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The latest ferry news for March 2006 is below, please click on the title for the full story:Stena considers future of Harwich-Hook HSSDate: 29 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyds ListFalling passenger numbers and rocketing fuel prices mean that the future of Stena Line’s fast ferry service between Harwich and the Hook of Holland is in the balance. Stena is carrying out a review of its services on the route, according to North Sea route director Pim de Lange. “We hope to be ready with the review by the end of April and then we will make some decisions,” he said. “We are evaluating the whole thing. Everyone can understand that fuel prices have more than doubled over the past two years and the HSS is consuming a lot of expensive fuel. “At the same time there has been a structural decrease of the passenger market over the past three years and these two things together don’t work out well for us. We are looking into the economic viability of the HSS for the future and calculating a lot of things.” Stena carried 700,000 passengers on its Harwich-Hook route last year, “nowhere near the 1m that we had for years”, said Mr de Lange. However, freight volumes were good, increasing by 5% to 161,000 freight units. The route is also served by two conventional ro-pax vessels, the Hollandica and the Britannica. “Some experts are saying that the fuel price will remain high or even go further up, while others say it will go down a little bit; but everyone is agreed that prices will never go down to the level we had a few years ago of $30 a barrel,” Mr de Lange said. “We have to consider our position here. Harwich-Hook of Holland is an important passenger and freight market, and we have made no decisions yet — but we have been working night and day on this for the past six months. “It may mean that we have to buy new ships, or other possibilities like lengthening the Hollandica and the Britannica. There are a number of options which we are considering.” Ferry good show as police rowers match HSS Stranraer journey timeDate: 28 Mar 2006 Source: Belfast TelegraphPSNI officers based in Portadown have matched the power of Stena Line's new high-speed ferry during a sponsored row on board the vessel. The participants are all members of the PSNI's tactical support group and the team of 14 officers rowed the 56 miles in under three hours and 40 minutes - the time it takes the HSS to sail a return journey from Belfast to Stranraer in Scotland. The team averaged seven minutes a mile on two Concept rowing machines on board the ferry and completed the task in three hours, 10 minutes and 12 seconds. And they not only burned off 6,104 calories, they also raised over £2,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The sponsored row took place on the HSS last Friday and cheering the officers on was Stephen Bryden, head of onboard services for Stena Line. He said: "Raising money for any charity in a new and novel way is always a difficult task but the team from the police service came up with an interesting and fun event that not only raised money for a good cause but also provided a bit of light entertainment for our travelling customers." Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton said he was proud of the officers who took up the challenge. He added: "We would like to thank all the people who supported the team and the passengers on board for giving so generously." New Crossing between Alicante and IbizaDate: 27 Mar 2006 Source: Ibiza SpotlightThe giant ferry company Trasmediterranea has announced that it will start a new ferry service uniting the ports of Alicante and Ibiza this summer. May or June will see the first service between the ports for almost two decades when the super fast ferry Alcántara sets off on its first trip. Travelling at 30 knots the journey will last under three hours and will be a positive boon for tourists travelling to and from Andalucia and beyond. After dropping off at Ibiza the ferry will then head for Palma in Mallorca as its ultimate destination before the return journey. SNCM ready to fight backDate: 27 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyds ListSNCM director Bruno Vergobbi has told CMN (La Méridionale) that his company could take steps to buy it out if the latter definitively refuses to continue bilateral co-operation. “For us, the partnership agreement clinched between SNCM and CMN in 1992 is still valid and must be applied, Vergobbi said in a letter to CMN. "If CMN continues in its wish to denounce this agreement, SNCM reserves its rights to protect its interests vis-à-vis CMN and possibly exercise its option to purchase the 30% stake of CMN held by refrigerated transport specialist STEF-TFE." SNCM currently holds 69% of CMN and would become sole owner of the ferry company should it move ahead with this plan. SNCM says it cannot understand CMN’s announcement last week that it is discontinuing its co-operation with SNCM on the South France-Corsica routes. “Both SNCM’s current management team and its future owners, Butler Capital Partners and Veolia Transport, are willing to continue the co-operation with CMN for future Corsican public service tenders,” Vergobbi said. Butler and Veolia said last week that co-operation between the two companies was a key element in the re-launch of SNCM, and that any change in this could pose a serious problem to its recovery. Sea Containers to quit ferry businessDate: 24 Mar 2006 Source: Ferry NewsOn November 3, 2005, the Sea Containers announced that it had begun a process of restructuring its ferry division, and that it would be entertaining offers to buy the core business of Helsinki-based Silja Oy Ab, which includes eight vessels operating on three routes in the Baltic. The Company also announced its intention to sell or charter out several additional ferry vessels and to entertain offers to buy its SeaStreak business in New York. As a result of this restructuring, the Company announced an impairment charge of $99 million, of which $19 million was recorded in the 2005 third quarter results. These amounts were preliminary and subject to adjustment, based on changes in the restructuring plan. At the time of the November announcement, it was uncertain whether Silja would be sold and, if so, what price could be obtained for the business. Subsequent to the announcement, the sale process was begun. Indications of interest and independent valuations of the Silja business were received, and preliminary bids for Silja’s core business were received in January. The Company also announced in November that it had identified specific containers to be sold, obsolete spare parts and manufacturing machinery no longer required and stated that, as a result, it would take an asset impairment charge of $30 million. This announcement updates and provides further details regarding the previously disclosed asset impairments. As a result of the proposed Silja sale, the management of the Company began to consider the possibility of withdrawing completely from the ferry business. In that connection, management of the Company engaged in the process of evaluating the recoverability of all of its long-lived ferry assets. Similarly, management of the Company began a process to evaluate the recoverability of all of its container assets. In the course of these processes, the Board of Directors has met on several occasions since November 3, 2005 to consider the proposals of management. At the meeting of the Board held on March 20, 2006, the processes were concluded and management’s proposals relating to these ferry and container matters were approved. The Company will recognize a non-cash pre-tax charge of approximately $500 million in the fourth quarter 2005, which includes the previously estimated fourth quarter 2005 impairment charge of $112 million reported in the November announcement. Of this approximate $500 million, approximately $415 million relates to the ferry business, and approximately $85 million relates to the container business. Further details regarding those charges are set forth below. Ferries Following the decisions announced in November, management of the Company began a process to entertain offers to sell its Silja business, including all related vessels. The sales process has continued to progress and the Company has obtained an indication of the range of sales prices likely to be achieved. In accordance with SFAS 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (“SFAS 144”), the Silja business will be classified as “held for sale” at December 31, 2005 and the related assets will be written down to fair value, less cost to sell. The operations of the Silja business, including related impairments, will be presented as discontinued operations in the Company’s 2005 financial statements. Because of the possibility of withdrawing completely from the ferry business, it was more likely than not at December 31, 2005 that there would be disposals of the Company’s other six vessels in the ferry division prior to the end of their previously estimated useful lives. For this reason, an impairment review of these vessels was undertaken in accordance with SFAS 144. Based on this review, impairment charges will be recorded on these vessels at December 31, 2005. The total impairment of ferry assets to be recorded in the fourth quarter 2005 is estimated to be approximately $415 million on a pre-tax basis. The write-down is non-cash in nature. CEO Comments Robert MacKenzie, President and Chief Executive of Sea Containers, said, “The additional write-downs announced today reflect decisions made by the Sea Containers Board following a rigorous management-driven process of analyzing the Company’s businesses, in the light of changing market conditions, recent trading performance and with a focus on future sustainable cash flows. Our objective is to reduce the central cost structure and direct management attention on the core independent businesses of marine container leasing, including GE SeaCo, and our GNER rail franchise. The Board will continue to review opportunities for the disposal of its non-core activities. “We are in dialogue with the Company’s banks in order to amend or waive compliance with covenants. Management has been encouraged by the initial response from these institutions to work with us to resolve these matters. “At a commercial level there is progress. Silja’s core business has attracted a range of highly qualified bidders with the second round of bids due shortly. Indications are that a sale of the core business can be completed in the second quarter, with the sale of most or all of the remaining ferry assets contemplated during the course of the year. “The filing of the Company’s 2005 Form 10-K annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will be delayed into April in order to allow adequate time to resolve the various bank covenant issues and finalize outstanding accounting matters. The report will be filed as soon as practicable,” he concluded. US Compant takes 80% holding in new Navmed Dover ferry serviceDate: 23 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyds ListA US company is backing a venture aiming to start operating fast ferries this summer across the English Channel out of Dover. Chikara Holdings of Illinois owns 80% of new company Navmed, which has revealed plans to operate fast ferries from Dover to the French ports of Calais and Boulogne and possibly later to Ostend in Belgium. The company will trade under the brand name “highspeedferries”. Navmed is finalising a deal to buy the two former Dover-based Hoverspeed 38-knot seacat craft, Diamant and Rapide, from Sea Containers now that Hoverspeed is in liquidation. But there are also plans to secure a larger catamaran, the 45 knot Spirit of Ontario, built by Austal in Australia, which has been operating on Lake Ontario linking the ports of Rochester, New York and Toronto. This craft can carry 774 passengers and 238 cars and is different from the other two craft-coaches. Navmed is spearheaded by two directors with links with Hoverspeed. Jeff Richards was formerly with Hoverspeed’s parent company Sea Containers and Graham Brock ran the retail operations. Mr Richards said: “We are not Hoverspeed rising out of the ashes. We deliberately did not buy the brand as we wanted to start with a clean sheet.” It is planned to operate the two existing seacats on a year-round basis to Calais and to recruit around 700 employees on a seasonal basis. “We plan to replace the two smaller seacats by two bigger and faster craft at some time in 2006 or 2007,” Mr Richards said. There is also talk of the company eventually operating fast craft out of Folkestone, once an important cross-Channel port but no longer having ferry links to Boulogne. There are already plans to provide berthing facilities at the French port. Navmed’s proposals will take it into head-to-head competition with SpeedFerries, which operates a single fast craft out of Dover’s Eastern Docks to Boulogne. It will also increase the already stiff competition pressures between the three ship operators — P&O Ferries, SeaFrance and Norfolkline — that have ferries sailing out of Dover Stena Line to reduce Holyhead Dun Laoghaire serviceDate: 23 Mar 2006 Source: Stena LineStena Line is to cut its high-speed services between Holyhead and Dún Laoghaire from three round trips a day to two because of commercial pressure. However, the company says it has no plans to introduce compulsory redundancies. In a statement, Stena's route director for the Holyhead-Dublin route, Vic Goodwin, said the company was facing significant challenges. Mr Goodwin said that while freight growth had been good, the company had experienced an 8% fall in tourist volumes over the last year. He blamed competition from low-cost airlines and other ferry operators, as well as rising fuel costs, which he said had doubled over the last 18 months. From 2 May, the company will only run two round trips on the HSS from Monday to Thursday, with three round trips on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Stena will continue to operate two round trips a day on its super ferry, the Stena Adventurer. Stena's manager in Dublin Eamonn Hewitt said that any necessary job losses would be managed by voluntary redundancy, natural wastage and not filling vacancies. He estimated that at most 14 voluntary redundancies might be sought. He categorically denied that the cut in service was linked to the recent cost cutting programme at Irish Ferries, which replaced most of its permanent staff with lower paid agency staff from eastern Europe. Tallink pays €310m for Superfast shipsDate: 22 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyd's Register - FairplayTallink Grupp, the Estonian ferry operator, has paid €310M ($372M) for three fast ro-pax ferries of Attica Group, the Greek company that trades under the Superfast Ferries brand name. The deal includes Superfast VII, Superfast VIII and Superfast IX, all of about 30,000gt and built in 2001-02. The ships have 2,000 lane metres of freight capacity and can accommodate about 700 passengers; they operate between Hanko in Finland and Rostock in Germany. Tallink plans to phase the ships into services between Estonia and Finland, and between Estonia and Germany. The company has so far only traded in the northern Baltic, but the introduction of a service to Germany will expand its business to central Europe. Superfast introduced its Hanko-Rostock service in May 2001 initially using two ships. Later in that year, it opened a service between Södertälje, south of Stockholm, Sweden, and Rostock; this was closed only after a few months due to lack of cargo. The sale of the three vessels marks the end of Superfast’s presence in the Baltic and its Rosyth-Zeebrugge service is the only one remaining outside its core Adriatic business. Tallink is about to open a service from Riga to Stockholm using the 1979-built 16,000-gt Fantaasia. The company raised $199M in an IPO in the autumn, and has one fast ro-pax vessel on order from Fincantieri, one from Aker Finnyards and two cruise ferries from Fincantieri. Corsica Ferries could sail from MarseilleDate: 22 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyds ListCorsica Ferries is to go head-to-head with SNCM on the latter’s home turf by announcing it would be prepared to launch ferry links to the island from Marseilles. The Corsican Assembly is expected to adopt the text of the public service tender on 24 March, and a bid by Corsica Ferries would mark the first time it has competed for a public concession. SNCM has historically focused most of its Corsica business on Marseilles, whereas Corsica Ferries has developed rival services from Toulon and now carries twice as many passengers to the island as SNCM. The current concession ends on 31 December 2006. If successful, Corsica Ferries could appear in Marseilles early in 2007, at the same time reducing its operation in Toulon. However SNCM could go into liquidation if it fails to win the concession, and observers believe the tender will be designed to keep SNCM in business. It is thought unlikely that both Corsica Ferries and SNCM ships will run from Marseilles. Trasmed bid for Euroferrys acceptedDate: 22 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyds ListSpanish ferry operator Euroferrys has accepted a takeover bid from rival operator Acciona Trasmediterranea. The companies are now awaiting approval on the deal from Spain's competition authority, a Trasmed spokesman told Fairplay today. Euroferrys chairman Joaquin Gonzalez was unavailable for comment but managing director Manuel Jiménez said yesterday the operator would maintain its corporate name and ships and maintain employment levels if the takeover bid is approved. Euroferrys was set up in 1998, and runs ferry services from Algeciras to Tangiers and to Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in North Africa. Besides Acciona Trasmediterranea, Euroferrys competes wth Buquebus and Balearia, the Denia-based company that has threatened to speak out against the takeover at the hearing. Acciona Trasmediterranea would not say how much it offered for Euroferrys when the proposal went to the competition authority last Wednesday. CMN blow to SNCM survivalDate: 22 Mar 2006 Source: FairplayFrenchferry operator SNCM has seen its chances of winning the concession to run between Marseilles and Corsica suffer a serious blow. The state-controlled company’s traditional partner, CMN (“La Méridionale”), says it is no longer prepared to bid jointly with SNCM for the forthcoming tender, the text of which will be issued on Friday. The two operators bid jointly in 2001 and comfortably won the concession. Observers believe SNCM is unlikely to win on its own, even though rival Corsica Ferries has played down rumours of a possible link with CMN. SNCM’s unions have expressed their frustration, suggesting that the company would close if the government allowed the concession to go elsewhere. Veolia Transport, which is expected to take over SNCM soon, stressed that the SNCM-CMN partnership is a key element in the takeover plan. “Withdrawal of CMN would pose a real problem,” Veolia said, adding that any reduction in peak period capacity stipulated in the tender would lead to the loss of 150-200 jobs, and “would not be part of our plan.” Attica hands over Baltic route to TallinkDate: 21 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyd's Register - FairplayAttica Holdings S.A. announces that it has today contracted to sell to AS Tallink Grupp its ice-class Ro-Pax vessels Superfast VII, Superfast VIII and Superfast IX for a total cash consideration of Euro 310 million. Pending legal and regulatory procedures, the transaction will close within April 2006. Attica will maintain its presence in the Baltic Sea with the operation of its two Ro-Ro vessels that are trading between Rostock, Germany and Uusikaupunki, Finland. Commenting on the sale, Mr. Alexander Panagopulos, CEO of Attica Group said: “With this agreement, the Superfast operation in the Baltic Sea, which we launched and ran successfully since May 2001, is handed over to Tallink Grupp who intend to expand it.” Mr. Enn Pant, Chairman of the Management Board of AS Tallink Grupp said: “We are delighted to conclude this transaction with Attica Group allowing us to launch a route to Germany, as part of Tallink’s ongoing aggressive strategy.” DFDS finds funding for joint purchase of ScandlinesDate: 20 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyds ListDFDS has confirmed reports that the ferry operator has been approached by international capital funds for a possible joint buyout of Scandlines. “We are in contact with equity funds concerning a joint approach,” managing director Ole Frie said. “Yes, this combination is possible,” he added. Scandlines is jointly owned by the Danish Transport Ministry and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, which itself belongs to the German government. After months of quarrelling, the German and Danish transport ministries in October agreed on a speedy sale to a third party. DFDS was interested in the freight activities of Scandlines in the Baltic Sea, Mr Frie said. “But we have not made up our minds whether we are interested in all of Scandlines.” This was subject to the price for the whole company and possible restrictions such as guarantees for employees or locations either by the Danish or German side. One had to wait until a prospectus for Scandlines is published, Mr Frie said, adding that this would apply to any investor. Steam Packet's fast ferry back on waterDate: 17 Mar 2006 Source: BBC NewsThe fast ferry from the Isle of Man to Liverpool is back in service after undergoing an overhaul. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's craft Superseacat Two has been at the dry dock at Birkenhead for two months while refurbishments are carried out. Passenger areas have been improved as well as standard engine maintenance. A cafe bar has been created, its lounge extended and toilet facilities upgraded. She was back in service, on her usual route, on Friday. The Superseacat Two is the first of the firm's fleet to be upgraded. Improving disabled access has been a "priority" for the upgrade, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said. New Ferry services set for DoverDate: 17 Mar 2006 Source: BBC NewsA fast ferry firm is planning to bring new cross Channel services to the Kent port of Dover, creating about 700 jobs. Navmed Limited has been formed by former Hoverspeed employees, and aims to be in operation by May. It will initially offer services to Calais and Boulogne, then to Ostend, and plans to use three ships. It is also aiming to re-establish a ferry service from Folkestone, and says it wants to offer a first class, high quality service for passengers. One of the backers of the company, David Rice of Shikara Holdings, said he was confident the new service would work. "We've got the right amount of backing to make it work and therefore we need to make sure that we capitalise on everything. "All our staff are going to be working hard to make sure that the company is a success," he said. Navmed is in negotiations to buy the two former Hoverspeed Seacat fast ferries taken out of service last November when Hoverspeed pulled out of Dover. Leader of Dover District Council, Paul Watkins, said as well as bringing more options for travel out of Dover, it would be a boost for competition and jobs. "We have a local workforce that's used to working in this trade and hopefully they're going to be used to their fullest extent and capacity," he said. Color Line to provide GSM services across fleetDate: 15 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyds ListColor Line has signed up Maritime Communications Partner to provide GSM services across most of its fleet, writes Hugh O’Mahony. MCP installed and launched the CellAtSea service on board Color Fantasy in December 2005. The service allows passengers and crew to make and receive calls and SMS using their own mobile phones and phone numbers. Now MCP of Norway, backed by Telenor, Northzone Ventures and Ugland Invest, will make the service available aboard six more of Color Line’s 10 ships. Ove Holm, Color Line project manager, said: “We are very satisfied with the results, our passengers are very pleased and in addition our crew are delighted, this partnership benefits Color Line in many ways.” Calmac wins ferry bidDate: 12 Mar 2006 Source: Shetland MarineISLANDERS have welcomed the news that state-owned Caledonian MacBrayne has been named preferred bidder for the lifeline ferry service between Shetland, Orkney and Aberdeen. Scottish transport minister Tavish Scott announced the executive's decision yesterday (Thursday) lunchtime. Shetland Islands Council's transport spokesman Gordon Mitchell said islanders had waited a long time for this announcement, which will also introduce large subsidies on freight. "It is excellent that finally the announcement has come and hopefully there will be a seamless transfer. NorthLink has given us a very good service up until now. If CalMac can maintain that service then that's what we are looking for," he said. Bill Davidson, the chief executive of current operator NorthLink said the transfer should hardly be visible for the travelling public. He said: "From the little I know of the CalMac bid, I think it is unlikely that most people will see very much in the way of change. I believe it is CalMac's hope to carry on and trade as NorthLink. "There is no suggestion that they will change the name of the company or the colour of the ships, and I understand that it is CalMac's intention to run NorthLink as an autonomous business." NorthLink was set up by CalMac with the Royal Bank of Scotland specifically to run the northern isles ferries. Mr Davidson said it was likely that NorthLink's management team would stay on. Making the announcement, Mr Scott said: "This devolved government is committed to providing quality ferry services for people in the northern isles. Our aim has been to secure these vital lifeline services for the island communities. "Although the tendering was a complex exercise, the new contract is financially sound and delivers real improvements for anyone using the service. We have incorporated the findings of the independent auditor, Audit Scotland, into the procurement exercise. "The new service when introduced will benefit the economies of Shetland and Orkney by reducing freight rates for island businesses. Plans for new livestock containers will be welcomed by local crofters and farmers. "There will now be an intense final period of contract negotiation before the official handover. The six year contract will introduce real benefits for local people and businesses, helping the economies of the northern isles." He said the new service, for which an early summer handover is planned, would introduce a number of improvements including: * reduced freight tariffs of 19 percent from Orkney and 25 per cent from Shetland; * inclusion of livestock in the contract for the first time, with a new container system to be provided; * proposals for increasing berth numbers on the vessels operating between Aberdeen and the islands depending on the outcome of further analysis. The other bidder in the running was global shipping firm V-Ships UK Ltd. DFDS Seaways christens new shipDate: 11 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyds ListFerry operator DFDS Seaways christened its new ship the King of Scandinavia this week in Amsterdam, writes Sandra Speares. The 30,000 gt ship is capable of carrying 2,000 passengers and 600 cars. It is scheduled to enter service on the Newcastle to Amsterdam route sailing alongside the Queen of Scandinavia . DFDS purchased the King of Scandinavia from Brittany Ferries for an undisclosed price last year. Since then the ship (ex Val de Loire ) has undergone extensive refurbishment. The new ship will increase passenger and freight capacity on the Amsterdam-Newcastle route by about 33%. The refurbishment has increased the number of cabins with a sea view. The ship has four restaurants on board and two cinemas and offers live entertainment in the Columbus Club. Ragnhild Moberg, wife of DFDS board director Anders Moberg, was given the honour of naming the new ship. The 92% DFDS-owned company AB Lisco Baltic Service in Lithuania has just purchased the ro-pax Svealand from Stena RoRo for delivery at the end of April 2006. Once again, the purchase price was not disclosed. The ship will be deployed on the Kiel to Klaipeda service and will be renamed Lisco Optima , sailing under the Lithuanian flag. Cruise in style with Transmanche FerriesDate: 10 Mar 2006 Source: Lewes TodayA new £32 million ferry began sailing on the Newhaven - Dieppe cross-Channel route this week under the Transmanche Ferries banner. The roll-on, roll-off ship is 142 metres long and can carry 600 passengers and 62 lorries. It crosses the Channel in three-and-a-half hours - a saving of around an hour on previous sailing times. Inside the 142-metre long ferry is beautifully finished throughout in dark and blond wood, and is clean, comfortable and well-designed for families and day-trippers alike. The most striking feature of the new ship is the impressive circular bar, offering panoramic views out to sea, which is reached via large, cruise ship style staircases. There is a canteen serving drinks, snacks and some hot food as well as a sit-down restaurant which will only be open for three months over the summer period. Families are well catered for on the new vessel. For children there is a play area with toys, a ball pit and video games. Dotted around the ship are five areas with comfortable seating - which are also equipped with large screens for showing films. For shoppers, there is a large duty-free store selling gifts, perfumes, tobacco and a number of French products from the Brittany region. The ship was built on the north-western coast of Spain at the Galician docks of Vigo. She has been in the water since July 2005 and passed extensive sea safety trials impressively. The Cote d'Albatre will be joined by a sister ship, The Seven Sisters, later this year. Dover to build four fery berthsDate: 9 Mar 2006 Source: BBC NewsFour more ferry berths are being built at Dover harbour to increase the port's capacity by 50% as part of a master plan costing £200m. Dover Harbour Board unveiled the 30-year plan on Thursday, saying it would create 3,500 jobs. The berths will form the backbone of a new terminal at the Western Docks able to accommodate ocean-going liners. Last year, the board unveiled plans for a lorry park for 1,500 trucks that will cost between £20m and £30m. The lorry park plan is intended to end Operation Stack, where lorries have to wait on the M20 when port operations are delayed. The Western Docks redevelopment is expected to bring an extra two million vehicles to the port every year, which will have to use the M20 and A20. Leader of Dover District Council Paul Watkins said it had no difficulties with the harbour board's proposals. "The issue is purely road infrastructure - it needs to be improved otherwise the local community will be strangled," he said. The Western Docks were the port's busiest until the Eastern Docks were built in the 1950s to cater for the car ferry mass market. Work on the new terminal is unlikely to start for at least three years, with planning permission needed to reroute the A20. It is likely to take 20 years to complete. "In terms of the impact it will have on Dover and the UK economy it is absolutely vital that we do this and create as many jobs as we can in the process," said Dover Harbour Board chief executive Bob Goldfield. Agreement draft for Channel Islands ferry routeDate: 8 Mar 2006 Source: BBC NewsA new agreement has been drafted by the States of Jersey for the ferry route to St Malo in France. Ferry operators have never had to sign up to a service level agreement before, although one has been in place for the northerly routes for some time. No specific details of the agreement have been released by the States, but Senator Philip Ozouf said any operator who agrees to the terms and conditions can deliver freight, car and passenger services on the route. In January it was announced that States' help could be given to Emeraude to restart its ferry services between Jersey and St Malo. Emeraude, which suspended its service in December after Solidor Five suffered engine problems, said it could not afford a replacement boat on the loss-making route. Belgium is only £49 away by ferryDate: 7 Mar 2006 Source: Directferries.co.ukThinking of taking the ferry to Belgium? Then why not try our exclusive £49 each way offer for a car and up to 9 passengers from Ramsgate to Ostend with Transeuropa Ferries? The crossing is nearly 4 times faster than the P&O crossing to Belgium from Hull and you'll avoid the busy alternatives in Dover. For more information and booking, please either visit our Transeuropa Ferries page or call 0871 222 3312 Offer based on travel with standard sized car up to 31st March 2006. Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability. Portsmouth Le Havre Ferry offersDate: 6 Mar 2006 Source: Directferries.co.ukWith the latest offers on crossings from Portsmouth to Le Havre now available, you will be left wondering if these are the best prices ever seen on the western channel! Choose from the following: Winter Warmer: Brighten up the winter with a short break to France at a great price in March for a Car + 2 on from £47 / €65 (Promotion applies until March 25th - maximum of 120 hours on the continent). Spring Giveaway: 1000's of Car + 2 tickets available now! From April to June, celebrate the spring with LD Lines any duration return ticket from £75 / €99. (Promotion valid from March 26th to June 30th) For more information and booking, please visit our LD Lines page. Please note: Prices are subject to limited availability. Book early to take advantage of these low prices ! Tallink to open Riga <> Stockholm ferry linkDate: 5 Mar 2006 Source: TallinkLast week the ferry company Tallink and Riga Freeport Authorities signed a cooperation agreement to start regular ferry traffic between Stockholm and Riga. Tallink will start operations on April 7. The company will in the beginning sail with one ferry, then with two in order to ensure daily operations Color Line flushed with successDate: 4 Mar 2006 Source: Lloyds ListColor Line Deutschland has reported a significant increase in the number of passengers on its Kiel-Oslo route, writes Bülent Erdogan in Cologne. The number of German passengers increased by 50% from 226,000 in 2004 to 339,000 last year, while other nationalities went up by 40% from 605,000 to 846,000 passengers. The company, owned by Norwegian ferry operator Color Line, saw turnover rise 33% from €32m ($42m) to € 43m. For 2006, managing director Stefan Mathias expects further growth of around 5%. The development was driven by boosting passenger numbers on short cruises aboard the company’s new flagship, the 73,500 gt Color Fantasy , and the 31,914 gt Kronprins Harald, with a rise of 186% to 150,000 passengers last year. The Color Fantasy took up service in December 2004. The number of German passengers on all six Color Line routes increased by 26% to 610,000 during the year. This meant that about one out of seven passengers carried by Color Line was German. Irish Ferries Joins St. Patrick's Festival ParadeDate: 3 Mar 2006 Source: Irish FerriesIrish Ferries will be one of the leading corporate participants in this years St. Patrick's Festival parade, part of the traditional celebrations being held on Friday, March 17th to mark the feast day of Ireland's patron saint. Under the title Tropical Gaeltacht, a pageant devised by Donegal theatre group Cosa Meata Pageant Company will weave its way through the centre of Dublin City viewed by thousands of spectators who will have travelled from all parts of Ireland and around the world to attend the event. Countless others will watch the proceedings on live television and news broadcasts. The pageant devised by Cosa Meata will include a giant depiction of a tall ship, an appropriately nautical centrepiece designed to portray the Irish Ferries story and give prominence to their low fares ferry company message. Based in Falcarra, the 75-strong Cosa Meata group will embellish their performance with stiltwalkers dressed in exotic costumes and make-up with attractive dance routines designed to draw attention to the exhibit and entertain the many adults and children for whom the St. Patrick¹s Festival parade is a major attraction. This is the 11th successive year in which Irish Ferries have taken part in the Festival parade. Grandi Navi Veloci and SNAV discuss business opportunitiesDate: 2 Mar 2006 Source: FairplayTwo Italian operators have forged an unprecedented alliance to avoid the consequences of overcapacity on the short-sea route between Civitavecchia and Palermo. Aldo Grimaldi’s Grandi Navi Veloci and Gianluigi Aponte’s SNAV have reached agreement to co-ordinate schedules and use just two of the four vessels to offer three departures a week and sell tickets for both their own and the partner’s ships. Observers speculate that the agreement may mark the first step in Aponte’s take-over of Grimaldi’s shrinking empire. Two years ago the UK-based finance house Permira bought an 80% stake in Grandi Navi Veloci through a new company called Vento, of which Grimaldi holds 20%. Aponte may be about to bid for some or all of Permira’s stake in the ferry company. Claudio Di Mare, commercial director at SNAV, confirmed to Fairplay that 85-year-old Grimaldi and 61-year-old Aponte met and discussed a range of business opportunities. Cracking easter fares from SeafranceDate: 2 Mar 2006 Source: SeafranceSeaFrance Dover Calais Ferries has just announced the introduction of its £35 Each Way 5 Day Easter Eggstravaganza fare. Now you can hop over to France and beat the winter blues by treating yourself to a great spring break at a fantastic rate! Passengers can take advantage of this special 5 day (120 hour) return fare, which is available for travel until 5 May 2006 by booking online (Click here) or calling 0871 222 3312. But hurry – this fare is only available for booking until the end of March. Terms and conditions apply... Transmanche Ferries take delivery of new buildDate: 1 Mar 2006 Source: FairplayTransmanche Ferries took delivery of its first new-build yesterday for operation on the Dieppe Newhaven route. The 142-m Côte d’Albatre was built in Spain by Barreras; it can accommodate 600 passengers and has 1,270 lane metres for rolling cargo. The vessel and its sister ship, Seven Sisters, will replace the chartered Sardinia Vera which will be returned to its owner Corsica Ferries. Contrary to earlier reports, the ro-pax Dieppe will remain in the Transmanche fleet. The 22-kt newbuildings will cut the passage time between the French and English ports by 40 minutes. Sources in France told Fairplay that Transmanche Ferries is in talks with Louis Dreyfus’ LD Lines about a possible co-operation on the Dieppe-Newhaven and Le Havre-Portsmouth routes. The talks could prompt a reorganisation of the operators’ fleets. Seafrance declares non-smoking policyDate: 1 Mar 2006 Source: SeafranceSeaFrance Dover-Calais Ferries has announced that as of 1 March, there will be a non smoking policy in operation across its fleet in all the internal passenger areas. Managing Director, Robin Wilkins commented: “SeaFrance has reviewed its onboard smoking policy in response to passenger demand, and due to concerns for public health. All interior passenger spaces across the SeaFrance fleet will operate a non-smoking policy as from 1 March. Any passengers wishing to smoke are free to do so, in designated areas on the outside deck.” SeaFrance operates 30 daily passenger crossings on the Dover to Calais route, and offers some of the most competitive fares available. |
© Direct Ferries Ltd
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