FERRY SHIPPING

By | 2020 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

DFDS Wins New German Paper Contract

DFDS is to transport 50,000 tons of paper from the German Schoellershammer’s paper mill in Düren to the UK and Norway. The agreement includes both logistics and ferry as well as warehousing in Immingham.

  • About 24.000 tons will be shipped from Zeebrugge to Immingham as StoRo cargo and stored in a warehouse in Immingham until required by the customer.
  • 640 Trailer loads (16.000 tons) will be shipped as direct door-to-door deliveries in the UK by Logistics in the Netherlands using the Vlaardingen ‒ Immingham ferry route.
  • Up to 400 Trailer loads (10.000 Tons) will be shipped as door-to-door transport to Norway by Logistics in Belgium, via the Ghent/Zeebrugge ‒ Gothenburg ferry routes.

Fjord Line to Reflag OSLOFJORD from DIS Register to NOR

By | 2020 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

Fjord Line has the intention to reflag one of its four vessels from the Danish DIS register to the Norwegian NOR register.

OSLOFJORD sails between Sandefjord (Norway) and Strömstad (Sweden), with 90% of the passengers being Norwegian.

“We are extremely happy with our Danish crew onboard and hope to find viable solutions together with the trade unions, should this intention eventually be acted upon”, says Rickard Ternblom, CEO of Fjord Line.  “Further analysis work is now needed to determine whether the intention we today state should materialize as a firm decision down the road”, says Ternblom.

For the time being this decision only applies to OSOFJORD.

es.

Flensburger Shipbuilders Deliver LIEKUT

By | 2020 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

On Thursday 26 March 2020, Flensburger Shipbuilders handed over roro vessel LIEKUT to SIEM Europe.

It is the eight roro built by FSG for this customer.

Under the current C19 circumstances, FSG has temporarily suspended operations and production since 19 March.

Below photo shows ropax HONFLEUR, under construction for Brittany Ferries.

Second G5GG Newbuilding for Grimaldi, ECO BARCELONA, Launched by Jinling Shipyard

By | 2020 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

Chinese media report that Nanjing Jinling Shipyard has just successfully launched the second of G5GG ro-ro vessels ordered by Grimaldi Group.

ECO BARCELONA is set for delivery in August or September.

The first unit, ECO VALENCIA, part of a series of 12 newbuildings (of which 3 are for Finnlines), is expected to be delivered in the coming weeks and will start operating on the motorways of the seas in the Mediterranean basin in June.

The new vessels have a length of 238 metres, a beam of 34 metres and a gross tonnage of 64,000 tonnes. They will be able to transport over 7,800 lane meters of rolling units, equivalent to approximately 500 trailers. The design of the newbuilds was developed by the Technical and Energy Saving Department of the Grimaldi Group together with Knud E. Hansen in close cooperation with the shipyard.

Stormy Weather in the Tyrrhenian Sea

By | 2020 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

CIN Tirrenia suspended ferry services between the islands and the Italian mainland (31/3)

Why?

The liquidators of the old, bad ferry company ‘Tirrenia in Extraordinary Administration’, asked (30/3) to seize the current accounts of Tirrenia-CIN, in relation to the verdict of the European Commission. (see also Ferry Shipping News 10: No State Aids for CIN but Moby Now Has to Pay 115 Million for Tirrenia)

In a statement published on the Luxemburg Stock Exchange (30/3), owner Moby said the seizure happened in spite of the fact that CIN wrote several times to confirm its willingness to offer guarantees for payment.

Moby, which controls and operate Tirrenia’s fleet, further stated that “the company does have liquidity, but the blocking of the current accounts prevents it continuing to operate. The activities of CIN have been paralysed”.

Therefore, Moby added that it would be impossible to continue the maritime links with Sardinia, Sicily and Tremiti islands.

Italy pays an annual subsidy of EUR 72 million for these lifeline services.

Immediately the Minister of Transport issued an ultimatum: the situation should be resolved in 24 hours.

 

The Italian transport and economic development ministries had a conference call (1/4) with the Moby Group and the administrators of Tirrenia in Extraordinary Administration, in order to find a way for reopening all the subsidised maritime links.

The same day (1/4) an agreement was reached. The ferries from Tirrenia could sail again.

CIN and the Moby group confirmed in a press release that they will respect all their commitments, “as the Onorato family has always done for five generations of shipowners serving Sardinia for over 130 years, working actively to overcome the complex and systemic current situation continuing to honor the territories served and their needs with responsibility and sense of duty.”

COVID-19

By | 2020 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

CalMac

  • CalMac is to stop taking cash on its ferries and ports in response to concerns around the pandemic.
  • CalMac ceased its on board food and drink and retail offering on all routes.
  • Fares are being temporarily frozen on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network to help island residents and businesses during the outbreak of coronavirus, says Transport Scotland.

Color Line

Since Friday, 27 March, Color Line’s ropax SUPERSPEED 1 is back in traffic between Kristiansand and Hirtshals. On Monday 16 March, Sailings with SUPERSPEED 1 were temporally stopped because of the C19 measures. A planned drydock was also cancelled. One roundtrip per day will be offered for accompanied cargo, leaving Kristiansand in the afternoon and returning from Hirtshals in the evening.

Corsica Ferries

Corsica Ferries has reduced its services. The main focus is on the lifeline services with Corsica. That is freight, island security and civil security.

Only the following persons are allowed to embark (and they need to have the right paperwork).

  • Police services, military on a mission, medical personnel…
  • Essential travel for medical reasons
  • Essential travel for familial reasons
  • Essential professional travel for jobs that cannot be delayed.

All onboard services are closed. Passengers have to stay in their cabin. Embarkation or disembarkation happens without any contact with crew. A doctor is onboard.

Cabins are disinfected every morning.

Passengers get an SMS with preventive information prior to travel.

DFDS

Look and listen here to Torben Carlsen’s vlog 9 on YouTube.

Eckerö Line (Helsinki – Tallinn)

Focus on freight with limited passengers. Details here.

Eckerö Linjen (Eckerö – Grisslehamn)

Since the Finnish state has decided to extend the state of emergency until 13 May, and as a result of continuing to keep the borders closed, Eckerö Linjen will suspend all traffic with ropax ECKERÖ. At present, the plan is to resume traffic on Thursday 14 May.

Finland

“Maritime Transport Of Rubber-Tyred Vehicles Secured With Measures Taken By The National Emergency Supply Agency”

 

  • The National Emergency Supply Agency is prepared to spend EUR 45 million on measures to keep the cargo flows alive. The financial aid will be granted in compliance with the EU’s legislation and support mechanisms, and the European Commission will be notified of it by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
  • The support arrangement applies to five passenger car ferries operating under the Finnish flag, one ferry operating under the Swedish flag and one ferry operating under the Estonian flag. The ferries operate on the Helsinki–Tallinn, Turku–Stockholm and Vaasa–Umeå routes.
  • The ferries operating between Turku and Stockholm also ensure the continuation of cargo transport from the Åland Islands to Finland and Sweden.
  • RoRo and RoPax transport to Germany and other parts of Europe is profitable activity that occurs on market terms and does not require support.

Godby Shipping Ab

Roro’s BALTICA and MIDAS have been laid up in Mariehamn.

Hellenic Coastal Shipping Seeks Financial Support from the European Commission

The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Finance are having discussions with the European Commission in order to include Greek ferry companies in a financial aid program that will ensure their viability against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The information says that the amount of financial support that each ship will receive has not been clarified yet. However, it is estimated that the very large ships will be subsidized with no less than EUR 40,000 per day, while all the other vessels will approximately receive EUR 30,000.

So far, the latest data coming from the Greek Ship-owners Association for Passenger Ships reveal, that the passenger ferry traffic -in all domestic lines- is expected to be reduced during April-May by 90%, while it is projected that the decline will continue throughout the summer season causing a 50% drop to passengers and 40% to cargo.

Furthermore, it has been estimated that the loss of revenue of the Greek ferry companies will exceed some EUR 290 million in 2020, which means that if the Hellenic Government does not act fast and provide a proper financial support, the sector would “collapse”.

As a result of these, on 27 March 2020 the Minister of Shipping announced the following package of measures in order to support the coastal shipping:

Hellenic Coastal ferry companies will be entitled to the latest relief measures announced by the Greek government. These measures include:

  • Suspension of tax and social security contribution payments for Greek coastal ferry companies
  • Benefit (EUR 800) for their employees that have been or will be suspended from their employment contracts until 30 April
  • Seafarers that were fired from March 1 will also be eligible for the 800-euro benefit
  • The unemployment benefit for unemployed seafarers will be extended until May 31
  • The winter on board service composition (number of seafarers employed on board) of ferry vessels will be extended until April 30
  • High-speed vessels will remain docked until further notice by the Ministry, depending on the course of the pandemic
  • Ferries’ certificates validity is extended for another 3 months
  • All port fees (PPA) paid by coastal shipping companies will be slashed by 20% until the end of next month. The slash will reach even 50% if the crisis remains.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Shipping is currently in close cooperation with the ministries of finance and Development, to assess the exact compensation of companies affected by the decline in the ferry market due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and launches a specific aid scheme. Moreover, a provision would be tabled in parliament to allow a particular ferry route or routes, belonging to the main and local ferry network, to operate under public service contracts.

Isle of Man Steam Packet

Following the decision of the Isle of Man Government to close its borders to all but essential workers, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has rescheduled its services.

Isle of Wight Ferries + Red Funnel + Hovertravel

The UK Government is temporarily suspending competition law to allow ferry operators in the Isle of Wight to work together and maintain a crucial lifeline between the island and the mainland during the COVID-19 outbreak.

  • Hovertravel has stepped up its operation to be available, on demand and around the clock, to stakeholders who need transport to and from the Isle of Wight. Read here about the “critical on demand service”.
  • Red Funnel expects changes in timetable.
  • Wightlink is running a reduced timetable with fewer sailings. Freight and essential services for the Island are being prioritised. Lymington-Yarmouth route closed.

MCA: Drivers ‘may’ be able to stay in their vehicles on ferries in exceptional circumstances (UK)

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is to allow drivers on ferry routes to stay in their vehicles in exceptional circumstances to protect frontline services and to keep freight moving.

Operators will need to demonstrate that they have carried out rigorous risk assessments before the MCA gives its agreement.

It means that as long as there are pre-agreed mitigation measures in place, freight drivers will be able to stay with their vehicles on vehicle decks of international and domestic ferries.

Katy Ware, Director of Maritime Safety and Standards and the UK’s Permanent Representative to the IMO said: ‘‘We’re currently working with the flag & port-State administrations of Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands to agree a common solution that will allow a risked- based approach to avoid putting crews at unnecessary risk of exposure to infection that could seriously hamper freight services. We have engaged with other flag and port-State administrations, as above, to initiate the use of the UK/French guidance as a common solution.”

Molslinjen

All Molslinjen tickets can be rebooked for a departure at any time, for the rest of the year.
If the ticket is on a departure that is more expensive than the original one, the price difference must be paid.

Northlink Ferries

Northlink Ferries’ website says:

  • Ropax and roro ferries are continuing as per published timetable, but web bookings have been suspended.
  • Anyone seeking to travel has to book at the port of departure on the day of travel.
  • Only allowed are island residents, a key workers or persons travelling to provide medical support to family members.

P&O Ferries Reinforces Freight Operations by Furloughing 1100 Staff onto Government Pay Scheme

P&O Ferries has suspended its passenger business and will be focusing all its efforts on maintaining the flow of freight to Britain.

“With respect to the UK, we bring in about 15% of all the goods that the country currently urgently needs,” says CEO Janette Bell. “The biggest part of which [33%] is food, including fresh fruit and vegetables from southern Europe and North Africa, as well as vital medicines and medical equipment.  P&O Ferries is also handling important but hazardous goods such as detergents and cleaning products. Ordinarily, for P&O Ferries to provide the service required for the transport of freight, there needs to be a mix of passengers and cargo on the ships.  However, due to the outbreak of Covid-19, there are now very few passengers travelling and we cannot sustain these normal operations.”

“This means that 1100 of our P&O’s staff in the passenger services will be furloughed onto the Government’s pay scheme.

For those employees in Britain affected, the Government scheme will cover 80% of their salary and the company will cover the rest up to their basic salary.  Other European countries have similar schemes.”

Stena Line Fights to Help Ensure Vital UK & Irish Supply Lines Stay Open

  • All of Stena Line’s Irish Sea ferries are continuing to run on schedule, however, some services have restricted passenger numbers in order ensure strict social distancing guidelines are adhered to.
  • Recently Stena Line has introduced a large number of additional measures in a bid to help safeguard its passengers and crew during the COVID-19 crisis. They can be read here.

Tallink

  • Tallinn-Helsinki route. MEGASTAR continues to operate on the route according to its normal timetable.
  • Tallinn-Vuosaari route. SEA WIND continues to operate on the route according to its regular timetable. Tickets can be booked via Tallink Cargo.
  • Paldiski – Kapellskär route. REGAL STAR continues to operate on the route according to its regular timetable. At present also passengers with cars are allowed to travel on this vessel. Tickets can be booked via Tallink Cargo.
  • Turku-Stockholm route via Langnäs. BALTIC PRINCESS and GALAXY continue to operate on the route according to their regular timetables. Tickets can be booked via the company’s usual websites.
  • Paldiski-Sassnitz route. STAR operates until 18 April 2020 according to the following schedule (Sassnitz – Paldiski: Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Paldiski – Sassnitz: Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays.) Cargo bookings can be made via Tallink Cargo and passenger bookings via Tallink Customer Services +372 6408 929.

Viking Line

Ropax ferry ROSELLA is returning to service, three times a week from Mariehamn to Kapelskär, as a result of an Åland Government invitation to increase freight capacity. The return means some of the recently laid-off staff will return to work

ROSELLA’s reactivation will be paid by the Finnish state. (Huoltovarmuuskeskus = Finland’s National Emergency Supply Agency).

FERRY PORTS

By | 2020 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

Task Force Formed to Ensure Smooth Operation of Flemish Ports

A task force has been set up to maintain the smooth operation of Flemish ports during the coronavirus crisis: Antwerp, North Sea Ports (Ghent, Terneuzen, Vlissingen), Oostende and Zeebrugge).

The aim is to ensure that food and medical equipment continue to pass into the country, and that security measures remain in place, both at sea and on inland waterways.