Ro-ro traffic in Port of Gothenburg on the rise

By | 2017 Newsletter week 35 | No Comments

The number of ro-ro units shipped in Gothenburg during H1 totalled 291,000 (+7%), and 137,000 new cars were exported or imported (+14%). The latter is largely due to the success of Volvo.

Mainly the ro-ro trade between Sweden and Belgium is going from strength to strength. On August 17, DFDS added a 4th vessel –ARK GERMANIA– on the route to Ghent. This brings the number of DFDS departures each week to eight in both directions.

The Port of Gothenburg now has 20 calls by vessels from Belgium each week, operated by DFDS, CLdN and SOL Continent.

Red Funnel gets green light for controversial masterplan

By | 2017 Newsletter week 35 | No Comments

Red Funnel should be allowed to bulldoze its existing terminal, nearby buildings and properties in Cowes, Isle of Wight. The Court’s decision came after an appeal against Isle of Wight Council refusal.

Red Funnel wants to build a much-needed, modern ferry terminal. East-Cowes suffers from lack of space, with traffic congestion as a result.

The first idea was to add houses, retail and a hotel, but Red Funnel had to scale down the plan. The company said a new terminal layout will be presented end of September.

The ‘Robin Hood of shipbreaking’ published its quarterly report

By | 2017 Newsletter week 35 | No Comments

Environmental NGO ‘Robin des Bois,’ founded in France in 1985, published its Q2 report about shipbreaking.

From the five ‘recycled’ ferries two are well-known European veterans.

ATLAS is the former GELTING SYD, STELLA SCARLET (Meyer Werft, 1974).

SVETI STEFAN II will best be remembered as the PRINS HAMLET, operating on Hamburg-Harwich. She was built in Rendsburg in 1973. She later operated for DFDS, Stena Line and Polferries, before going to the Adriatic Sea for Montenegro Lines.

A well-known ro-ro who ended up on the beach of Aliaga is the former NORKING, BORE KING, built in 1980. She operated a long time for P&O and North Sea Ferries.

Fjord Line again delivers strong performance in Q2

By | 2017 Newsletter week 35 | No Comments

With the Q2 report, Fjord Line confirmed the year-on-year growth trend.

The company increased revenues with 30% and EBITDA with 112%.

Passenger volumes were up by 13% and freight volumes up by 25%.

The routes Hirtshals (Denmark) – Langesund (Norway, southeast of Oslo) and Sandefjord (Norway) – Strømstad (Sweden) were responsible for a significant increase in freight volumes (respectively 37% and 39%). The same routes also saw an increase in passengers per crossing.

In Q2 the high-speed vessel FJORD CAT suffered some technical issues, with 3 weeks of cancellations. Result: the growth on the Hirtshals – Kristiansand route did not materialize.

Port of Tallin has chosen the architects for the Old City Harbour

By | 2017 Newsletter week 35 | No Comments

Irish Continental Group (ICG), the Irish-based maritime transport group, reported a solid financial performance for the half year ended 30 June 2017.

Growth in revenue went up 3.7% to €156.1, in what is seasonally its less profitable half year period.

The strong performance is underpinned by increased car volumes and the consolidation of the strong ro-ro growth over the last two years in the ferries division.

Irish Ferries carried 174,500 cars (+2.3%) and 700,400 passengers (+1.7%)

Ro-ro freight volumes went a little down: 138,600 units (-0.4%).

In H1 ICG sold ro-pax KAITAKI (ISLE OF INNISFREE) to Toll Shipping, and now the company is looking forward to the arrival in mid-2018 of the new ship, which will bring cost savings and additional earnings potential.

BLUE STAR PATMOS ran aground

By | 2017 Newsletter week 35 | No Comments

During the night of August 30, ro-pax BLUE STAR PATMOS suffered grounding when approaching Ios. Blue Star Ferries reported that 205 passengers and 87 crew were on board. All have been safely brought ashore.

Golden Star Ferries will operate the SUPERFERRY out of Piraeus, to replace the BLUE STAR PATMOS on some islands.

Strong performance for Irish Continental Group

By | 2017 Newsletter week 35 | No Comments

Irish Continental Group (ICG), the Irish-based maritime transport group, reported a solid financial performance for the half year ended 30 June 2017.

Growth in revenue went up 3.7% to €156.1, in what is seasonally its less profitable half year period.

The strong performance is underpinned by increased car volumes and the consolidation of the strong ro-ro growth over the last two years in the ferries division.

Irish Ferries carried 174,500 cars (+2.3%) and 700,400 passengers (+1.7%)

Ro-ro freight volumes went a little down: 138,600 units (-0.4%).

In H1 ICG sold ro-pax KAITAKI (ISLE OF INNISFREE) to Toll Shipping, and now the company is looking forward to the arrival in mid-2018 of the new ship, which will bring cost savings and additional earnings potential.