We want a system where Corsica is economically connected with Tuscany, Sardinia and Catalonia.
Apr 11
0

In Marseille, Corsica Linea Is Creating More Terminal Capacity

By | 2019 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

Last year, Corsica Linea transported 1.2 million lane metres of freight. This growth means a shortage of space in the port of Marseille.

Works are being undertaken to increase the terminal capacity, and to make the link between ship and shore more efficient for the movement of unaccompanied ro-ro freight.

Parking space will go up from 202 lorries to 272.

Source: Actu Transport Logistique (in French)
Jan 31
0

FERRY PORTS

By | 2019 Newsletter week 5 | No Comments

Ferry Passenger Throughput In Marseille On The Rise

The record three million passenger milestone was marked by the cruise sector’s 15% jump to 1.7m passengers, which included 244,000 in October alone.  The port expects close to 1.9m in 2019 and 2.0m next year.  Marseille is already the main cruise hub in France and now the fourth largest in the Mediterranean.  Ferry passenger carryings rose 6% to 1.3 million, including increases of 12% on Algerian services and 5% on Corsica links, which recorded a third consecutive year of growth.

Feb 08
0

More passengers and more freight for Corsica in 2017

By | 2018 Newsletter week 06 | No Comments
  • ORTC (Observatoire Régional des Transports de la Corse) published the first statistics for the year 2017. Some highlights:
  • Total of ferry passengers: 4,144,614 (+2.1%)
  • Total of airborne passengers: 4,025,727 (+9.7%) from which 241,744 came with low-cost flights.
  • Several ports, both in Corsica and on the Continent saw a progression in passenger traffic. Ajaccio +5%, Bastia +2%, Marseille +8% (but Nice -9%), Genoa +14%.
  • The ferry port of Porto Vecchio and the airports of Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari have set new records.
  • On the ro-ro freight side, most ports saw an increase. Only Toulon, on mainland France, went down -8%. Marseille is the most important mainland French port for freight.
  • Corsica Linea is the biggest freight carrier, and saw month after month a steady increase. Second is La Meridionale, followed by Corsica Ferries.

All statistics can be found on the old-style (and in French) ORTC website under ‘publications’.

Photo: Mike Louagie

Feb 08
0

FERRY PORTS

By | 2018 Newsletter week 06 | No Comments

Port of Marseille Fos set to build on 2017 growth

From the many 2017 figures from Port of Marseille Fos we highlight the ones relevant for the ferry industry.

  • An 11% increase in ro-ro volumes – led by 202,000 trailers on Corsica and North Africa trades.
  • Passenger carryings on Corsica and North Africa ferry services rose 7% to 1.2 million.
  • New project expenditure included €14.6m to enlarge the Marseille harbour area’s Passe Nord access for cruise and ferry vessels, a €2.5m ferry terminal upgrade and the €2.3m installation of an 800-tonne capacity project cargo ro-ro ramp in Fos – the largest in France.
  • Environmental initiatives, including further ‘cold ironing’ facilities for ferries, reduced port dues for ‘green’ vessels under the Environmental Ship Index and membership of the LNG Focus Group – following the MoU signed last July – under which major world ports are working to promote LNG as a marine fuel.