All Posts By

sandra

Apr 05
1

Wedellsborg’s new co-owner Finaval emerging as new investor

By | 2024 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

The Giovanni Fagioli-controlled Finaval group has officially announced its co-ownership, holding a 49% share, alongside Grendi who holds 51%, of the vehicle company named Nav.Co. Nav.Co has recently acquired the RoRo ship Wedellsborg for EUR 34 million.

The seller of the vessel was Visemar Levante, a company associated with the Visentini family, who operates the Cantiere Navale Visentini shipyard in Italy where the ship was constructed in 2014. The financing for the deal was provided by Credit Agricole and Banca Popolare di Sondrio. The Genoa-based Banchero Costa served as the ship and financial broker.

Giuseppe Santarcangelo, the Deputy CEO of Finaval and Chairman of Nav.Co, stated that the group, which was previously primarily engaged in owning tanker ships, is now shifting its focus towards becoming a financial player and tonnage provider. He further mentioned that Finaval is currently exploring and evaluating potential new deals.

Apr 05
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

Attica Holdings agreed to sell ferry Express Skiathos for EUR 9 million to 4naver Shipholding Ltd. The completion of the transaction is expected to take place with the delivery of the vessel to the new buyers, in the first ten days of April 2024.

From this transaction, a net profit for Attica Group of EUR 2.8 million was realized. approximately and will be included in the results of the first half of 2024.

Photo: HSW

It is reported that Fast Ferries Andros is currently being chartered from Blue Star Ferries. The RoPax is temporarily serving on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos line, replacing Blue Star Paros, which is undergoing her annual refit and dry docking. The ship is chartered from April 5 to April 21.

Photo: Spyros Roussos

The RoPax vessel Kalliste has arrived in Toulon on Thursday April 4th, freshly painted in its new livery. On Saturday, CMA CGM-owned La Méridionale will inaugurate the new route from Toulon to Ile Rousse in Corsica, and Livorno (Livorno only June-September).

Photo: Jean-Pierre Fabre

Mar 29
1

Finnlines Annual Report 2023

By | 2024 Newsletter week 13 | No Comments

Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman of the Finnlines Board, stresses the urgency of addressing climate change and calls for collaboration among stakeholders to achieve decarbonization goals. This includes investing in green technology, developing new fuels, and adapting to changes in vessel design and operation. Financial resources are crucial to fund these initiatives, with significant investments needed in production facilities, fuel supply infrastructure, and engine technology.

Mr Grimaldi says that as the shipping industry moves towards greener fuels and technologies, it’s imperative to not only strategize for the environmental transition but also to consider the transition for seafarers. With the adoption of new fuels, vessels will be designed differently, posing challenges for seafarers accustomed to conventional ship designs. Furthermore, seafarers may require retraining to effectively navigate digitalization and other technological innovations accompanying these changes. Thus, ensuring that seafarers are adequately prepared for these shifts is crucial for the successful implementation of sustainable practices in the shipping sector.

A couple of weeks ago, Ferry Shipping News published Finnlines’ Financial review January–December 2023.

Now the Annual report 2023 is out. Click on the cover below to directly access the Finnlines web page.

Mar 29
1

Monthly figures Corsica

By | 2024 Newsletter week 13 | No Comments

ORTC (Corsica Transport Office) published the monthly traffic statistics.

January February
Passengers Airport 158,010 (+7.4%) 144,841 (+2.1%)
Passengers Ferry 86,610 (+4.4%) 75,316 (-13.1%)
Passenger Cars 36,251 (+0.7%) 32,310 (-10.7%)
Freight (tons) 147,392 (+4.8%) 162,615 (+26.2%)

The monthly reports can be downloaded here (in French)

Mar 29
1

Norwegian ferry ready for Canadian service

By | 2024 Newsletter week 13 | No Comments

Fiskerstrand Shipyard has successfully completed a ferry project. Former ferry Kvernsund has been prepared for its new life in Canada as Astron W for the shipping company Labrador Marine Inc.

Extension by 8.4 m, ice reinforced hull, new propulsion system, hybrid battery system, new interior, adaptations to Canadian ferry terminals, are some of the works that have been done.

The ship is on her way to Canada and arrived in our home port of Ijmuiden on March 27.

Source photo: https://www.facebook.com/fiskerstrandverft

Mar 29
1

French Secretary of State signs social law

By | 2024 Newsletter week 13 | No Comments

On Tuesday 19 March 2024, the decree implementing the law against cross-Channel social dumping was signed by the French Secretary of State for the Sea, Hervé Berville. All companies operating between Great Britain and France must now comply with French labour law. Operators affected by the move point out that this goes against international norms which they fully comply with.

Source (in French): decree

Mar 29
1

RoRo Blue Carrier 2 entered service on March 22

By | 2024 Newsletter week 13 | No Comments

The latest addition to the Blue Star Ferries fleet, the RoRo Blue Carrier 2 (formerly known as Clementine), joined Hellenic Coastal Shipping on March 22. The vessel embarked on her maiden voyage on the Piraeus-Samos (Vathi)-Kos-Rodos line, becoming the second RoRo vessel in the Blue Star Ferries fleet.

Purchased in July 2023, she remained chartered until the end of December 2023. Built in Japan (Kawasaki) in 1998, she boasts a carrying capacity for 170 unaccompanied trucks and 458 private cars (2,307 lane meters), with a cruising speed of 17 knots.

Photo: Attica Group

Mar 29
1

SETE’s report about the Passenger Coastal Shipping traffic in Greece 2023

By | 2024 Newsletter week 13 | No Comments

According to the recent report of the Institute of SETE-INSETE (non-profit organization) the passenger shipping traffic in Greece for 2023 formed as follows:

  • In the Adriatic market, passenger traffic is estimated to have increased by 11.6% in 2023 compared to 2022, while the estimate for the number of passengers was 1.3 million compared to 1.2 million in 2022
Quarters Passengers % Percentage
2023 2022 2023-2022
Α 167.675 131.968 27,1%
Β 312.452 253.841 23,1%
C 659.153 621.836 6,0%
D 211.381 202.266 4,5%
Total 1.350.661 1.209.911 11,6%

Source: SEEN

  • Domestic passenger traffic is estimated to have increased by 6.7% in 2023 compared to 2022, while the estimate for the number of passengers amounts to 18.7 million compared to 17.5 million in 2022
Quarters Passengers % Percentage
2023 2022 2023-2022
Α 1.672.061 1.348.530 24%
Β 4.647.594 4.503.072 3,2%
C 9.811.597 9.344.378 5,0%
D 2.562.663 2.329.694 10,0%
Total 18.693.915 17.525.674 6,7%

Source: SEEN

Mar 29
1

IMT Terminal in Genoa awarded a three-year contract for Renault/Dacia new vehicles

By | 2024 Newsletter week 13 | No Comments

IMT – Intermodal Marine Terminal, company part of Ignazio Messina & C. managing a multipurpose terminal in the port of Genoa, announced to have been selected “to oversee the management of Renault/Dacia flows for the next three years, building upon our strong relationship established since the second half of 2023”.

In a posted message the terminal added: “Following the awarding of the Global Tender launched by Renault Group, Neptune Lines has entrusted us with this significant responsibility. We’re honoured by the trust they’ve placed in us! In addition, we’re delighted to confirm that Genoa port will now be included in Neptune Lines’ regular schedule, facilitating the discharge of approximately 20,000 cars per year.”

The new vehicles are produced in Morocco and shipped to Italy from the port of Tanger Med.

Mar 29
1

RoPax Igoumenitsa renamed Ciudad de Sòller and transferred to Trasmed GLE

By | 2024 Newsletter week 13 | No Comments

The 1999-built Igoumenitsa has just been transferred from Grimaldi Euromed to Trasmed GLE’s fleet and renamed Ciudad de Sóller.

“Due to legal issues related to the administrative deadlines of the Italian legislation, the Ciudad de Sóller will carry the Italian flag and crew during the first two months of service, until the end of May approximately, when it will fly the Spanish flag and will be positioned on the Palma – Barcelona route” the Spanish ferry company stated.

This vessel (440 passengers and 3,000 lane metres capacity) will replace the Ciudad de Alcudia recently dismissed by Grimaldi Group.