Interferry newsletter
Pim de Lange Speaks out on UK Port Plan
From Lloydâs List (www.lloydslist.com)
Development of the proposed £32m ($52.8m) Outer Harbour at Great Yarmouth would be the "mistake of the century", ferry boss Pim de Lange told delegates at the Haven Gateway Partnership's annual meeting last Friday.
Mr de Lange, Stena Line's area director for the North Sea and Interferry President, said the development, for which East Port Great Yarmouth is seeking substantial public funding, together with the proposed ro-ro service linking Yarmouth and Ijmuiden in Holland, fo
SeaFrance places order with Alstom Marine
From ShipPax Information (www.shippax.se)
French ferry operator SeaFrance has placed an order for a cross-channel ferry with domestic shipbuilding group Alstom Marine/Chantiers de l«Atlantique.
Due to be completed by February 2005, the ship will be specially adapted to the route between Calais and Dover.
Austal USA Sells its first Vehicle-Passenger Ferry
Austal USA has secured an order for the construction of a 58 metre vehicle-passenger ferry from Milwaukee-based Lake Express LLC.
The aluminium catamaran will be the largest vessel so far constructed at the companyâs purpose-built shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
The Auto Express 58 will set a number of firsts for the US shipbuilding and ferry industries, including:
ð The first high-speed vehicle-passenger ferry to operate in the continental United States;
ð
Learning to Shun the Smorgasbord Buffet
From Lloyd's List (www.lloydslist.com)
Michael Grey
MORE years ago than I can remember, I wrote a rude column about the standard of catering aboard cross-Channel ferries, which during the 1970s was about as good as one would find in the average transport "caff", which is precisely what they were.
Some gallant souls in Townsend-Thoresen, who obviously had learnt from the Thoresen bit of the company, had fitted a "Smorgasbord buffet" into their restaurants.
Provocative Advert from Italian Operator
From Lloyd's List (www.lloydslist.com)
GRANDI Navi Veloci, the Italian cruise ferry operator, this week launched an advertising campaign reminding potential clients of the dangers of holidaying on board ageing ships.
A tag attached to a can picturing a sunken rust-bucket reads: "Consume before the end of 2002." The accompanying blurb reminds safety-conscious Italians: "Ferries can go off too." Not all ferries, the press release reads, can boast excellent safety facilities.
Fred Olsen Orders Trimaran from Austal
Australian shipbuilder Austal Ships and European ferry operator Fred. Olsen, S.A. signed a contract for a 126.7 metre cargo-vehicle-passenger fast ferry based on a new multihull design.
The new hull form has been described as a slender, stabilised monohull or trimaran. Scheduled delivery is the second half of 2004.
Austal has designed and constructed vehicle-passenger ferries since 1994.
Fred. Olsen, S.A.
Norfolkline Orders Ships from Korea
From ShipPax Information (www.shippax.se)
Netherlands-based Norfolkline has placed an order for two ro-pax vessels at South Korea«s Samsung Heavy Industries.
Greek is new IMO Secretary General
From Lloyd's List (www.lloydslist.com)
Efthimios Mitropoulos has emerged as the landslide winner of the contest for the post of IMO Secretary General.
Greece's candidate to replace the long-serving William O'Neil needed to secure 50% of IMO Council votes in order to beat challenges mounted by Icelandic candidate Magnus J÷hannesson and Nigeria's Monica Mbanefo outright.
Under new rules, the post of Secretary General is initially held by one candidate for four years, a term that can be renewed once.&
Stena Looks to Central Baltic for Expansion
from Lloyd's List (www.lloydslist.com)
Swedish ferry owner Stena Line is assessing the central Baltic as the next area to grow its rapidly expanding European ferry network. Stena Line president Gunnar Blomdahl last month indicated the central Baltic could be the group's next focus after its £50m ($84m) buy-out of a significant part of UK operator P&O's Irish Sea operation.
"Poland is a growing market for us," says Mr Blomdahl.
Russ Peters Appointed to P&O Board
from Lloyd's List (www.lloydslist.com)
P&O's RUSS Peters, one of the giants of the UK ferry industry, has become a main board member with immediate effect, the company said.
Mr Peters, 55, who is managing director of P&O Ferries, joined P&O in 1987 as freight director of P&O European Ferries.
P&O chairman Lord Sterling commented: "It is with great pleasure that I welcome Russ to the board.