The incredible summer weather seems to have inspired more people to travel between Britain and the Continent by ferry. P&O reported the best tourist carryings for a July on the English Channel in three years: 161,468 cars or +4.5% between Dover and Calais.
During a short ceremony held on the 4th of July in Rome, Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of the Grimaldi Group and President and CEO of the subsidiary company Finnlines, received the honor of Commander of the Order of the Lion of the Republic of Finland.
The Ambassador of Finland in Italy, Janne Taalas, declared that the award, conferred by the President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, is a recognition for the great commitment of Emanuele Grimaldi, through the company Finnlines, in developing maritime transport to and from Finland which is of great support to the economy.
Entering the Port of Genua, is like entering a comic strip.
Photo: Mike Louagie
One month ago, P&O Ferries announced its plan to increase its capacity by 25% on Zeebrugge-Teesport, without revealing the name of the ship. (see: P&O Ferries Jumps On An Opportunity ).
Now we know! It will be the ESTRADEN, which has previously been working on Europoort – Teesport.
She will work in tandem with the BORE SONG, “to form the fastest and easiest gateway to Scotland for exporters to and from the continent.”
The ESTRADEN (2,270 lane meter) replaces the MISTRAL (1,625 lane meter).
To complete the reconfiguration of ships on its North Sea freight routes, P&O has chartered the STENA CARRIER (2,715 lane meter) to replace the ESTRADEN on Europoort – Teesport.
P&O Ferries currently carries more than 100,000 freight units a year on 6 return sailings a week between Teesport and its continental hub at Zeebrugge. The goods transported include chemicals, plastics, steel, automotive parts and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Only Two Major Ferries Scrapped In The Last Quarter Of 2017
The French environmental organisation Robin des Bois (‘Robin Hood’) has published its 50th quarterly shipbreaking report. Since the start of the publications in 2006, more than 10,000 scrapped ships have been reported.
Some trends:
- Overall, the tonnage of vessels demolished in the last quarter of 2017 shows a drop by 29%.
- The Chinese Government has identified ship breaking as a major pollution risk. The end of the year was marked by the suspension of operating licenses for all but 2 or 3 facilities in Xinhui and near Shanghai. As a result, the tonnage of dismantled vessels fell sharply in China.
- The Top 4 of recycled tonnage consists of 1) India, 2) Bangladesh, 3) Pakistan, 4) Turkey.
Only two well-known ferries have been reported as scrapped:
- OLYMPUS (ROPAX 2, LÜBECK LINK, FINNROSE) was beached in Alang in late November. (see page 81)
- MED STAR (LA PAZ STAR, STRADA CORSA, STENA TRANSPORTER, FLANDERS, PRIDE OF FLANDERS, NORDIC FERRY, MERZARIO HISPANIA, MERZARIO ESPANIA). On her way from Rhodes to Santorini, a fire broke out in the engine room in June 2017. She was beached for demolition in Aliaga on December 8. (see page 86)
Photo: P&O Ferries’ PRIDE OF FLANDERS in 1995 ©Mike Louagie
P&O Ferries carried 14,804 units on its new dedicated lift unit freight service between Zeebrugge and Hull since the launch in May.
P&O Ferries has chartered the 118m container feeder ELISABETH to service the route. The ship makes three round-trips per week between Zeebrugge and Hull, complementing P&O Ferries’ existing ro-pax service between the Belgian port and the Humber.
The Zeebrugge hub rail connectivity has been very beneficial to attract business.
P&O Ferries sees a growing proportion of its cargoes originating in Central and Eastern Europe. Exporters from Britain benefit from onward connectivity to northern Spain and Gothenburg via services operated by lines in partnership with P&O Ferries.
Photo © P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries saw the highest number of lorries and trailers between Larne and Cairnryan in the third quarter of the year (compared with any Q3 since 2011).
P&O carried 53,305 lorries and trailers on its ships in the months of July, August and September. (=+3.3%)
Neal Mernock, P&O Ferries Sector Director on the Irish Sea, said: “Our port at Larne is fast becoming the gateway of choice for anyone exporting to or from Ireland. It has outstanding connections via rail and road, especially after the upgrading of the A8 dual carriageway, and is nine miles closer to Scotland than the port at Belfast.”
P&O Ferries operates seven sailings a day between Larne and Cairnryan using two ro-pax sister vessels, EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY and EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER.
Photo © P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries has launched a new Commercial Drivers Club, which guarantees VIP service for freight drivers using its overnight routes on the North Sea (Hull-Zeebrugge, Hull-Europoort) Members using P&O Ferries’ terminals can enjoy a TV lounge, free refreshments and dedicated lavatory facilities.
They are also allocated a cabin with bathroom, which is solely for their own use, subject to availability during peak season. Menus have been improved, and by introducing a new restaurant layout, drivers are able to sit wherever they want. The terminal layout has also been improved, for a faster exit.
Photo: Mike Louagie
In August, P&O Ferries saw the highest number of tourists in 14 years, on Larne-Cairnryan. The passenger volumes for the month were up 7%.