Shippax News Bulletin – 13
- In association with Interferry
Dear Subscriber,
Please find herewith the headlines of the news added to the Shippax website during week 13.
Photo above: DFDS has temporarily discontinued its two passenger-oriented ferry routes. The Copenhagen-Oslo cruise ferries PEARL SEAWAYS and CROWN SEAWAYS are seen laid up in their Danish homeport. The freighter ARK FUTURA, on the right, keeps serving Klaipeda, also calling at Fredericia. Of late, DFDS has seen a growth of freight volumes on certain services. Yet, some trades have already been impacted by the Coronavirus crisis, not in the least the group’s Turkish operations. (PHOTO: DFDS)
Read ShippaxInfo ONLINE
Don’t forget that you find all issues of the magazine dating back to January 2018 under the “online magazine archive” on www.shippax.com in the members area (available for subscribers).
Also in the members area is the “article search” where you can search for over 18,000 previously printed articles and news from all Shippax publications and magazines dating back to 1996.
A huge source of information and interesting read when many of you are at home in these corona times.
Have a nice weekend!
Oma Baatbyggeri delivers the third and last of three 39m catamarans to Norled
© Oma Baatbyggeri
FJORDJARL, the third and last of three 39m high-speed catamarans built by Oma Baatbyggeri, has been handed over to Norled. The catamaran, which has a capacity of 296 passengers, will service the Tromsø, Finnsnes and Harstad route.
Norled wins 10-year concessions in Troms and Finnmark county
The two routes to be operated by Norled are currently in the hands of Bjørklids Ferjerederi. © Bjørklids Ferjerederi
Stavanger-based Norled has been awarded two important fjord ferry concessions by Troms og Finnmark fylkeskommune.
Stena Line and TT-Line enter new temporary slot agreement on Rostock-Trelleborg route
Stena Line's Trelleborg-Rostock route is operated by SKÅNE and MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN which are regularly supplemented by SASSNITZ. © Stena Line
To guarantee the freight flows and to secure its commitments towards its freight customers in times of COVID-19, Stena Line has entered a temporary slot agreement with TT-Line on the Trelleborg-Rostock corridor.
Color Line’s SUPERSPEED 1 to resume service in freight-only mode
After a lay-up of 11 days, SUPERSPEED 1 will be reactived on Friday 27 March. © Marc Ottini
As from Friday 27 March, SUPERSPEED 1 will resume service on its regular Kristiansand-Hirtshals route, operating one return sailing per day in freight-only mode.
Incat to build 76m high-speed catamaran for South Korea’s Seaworld Express Ferry
The 76m high-speed wave piercing catamaran will be introduced on a new subisidised service between Jindo and Jeju Island. © Incat
Incat Tasmania has signed a contract with South Korea’s Seaworld Express Ferry for the construction of a new-generation 76m high-speed wave piercing catamaran with a capacity of 700 persons and 79 cars on a single vehicle deck.
Movement constraints hit ANZ ferries
Over the weekend ARATERE began to operate in freight-only mode. © Capt. Michael Pryce
Tighter restrictions on movements of all but essential personnel have seen the enforcement of new operating conditions for major ro-pax operations in Australia and New Zealand.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen to reduce fleet by 14 vessels
The temporary closure of car factories has impacted Wallenius Wilhelmsen. © Christian Costa
As a direct consequence of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, Wallenius Wilhelmsen has announced that it is to lay up a significant number of its fleet – 10 vessels, while send a further four vessels aged 24 years or more for recycling.
COVID-19 ferry update – Scotland
CalMac has stopped taking online bookings for all its services for the next four months. © Maritime Photographic
Scotland’s Transport Minister, Michael Matheson, announced on 22 March that ferry travel will be restricted in an effort to curb those travelling to islands communities to flee COVID-19.
Tallink Grupp and Viking Line further adjusting their operations
STAR will continue on the Paldiski-Sassnitz route until further notice. The Tallink vessel is here captured arriving Mukran (Port of Sassnitz) on 22 March. © Matti Block
Tallink Grupp’s shuttle ferry STAR will continue its new Paldiski-Sassnitz route until further notice. Initially the route was to be operated until 26 March only. The announced extension has been commissioned by the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and is meant to safeguard a smooth freight connection between the Baltic and Nordic States and Western Europe.
COVID-19 – Spanish ferry update
CIUDAD AUTONOMA MELILLA operates between Málaga and Melilla. © Frank Heine
Due to the COVID-19 spread, many international ferry services are no longer carrying tourist passengers as borders have been closed. Many governments in Europe have implemented a ban on non-essential travels with people no longer willing to travel.
CMHI launches OCEAN VICTORY and cuts first steel for SYLVIA EARLE
OCEAN VICTORY took to the water on 16 March. © Ulstein
In the space of two days two significant events took place in the construction of SunStone Ships’ Infinity Class of expedition cruise vessels under construction at CMHI’s Haimen facility – the third vessel in this class, OCEAN VICTORY, was launched on 16 March and the first steel was cut on the fourth vessel, SYLVIA EARLE, the following day.
DFDS to test fuel cell technology
The fuel cells on board ARK GERMANIA will produce energy for the ship's hotel load. © DFDS
There is also some good news to write about in days dominated by COVID-19: DFDS has received funding from the Danish Maritime Fund to test fuel cell technology on board of its freight ro-ro ARK GERMANIA.
Financials
Rederi AB Gotland published its 2019 full-year results
Rederi AB Gotland which – in addition to Destination Gotland AB, its ferry arm – also includes property management, hotel operations and Stockholms Reparationsvarv AB together with Nya Skärgårdsbolaget AB, has released its year end result for 2019. Turnover reached SEK 2,716 million (SEK 2,492 million), and profit after financial items amounted to SEK 403 million (SEK 270 million).
Press Releases
These press release news are published “as is”, i.e. this is how we get it from the senders. If you want to have your relevant news published, please send it to news@shippax.se
With reference to the Company’s Year-end Report of February 13, 2020, and the Company’s Annual Report published March 6, 2020, it is hereby announced that Viking Line Abp’s Board of Directors has decided to postpone this year’s ordinary General Meeting to a time that will be announced in a separate notice.
Fincantieri: stoppage of production activity further extended
Despite having already implemented all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of its employees, Fincantieri has decided to further extend the work stoppage in all its Military and Cruise Vessels production plants and offices from March 30th until the date indicated in the decree of the President of the Council of Ministers adopted on March 22nd. This decision was made in consideration of the current COVID-19 situation, the need to continue contrasting the epidemiological phenomenon through stringent and incisive measures, and the dispositions set forth in the above-mentioned decree.
Ferry industry calls for COVID-19 government financial assistance
Global trade body Interferry warns that ferry operators need government backing to offset unsustainable losses incurred - expected to be in the billions of dollars - while maintaining lifeline services during COVID-19 pandemic.
P&O Ferries reinforces freight operations by furloughing 1100 staff onto government pay scheme
P&O FERRIES’ operations on the Dover-Calais route are vital to the wellbeing of the people and economies of Northwestern Europe. Today the company is announcing a significant strategic shift to reprioritise its efforts on its freight operations and maintain the flow of goods, including medical supplies, between the United Kingdom and Europe.
Cavotec’s next generation e-ferry charging solution enters service in Norway
Cavotec’s next generation Automatic Plug-in System (APS) solution for charging electric ferries has entered service in Oslo, enabling safe, fast and clean vessel charging, and highlighting our role as a leading supplier of innovative automation and electrification technologies.
Wasaline ensures the traffic between Vaasa and Umea – will operate with normal timetable with cargo
Wasaline has been granted support from Finland's National Emergency Supply Agency and can secure the important transport route between Vaasa and Umea.
Royal Caribbean comments on new financing facility
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (NYSE: RCL) announced that it has entered into a $2.2 billion 364-day secured term loan facility, further enhancing the company's liquidity position. The facility can be extended at the company's option for an additional 364 days. The company has borrowed the full amount available under the term loan to further bolster its liquidity.
Logimatic and MAN Energy Solutions collaborate to standardize the exchange of RFQ and PO information between shipping companies and suppliers. A direct integration between the procurement module in SERTICA and the Sales Order System of MAN Energy Solutions eliminates retyping prices and other procurement information.
As reported in early 2018, Corvus Energy is rolling out plans for expanded maritime battery manufacturing facilities in both Bergen, Norway and Richmond, B.C., Canada. A new automated battery factory in Bergen began producing energy storage systems (ESS) in Q4 2019. Corvus is now pleased to announce that we have signed a contract for investment in new production line equipment in the Richmond, B.C. plant.
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIND), announced that it has appointed Thomas S. ("Tad") Smith, Jr. and Sarah Farrell to serve as independent directors of the Company.
BC Ferries announces fuel rebate
BC Ferries announced a 1.5 per cent fuel rebate effective April 1, passing on recent declines in fuel cost to ferry users. The company also announced it is delaying annual tariff adjustments in light of the COVID-19 situation and the impact it is having on customers.
P&O Ferries reinforces freight operations to secure resilience of Calais-Dover crossing
P&O FERRIES is strengthening its freight operations on the Calais-Dover crossing as part of its commitment to maintain the flow of goods during the Covid-19 crisis. The United Kingdom relies on P&O Ferries for much of its fresh food, as well as imports of medicines and other vital supplies. The crossing is also critical to the economies of France, Ireland and the wider EU.
Ports of Stockholm halves port fees
To ensure the continuous flow of shipping and the transport of goods between Sweden and its neighbouring countries, Ports of Stockholm has halved port fees for ferries at all three of the company’s ports.
Tallink Grupp Supervisory Board members waive remuneration
Members of the Tallink Grupp Supervisory Board Enn Pant, Ain Hanschmidt, Kalev Järvelill, Toivo Ninnas, Eve Pant and Raino Paron have this week unanimously decided to waive their Supervisory Board remuneration. According to the initial decision, the remuneration has been waived by the Board members for the next three months.
Tallink Grupp-No dividend payment for 2019 financial year
In accordance with AS Tallink Grupp’s (Company) dividend policy (if the economic performance enables it, dividends would be paid in the minimum amount of 5 cents per share), due to a deteriorated operating environment and considering the Company’s long-term interests, the Management Board has decided to propose to the Supervisory Board not to pay dividends from the 2019 financial year net profits.
Wärtsilä advances future fuel capabilities with first ammonia tests
The technology group Wärtsilä has initiated combustion trials using ammonia. The research will help the company to prepare for the use of ammonia as a fuel that can contribute to reducing both the shipping’s and energy sectors’ greenhouse gas emissions.
By deploying the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud platform, it will provide private wireless connectivity to more than 100 endpoints across the entire port operations. This will enable Zeebrugge to deliver a range of new and enhanced services that not only improve the port’s operational performance, but which also differentiate Zeebrugge as a leader in port transformation and digitalization.
VIKING offers e-learning remedy for COVID-19 STCW headache
VIKING Safety Academy has addressed a fast-emerging seafarer training issue brought by coronavirus by delivering a unique e-learning tool that can keep seafarers STCW-compliant until restrictions on movement and social interactions come to an end.
StratumFive launches Podium. The workspace that unifies the maritime digital community
StratumFive, a big picture company, has launched Podium, a unique collaborative workspace, which seamlessly connects applications, data, and people, across the maritime community.
StormGeo and DNV GL sign MoU to accelerate maritime data sharing
StormGeo and DNV GL announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive digitalization and data standardization in the maritime industry.
Scandlines welcomes clarifying approval of the Fehmarn Belt fixed link financing
The European Commission limits the State aid to the Fehmarn project economically and cuts the State aid period from 55 years to 16 years.
YSA brings breath of fresh air to SEVEN SEAS SPLENDOR dining experience
In upholding the luxury and sophistication for which the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand has become renowned, new fleet addition SEVEN SEAS SPLENDOR also includes a makeover with a twist for a much-loved Seven Seas dining area courtesy of YSA Design.
Wärtsilä simulation technology creating an essential testing environment for smart marine solutions
The technology group Wärtsilä has delivered a navigation simulator and specific mathematical models to the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) in the city of Rauma, Finland. These will be used as an essential enabler in the Intelligent Shipping Technology Test Laboratory (ISTLAB) project, which aims at creating a technically precise testing environment for remotely controlled, autonomous vessels. The contract with Wärtsilä was signed in the 4th quarter of 2019.
Most read
Stena Line to increase cargo capacity by 30% on STENA FORERUNNER and STENA FORETELLER
May 08 2024
A third Öresundslinjen ferry to become fully electric
May 07 2024
Finnlines adopts graphene-based hard foul release hull coating across its ro-ro and ro-pax fleet
May 07 2024
Finnlines’ financial review January–March 2024
May 10 2024
Shippax Guide 24 - out now!
May 06 2024
DFDS Q1 report and April volumes
May 10 2024
One of the world’s largest biofuel plants is planned in Malmö
May 17 2024
First shipment for Lakeway Link’s new Gdynia-Södertälje ro-ro service starts 21 May
May 06 2024
