Industry News
Rare Baltic Ice Traps 1,000 Passengers
Mar 9, 2010
From Lloyd's List
The extreme weather conditions that saw dozens of ships and more than 1,000 passengers trapped in Baltic ice last week is expected to improve today, easing pressure on the region’s icebreaking fleet. But with the Baltic’s traditional ice peak yet to be reached, experts are concerned that further problems may be on the way.
Swedish icebreakers had to free the Viking Line ferry Amorella on Thursday after it was trapped in ice overnight outside Stockholm with 943 people on board. Two other ferries, Isabella and Finnfellow , managed to break free but only after two of Sweden’s smaller icebreakers had been defeated by ice compacted by gale-force winds. Larger icebreakers were also dispatched by Sweden and Finland to assist dozen of vessels caught up in some of the worst weather conditions seen in the region for decades. According to Sweden’s maritime administration ice breaking unit, the ice was the worst since the early 1990s. A passenger ferry has not been trapped in ice since 1986.
Nine Metre Waves Hit Cruise Ship
Mar 4, 2010
From Baird Maritime
Two passengers were killed when nine-metre waves crashed unexpectedly into the side of their cruise ship. The ‘Louis Majesty’, operated by Greece’s Louis Cruise Lines, was off the French port of Marseille when it was hit by the waves which smashed five windows in public areas. Two passengers, one German and one Italian, were killed. Fourteen passengers sustained minor injuries. There were 1,350 passengers and 580 crew on board. The vessel, which sails under the Maltese flag, was travelling from Barcelona to Genoa. After the incident the vessel returned to Barcelona.
Interferry Member News Release
Feb 23, 2010
Austal Appoints Chris Pemberton as General Manager - Service
Rival Bids for Tirrenia
Feb 22, 2010
From Lloyd's List
A virtual who’s who of the western Mediterranean ferry market, along with a few notable outsiders, lined up on Friday to present formal expressions of interest in Italy’s state-owned shipping company Tirrenia. They include a string of rival companies in the private sector, among them Grimaldi Naples, Moby Lines, Corsica-Sardinia Ferries, Grandi Navi Veloci and Snav. Turin daily La Stampa also reported that the 16-strong list included a number of investment funds and an unnamed Greek shipowner.
EEDI not for Ferries says Deltamarin
Feb 18, 2010
From ShipPax Information
On an assignment by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the Finnish design and engineering company Deltamarin has concluded a report which suggests that short sea ferries and ro-ro vessels shall not be part of the EEDI regulations. The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) may be very applicable to deep sea vessels even with certain reservations, it says. And this shipping segment represents the majority of the emissions. But the report strongly says it is not feasible to apply the index to ships designed for a certain route or with a specific transportation task in mind. "For these ship types the basic calculation methodology still requires further refinement," obviously opening up for a modified index still to apply eventually. The EEDI is currently being debated at IMO.
The report has been distributed to all EU flag authorities. The entire report can be downloaded at www.emsa.europa.eu/end185d012d003.html.
Aboitiz Buys Two Ships from Japan
Feb 17, 2010
From Lloyd’s List
Philippine ferry operator Aboitiz Transport System has spent $15m on a pair of ro-ro passenger ferries from Kansai Kisen Kaisha of Japan and its affiliate Diamond Ferry. Both 1992-built vessels are due to be delivered next month. The 9,684 gt Sunflower Nishiki and its sistership, Sunflower Kogane , were built by Kanasashi Shipbuilding. Each has a capacity to carry nearly 2,000 passengers and 400 teu.
An Aboitiz spokesperson said the purchase of the vessels would help Aboitiz “modernise its fleet to achieve greater efficiencies”. The vessels are younger than the company’s existing SuperFerry fleet.
Expansion Considered in New Zealand and Scotland
Feb 13, 2010
New Zealand
From Voxy
"We are looking at increasing the capacity of the Aratere, in order to handle more passengers, vehicles and rail freight on some critical time gates which are currently capacity constrained," commented Thomas Davis, General Manager for Interislander.
"Aratere features strongly in domestic travel, international tourism and is a key part of New Zealand's rail network. Rail capacity between Auckland and Christchurch is constrained on the Cook Strait with only two rail ferries with limited capacity at key times. Increasing capacity will allow more freight to move by rail on existing trains and ferry sailings improving the productivity of the rail network and removing trucks from the road."
Although options and detailed designs are yet to be finalised, Interislander is currently looking at a 29 metre extension to the ship, currently 150m long. The project would also include a revised bow design to improve the vessel’s efficiency.
Brussels Boosts Motorways of the Sea
Feb 11, 2010
From Lloyd’s List
Brussels has re-defined modal shift so as to make its Marco Polo subsidy programme more attractive to industry. The new definition includes empty containers and takes into account the complete weight of loaded trucks so companies applying for subsidies are more likely to reach required truck tonne-kilometre reduction thresholds. It can be used in applications under this year’s call for proposals, which opens next month. Single companies, not just joint ventures, can apply for funding. The programme was over-subscribed for the first time last year and will this year have €64m ($88.2m) to hand out.
EU funding is designed to help overcome high start up costs without distorting competition. The amounts handed out under Marco Polo are relatively small though there are signs in Mediterranean countries of a more concerted effort to get freight off the roads and onto ships. Italy has introduced an eco-bonus scheme whereby truckers are paid to use ferries. France and Spain, on the other hand, have decided to subsidise ferry operators directly.