DFDS re-introduces SIRENA SEAWAYS as LIVERPOOL SEAWAYS is handed over to its French owners

SIRENA SEAWAYS is back in the Baltic. © DFDS

Following a five-year bareboat charter with Brittany Ferries and drydocking at Remontowa Shiprepair Yard in Gdansk, the SIRENA SEAWAYS has re-joined the DFDS fleet, replacing LIVERPOOL SEAWAYS on the Karlshamn-Klaipeda service.

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Green light for TS Laevad newbuild

The newbuild will primarily support PIRET and TÕLL on the 27-minute Virtsu-Kuivastu route. © Uwe Jakob

Estonian lifeline ferry operator TS Laevad has officially received the green light to proceed with the tender for a newbuild ferry. The extra capacity is necessary after TS Laevad signed an annex to its public service contract which requires the Port of Tallinn subsidiary to perform at least 500 additional sailings per year on the Virtsu-Kuivastu, Saaremaa route in the 1 June 2020 to 30 September 2026 period.

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Out now - ShippaxInfo May

Theme: Digitalisation and Automation

Moby SPL confirms temporary charter of PRINCESS ANASTASIA as a floating hotel

With no clear indication when it can resume its Baltic cruise ferry services due to COVID-19, Moby SPL has chartered out PRINCESS ANASTASIA, its sole vessel. © Christian Costa

Following her prolonged drydocking at Remontowa Shiprepair Yard, Moby SPL’s (St. Peter Line’s) 1986-built ro-pax cruise ferry (SPL) PRINCESS ANASTASIA recently headed for Murmansk, Russia, where she arrived on 3 May. As Moby SPL has no clear indication when it can resume its Baltic cruise ferry service calling at St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Tallinn and Stockholm, it grasped the opportunity to temporarily charter out its 765-cabin and 2,447-berth cruise ferry.

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No Norwegian government money for Hurtigruten?

NORDNORGE is one of 14 Hurtigruten vessels currently laid up due to the COVID-19 crisis. © Christian Costa

Norwegian economic and financial media report that Hurtigruten could be left on its own with its losses and deteriorated financial situation caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

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NOK 700 million cash injection and cost cuts should secure Fjord Line’s future

© Philippe Holthof

Fjord Line’s operations abruptly came to a near-standstill following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Scandinavia. When the Danish and Norwegian borders were closed, Fjord Line lost 90% of its revenues overnight.

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MSC Cruises postpones delivery of MSC VIRTUOSA

© MSC Cruises

It is understood that MSC Cruises has entered into an agreement with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to postpone the delivery of the 183,500gt Meraviglia Plus Class MSC VIRTUOSA to early 2021. The modified (LNG-powered) sister ship of the 2019-built MSC GRANDIOSA was due in October 2020.

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Blu Navy gets new (unidentified) shareholders

ACCIARELLO was sold to Blu Navy in 2016. © Frank Lose

Although not officialised, sources close to Italian maritime news website, Ship2Shore, understand that Caronte & Tourist has entered the share capital of BN di Navigazione, operating ferry links between Elba, Sardinia and Corsica under the Blu Navy banner. In the meantime, the Negri family-controlled Finsea decreased its share in BN di Navigazione to 46%.

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Naviera Armas receives a necessary cash injection

© Philippe Holthof

As previously reported, the Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea Group has been facing a liquidity crisis since prior to the COVID-19 crisis, and which has deteriorated during the past month.

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Trasmediterránea uses new Coronanavirus legislation to lay off staff temporarily

Sixty-eight staff of CIUDAD DE MAHON will be temporarily laid off. © Marc Ottini

With the Spanish legislation allowing staff to be made temporarily redundant as a result of the Coronavirus impact and subsequent travel embargos, Trasmediterránea has announced that all its employment centres, i.e. vessels, will be affected. The list published includes the following vessels (operating base), and the corresponding staff affected by the temporary redundancy.

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STENA ESTRID out of service for up to six weeks – STENA NORDICA takes over

STENA NORDICA left Rotterdam for Holyhead on 1 May. © Marko Stampehl

After only four months in service on Stena Line’s Holyhead-Dublin service, the company’s first E-Flexer newbuilding ro-pax from China, STENA ESTRID, is about to been taken out of service for five to six weeks for main engine repairs.

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Financials

COVID-19 affects Tallink Grupp’s Q1 results

Tallink Grupp has released its unaudited financial results for Q1 (1 January-31 March), showing a 13.4% or EUR 23.9 million drop of its consolidated revenue to a total of EUR 154.9 million. Unaudited EBITDA was EUR -1.3 million (EUR 3.8 million in Q1 2019) and unaudited net loss increased by 19.6%, totalling EUR 30.2 million (net loss of EUR 25.3 million in Q1 2019).

Finnlines releases its 2020 Q1 results, addresses the COVID-19 crisis

Finnlines released its financial result for the first quarter of the year. While revenue decreased to EUR 130.5 million (EUR 137.6 million), EBITDA increased to EUR 38.2 million (EUR 34.2 million). During the quarter, it transported 186,000 cargo units, 41,000 cars (excluding tourist cars) and 121,000 passengers.

2019 proved to be a Grand Cru year for Virtu Ferries

Virtu Ferries’ turnover increased by 31% to a new record of EUR 43.4 million. After tax profit followed a more moderate course and increased by 17.7% to EUR 12.8 million.

DFDS Q1 results impacted by COVID-19

Covid-19 affected DFDS’s Q1 results, although the effect did not fully become visible until after mid-March. Revenues fell to DKK 3,813 million (DKK 3,870 million), while EBITDA ended at DKK 610 million (DKK 677 million).

Lower volumes but higher turnover for Brittany Ferries in 2019

Concurrent with its Annual General Meeting, held on 5 May, Brittany Ferries presented its 2019 results. Notwithstanding a drop in both passenger and freight volumes, turnover increased by about 5.5% to EUR 469 million.

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings Q1 results

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings reported its Q1 results, which showed tour revenue decreased with 9% to USD 81.2 million and adjusted EBITDA decreased USD 11.5 million to USD 10.6 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

Interferry Guidance on mitigation of COVID-19

Interferry sets out guidelines for COVID-19 restart of passenger services
After collecting a large number of suggestions on how to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in relation to ferry operations, a task force of Interferry members has identified the key measures necessary to support the safe, gradual start-up of suspended passenger services during the pandemic.

Getlink-Shuttle Traffic for April 2020

In the context of the lockdown measures imposed by the French and British governments on the 17th and 23rd March respectively, prohibiting all travel considered to be non-essential, Eurotunnel continues to focus on ensuring the supply of critical goods between France and the United Kingdom via its Truck and Passenger Shuttle services.

Foreship launches Project Hygiea to keep coronavirus off cruise ships

Leading naval architecture and marine engineering firm Foreship has devised an initiative to limit the presence and spread of coronavirus and other pathogens on passenger ships and get the cruise sector back up and running. Entitled ‘Project Hygiea’, the four-step approach comprises interception, prevention, mitigation and evacuation.

Damen Ferries marks two decades with a keen eye on a sustainable future

Damen Shipyards Group has marked the twentieth anniversary of its ferries department. At the start of the new millennium, Damen formalised its activities in the waterborne public transport sector with a dedicated department. Today, the product group is at the forefront of numerous initiatives that are driving sustainability and innovation within Damen and the maritime sector.

UK Chamber of Shipping calls on UK government to lead the world on crew changes

• New protocols allow safe transfer of crew
• UK government could be first to adopt the new instructions
• But to ensure trade continues to flow UK seafarers must be excluded from air travel quarantine
The UK Chamber of Shipping has urged the UK government to become the first in the world to adopt new measures to ensure ship crew changes can take place. The trade association has also called on the government to exclude seafarers and offshore workers from any potential air travel quarantine restrictions which may be introduced.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Successfully Secures Over $2 Billion of Additional Liquidity in Oversubscribed Capital Markets Transactions

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) (the “Company”) today announced it successfully secured over $2 billion of additional liquidity in response to impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the Company and the cruise industry, including the temporary suspension of voyages, and to safeguard against a further downside scenario.

Production of Wasaline’s new car and passenger ferry continues uninterrupted at Rauma shipyard

Despite the exceptional circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic, the construction of the AURORA BOTNIA, Wasaline’s new car and passenger ferry, is progressing according to schedule.

Speedcast International Ltd To Recapitalise Through Chapter 11

Speedcast International Limited (ASX: SDA) announced that, after evaluating a variety of options to strengthen its balance sheet in ways that support its long-term growth and success, it has initiated a voluntary financial restructuring under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.

The cornerstone of Tallinn’s cruise terminal was laid

The cornerstone of the new cruise terminal in Tallinn was ceremonially laid on April 30. The cornerstone was put in place by Port of Tallinn’s Chief Infrastructure Officer Peeter Nõgu and by YIT Eesti’s Member of the Management Board Margus Põim.

Commissioner Sola to Lead Fact Finding Focusing on Cruise Line Issues

Commissioner Louis E. Sola will lead a fact finding investigation and work with key industry stakeholders to identify commercial measures passenger cruise lines can adopt to mitigate COVID-19 related impacts to this sector of the maritime industry.

Crowley signs up to Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress

Crowley Maritime Corp. has agreed a contract to install Fleet Xpress from Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, on a majority of its vessels.

Viking Line’s service over the next few weeks

As a result of the Finnish government’s decision on May 4, 2020 to gradually ease some of the restrictions related to the Covid-19 coronavirus, starting May 14 Viking Line will open up passenger service again for essential traffic. Essential traffic includes travel for work and other travel defined by the authorities. We recommend that all passengers familiarize themselves with the instructions issued by the authorities prior to travelling. The restrictions are in effect until May 31, 2020.

Baleària will be the first shipping line in the world with Bureau Veritas certification that its ships and facilities are Covid-19 safe spaces

• The shipping line emphasises safety when travelling by ship, with the nature and space available on board allowing distancing to be ensured between passengers.
• The international certification and inspection body will conduct a monthly analysis as to the possible presence of the virus on surfaces.
• The company plans to obtain Global Safe Site Covid-19 Excellence certification in June for 16 ships and 2 ferry terminals

Tallink Grupp starts selling tickets to passengers travelling to Finland again from today, first passengers to Finland allowed on board on 14 May 2020

As a result of the decision made by the Finnish government yesterday (4 May 2020) to allow passenger transport to Finland on ferries again from 14 May 2020 for workers and people with unavoidable reasons for travel, Tallink Grupp will reopen ticket sales on Tuesday, 5 May 2020, for passengers wishing to travel to Finland. Ticket sales for passengers from Finland have remained open throughout the state of emergency period.

P&O Cruises Extends Pause in Operations in Australia and New Zealand until August 31, 2020

P&O Cruises announced it has extended its voluntary pause in operations in Australia and New Zealand to August 31, 2020, in response to continuing travel restrictions due to the impact of COVID-19.

AS Tallink Grupp Statistics for April 2020

In April 2020 AS Tallink Grupp transported 32 181 passengers, which is a 95.9% decrease compared to April 2019. The number of cargo units decreased by 14.3% to 27 743 units and the number of passenger vehicles decreased by 95.7% to 3 615 units in the same comparison.

SMM rescheduled for 2021

SMM, the international maritime trade fair, has been postponed to 2-5 February 2021 in response to the coronavirus pandemic and its global impact on major events and international travelling.

Moby announcements

Appointment of the new Security Agent
Moby announces that following the resignation of Unicredit SpA from its role as Security Agent and Agent under the Senior Facilities Agreement, GLAS Trust Corporation Limited has been appointed as Security Agent and Global Loan Agency Services Limited has been appointed as Agent by the Majority Lenders pursuant to a deed of resignation and appointment.

Northvolt’s vision: the world’s greenest batteries

The world needs to switch from fossil fuels to renewables. When that happens, Northvolt expects to be a major operator thanks to its lithium-ion batteries and energy storage solutions.

Costa extends the suspension of its cruises until June 30

Costa announces the further suspension of its cruises until June 30, 2020. Due to the continuation of the emergency situation linked to the global pandemic of Covid-19 and with the continuation of containment measures such as closing ports and restrictions on the movement of people which do not actually allow to operate, the Company extends the suspension to the whole month of June.