BREAKING NEWS | Attica Group invests in green transition and fleet renewal

By | 2024 Newsletter week 26 | No Comments

Agreement with Stena RoRo for the long-term charter with purchase option of 2 new vessels and a potential option for 2 additional vessels

  • Agreement with Stena RoRo for the long-term charter with purchase option of 2 new E-Flexer vessels, plus an option for 2 additional vessels.
  • Vessels to be built at CMI Jinling Weihai Shipyard, China
  • Largest RoPax vessels ever ordered by a Greek shipping company.
  • Specifications: 240m length, 1,500 passenger capacity, 3,320 lane metres cargo decks (approx. 200 freight units per vessel).
  • Vessels are Methanol ready, with engines capable of operating on 3 different fuel types and equipped with state-of-the-art technology to optimise fuel consumption.
  • Expected to reduce the Group’s GHG emissions per transport work by 60% compared to existing vessels.
  • Agreement includes a 10-year bareboat charter scheme with a purchase option after the 5th year.
  • Delivery scheduled for April and August 2027.
  • Fleet redeployment to follow, reducing the environmental footprint by retiring older vessels.
  • Innovative design collaboration between Stena RoRo and Attica’s shipbuilding teams based on the successful E-Flexer model.
  • CEO Panos Dikaios highlights Attica Group’s 3-decade innovation history and the new agreement’s role in setting industry standards, reducing environmental footprint, and enhancing travel experience.
  • Per Westling, Managing Director of Stena RoRo, emphasises the bespoke E-Flexer vessels’ versatility, fuel flexibility, and importance in Attica’s green transition.

Green features

  • Installation of battery pack for storage and use of electric energy in order to reduce the operation of diesel generators.
  • Installation of solar panels for the production of renewable electrical energy.
  • Installation of OPS – electrical power supply from shore during the ships stay in ports to avoid the use of diesel generators and the alleviation of harmful emissions and noise.
  • Lighting of the ships with new technology LED to reduce the required energy.
  • Rudder bulb designed and constructed to fit the ship’s propellers for optimizing hydrodynamic efficiency.
  • Hull form design for optimum hydrodynamic efficiency.
  • Intelligent clima control system for optimum energy consumption.
  • Hybrid scrubbers for reducing SOx emissions.
  • Silicon paints of underwater hull for reducing resistance and fuel consumption.
  • New generation main engines, tri-fuel including methanol for reducing CO2

Other features:

  • Design of bow and stern ramps (drive through concept) to avoid maneuvering of heavy vehicles and allow faster loading/unloading from two decks simultaneously.

The Swedish Transport Administration awarded the Gotland contract to…

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  • Alvina Shipping has been awarded the contract for ferry services to and from Gotland for the period 2027-2035 (with two additional option years). (announcement Swedish Transport Administration)
  • Two routes: Nynäshamn–Visby and Oskarshamn–Visby.
  • Alvina Shipping is a Danish subsidiary of Swedish Gotlandsbolaget. This company will be responsible for financial and strategic management. It is a way to benefit from the Danish tonnage tax regime and the zero salary tax for seamen. However, Destination Gotland will operate the services under Swedish flag and crew.
  • The Swedish Government is developing the Swedish tonnage tax to align Swedish shipping with international standards. Gotlandsbolaget is optimistic that Gotlandstrafiken will be fully integrated into this system. If approved, financial and strategic management will be overseen from the island of Gotland too.
  • A ten-day period is available for appeals after the contract award (Nordic Ferry Infrastructure / EQT ?).
  • The current ferry fleet will continue, with a new hydrogen-powered vessel to be introduced in 2028. During the upcoming contract period, a climate requirement applies which means that the operator must reduce CO2 emissions by 30 percent.
  • The Swedish Transport Administration shares the risk of high fuel prices.
  • Note: Gotlandsbolaget also recently acquired the DFDS route between Oslo and Copenhagen.

Moby put half of Toremar’s fleet up for sale

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“We already cleared that we would not take part in the coming tender for the maritime continuity, so we sell the ships.” That’s what Moby said to Ferry Shipping News to explain why Toremar, a company controlled by Onorato Armatori and active on the maritime links between mainland Italy and the islands surrounding the Toscana region (Elba, Capraia, and Giglio), put up for sale four of its eight vessels.

More specifically, available for sale are:

  • Rio Marina Bella (2004 – 896 passengers and 85 cars)
  • Giovanni Bellini (1985 – 589 passengers and 60 cars)
  • Liburna (1980 – 692 passengers and 60 cars)
  • Schiopparello Jet (1999 – high-speed ferry – 145 passengers)

The other four vessels in Toremar’s fleet are the 1991-built Stelio Montomoli, the 1980-built Marmorica, the 1980-built Oglasa, and the 2005-built Giuseppe Rum.

Moby: new ferry routes to Corsica

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Moby has expanded its ferry services to Corsica with new and enhanced routes, catering to the growing demand from travellers. The additions include two new lines: Genoa-Ajaccio-Porto Torres and Piombino-Bastia.

The Genoa-Ajaccio-Porto Torres route will operate from June to September, with two services per week in June and three in July, August, and September. This new service is designed to provide a more convenient connection, allowing passengers to save travel time and enjoy their holidays in Ajaccio.

The Piombino-Bastia route, the fastest connection between the mainland and Corsica, will run two rotations per week on Saturdays and Sundays during July and August.

In addition to the new routes, Moby is strengthening its existing services. The Livorno-Bastia line sees increased frequency since Easter until November, with daily departures. The Genoa-Bastia route is strengthened from mid-May to the end of September, offering up to two trips per day.

These expansions reflect Moby’s commitment to enhancing accessibility to Corsica, complementing its historic routes: Genoa-Bastia, Livorno-Bastia, and Santa Teresa di Gallura-Bonifacio.

Moby charters out Moby Dada, Moby Zaza and closes Livorno – Cagliari

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Moby, which has recently closed the ‘concordato preventivo’ procedure pending at the Court of Milan, has chartered the cruiseferry MOBY DADA to Algérie Ferries.

The news has not yet been confirmed by the Onorato-controlled company, but the brand “Algérie Ferries” has already been painted on the ship.  According to market sources, the charter will last until September.

Meanwhile, MOBY ZAZA is currently chartered to Jadrolinija on services to Croatia during an extended overhaul for the MARKO POLO.

Also, this week, news emerged that Moby will close the Livorno – Cagliari, Sardinia, ro-ro line.  The company will concentrate on ro-pax traffic from Livorno to Olbia with the newly built MOBY LEGACY and MOBY FANTASY

Photo: Nicola Capuzzo

Sicilian Region finally orders the long-awaited ferry

By | 2023 Newsletter week 41 | No Comments

A new ferry, fully owned by the Sicilian Region and entirely “made in Sicily” will provide service to Lampedusa and Pantelleria.

  • The new vessel will be built entirely in the Fincantieri Palermo shipyard.
  • The delivery of the vessel is scheduled for 2026.
  • It will operate on routes between Sicily and the islands of Lampedusa and Pantelleria.
  • LOA
  • GT 14,500.
  • 19 knots.
  • 1,000 people – 200 cars.
  • Dual fuel engines, MDO –
  • A photovoltaic system, along with energy storage in a battery pack, will allow the vessel to remain in port with zero emissions for approximately four hours.

DFDS September Volumes: Freight 2% Lower, Passengers 9% Higher

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Ferry – freight:

  • Total volumes in September 2023 were 1.9% below 2022.
  • North Sea volumes were slightly below 2022 as firm automotive volumes were offset by mainly lower volumes between Sweden and the UK.
  • Mediterranean’s growth trend improved in September as volumes were back on level with 2022.
  • Channel volumes were also on level with 2022.
  • Baltic Sea volumes were below 2022 due to lower demand from both the continuing impact of the war in Ukraine and a decline in the transport of construction materials.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 10.5% to 38.6m from 43.1m in 2022-21. The decrease was 4.4% adjusted for Channel.

Ferry – passenger:

  • The number of passengers increased 9.4% driven by primarily more Channel passengers.
  • The number of cars increased 0.6%.
  • The total number of passengers increased 37% to 4.5m for the last twelve months, 2023-22, from 3.2m in 2022-21.

Moby announced two new routes between mainland Italy and Corsica (and Sardinia)

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1) Genoa – Ajaccio (Corsica) – Porto Torres (Northwestern point of Sardinia)

The extension of the line to Porto Torres will further increase interchange between Sardinia and Corsica, both from a tourist and a commercial point of view. This bridge between Corsica and Sardinia will be added to the connection that Moby already ensures all year round with the Bonifacio – Santa Teresa di Gallura.

2) Piombino – Bastia: fastest of all the mainland lines to Corsica.

New for this route will be the livery of the ships that will serve the island, with the Moor’s head symbol of the French island and other typical Corsican elements.

Moby selects Kongsberg Maritime for emission-saving propulsion upgrade on five ferries

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Kongsberg Maritime will provide upgrades to Moby passenger ferries’ propulsion systems that are expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 30,000 tonnes per year

MOBY VINCI, SHARDEN, and MOBY AKI, will all receive a Promas Lite propulsion system, which combines rudder and propeller into one propulsion unit.

MOBY WONDER and MOBY TOMMY will receive re-bladed controllable pitch Kongsberg Kamewa propellers as part of their upgrade.

Moby’s Ro-Ro BENIAMINO CARNEVALE Sold at Auction

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  • Moby’s ro-ro ship, BENIAMINO CARNEVALE, built in 1992, was sold at auction by Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione for EUR 3.25 million.
  • Turkish interests were rumored to be interested in the vessel.
  • The sale is part of Moby’s financial restructuring plan approved by the Court of Milan.
  • BENIAMINO CARNEVALE has a capacity for 99 passengers and 1,820 lane meters.
  • In October 2019, Tirrenia previously sold the ship for EUR 12 million to a North European buyer, but the deal fell through due to delays from banks, causing the sale terms to expire.