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Latest Ferry NewsThe latest ferry news for May 2007 is below:
Holidaymakers forced to take slow boatDate: 29 May 2007Source: timesonline.co.uk Thousands of families will have to take the slow boat on holiday this summer as rising fuel prices force ferry companies to withdraw high speed vessels. Many of the ferries, which travel at more than 40 mph, were designed in the 1980s and 90s when oil was a quarter of its current price. They use more than twice as much fuel as a conventional ferry but travel twice as fast. Ferry companies are upgrading their slower boats with better restaurants, shops and entertainment in an attempt to persuade passengers to view the crossing as part of the holiday, rather than an inconvenience to be endured for the shortest possible time. The vessel which is most vulnerable to the high oil price is the Stena HSS, an aluminium catamaran the size of a football pitch which revolutionised ferry travel when she was introduced in 1995. The HSS, which carries 1,500 passengers and 360 cars, halved the sailing time on routes between Ireland and Britain and across the North Sea between Harwich and the Hook of Holland. But Stena has withdrawn its HSS Discovery from the North Sea and reduced the number of sailings by her two sister ships on the Irish Sea. The Swedish company has also reduced the period in which it uses a fast craft on the Fishguard to Rosslare route from eight months to less than five. Gunnar Blomdahl, Stena’s chief executive, said that Stena would have to consider withdrawing all its HSSs if, as some forecasters were predicting, the oil price rose from the recent level of $70 (£35) a barrel to $100 a barrel. The cost of fuel for a crossing is eight times higher for an HSS than for a conventional ferry. The HSS uses gas oil, which is similar to kerosene used in jet aircraft and four times the price of standard marine fuel. It consumes 90,000 litres of gas oil on a 220-mile round trip on the North Sea, compared with the 40,000 litres of marine fuel used by a conventional ferry. The crossing, which took three hours and 40 minutes by HSS, will now take six hours and 30 minutes. The ferries replacing the HSS will travel at only 25mph but have been lengthened to add more cabins and create room for restaurants and shops. The HSS Discovery is being stored, awaiting a buyer, at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast. Mr Blomdahl admitted that she might never carry passengers again and be scrapped, despite having at least 15 years of working life left. He said: “The HSS was designed on the assumption that oil would remain around $20 a barrel. If oil was $100 a barrel it would be a threat to all fast craft and probably would threaten [using the HSS] on the Irish Sea. It would be a test of whether passengers were prepared to pay extra for going fast.” He said that about ten high-speed ferries were up for sale in Europe after being removed from various routes. Bill Gibbons, director of the Passenger Shipping Association, said: “The HSS is the Concorde of the shipping industry – futuristic but not the success that was hoped. The problems are the high cost of fuel and the costly shore infrastructure it needs. “Ferry companies are now trying to make the time spent on board conventional ferries more rewarding rather than something to endure. Travelling more slowly gives you more time to enjoy the crossing.” Even on slower ferries, companies are trying to conserve fuel by installing equipment that runs the engine at the slowest speed possible. Sea change HSS Discovery Built: 1997 Gross tonnage: 19,638 Length 124m Breadth: 40m Vehicles: 360 cars Passengers: 1,500 Speed: 46mph Stena Britannica Built: 2003 Gross tonnage: 45,000 Length 240m Breadth: 29.3m Vehicles: 170 cars and 180 lorries Passengers: 900 Speed: 25mph Berth to blame’ for haggard HD1Date: 24 May 2007Source: thisisguernsey.com HD Ferries has refuted claims that severe paintwork damage on the port side of its HD1 vessel was sustained when it recently struck Condor’s traditional ferry, the Clipper, in St Helier. The company’s Guernsey agent said it had been caused by inadequate berthing conditions in St Peter Port. Max Carling, from Ship & Fly, said: ‘The paintwork damage is annoying and certainly sends out the wrong message. ‘But it is important to separate two issues here – the incident in Jersey harbour and the berthing facilities in St Peter Port. ‘People would have heard that the vessel had a knock and will assume that’s how the paintwork damage was caused. That is not the case because it only brushed the side of the Clipper and the damage was very minimal. ‘The fact that HD Ferries chose to dismiss the master responsible was purely an internal matter.’ He said the reason there was so much damage to the paintwork was because of steel stanchions rubbing against it on berth number one where the vessel spends most of its time. ‘If you look at the other berths, there are rubber strips and tyres against the posts protecting the ships. ‘What’s needed is for rubber strips to be fixed on number one berth, which is the responsibility of the port authority. The company is lobbying for this but, so far, and presumably for financial reasons, this has not been done. ‘HD1 is an unusual shaped vessel and in many ways it’s like a pregnant lady with humps and bumps in different places. That means it sits differently in the water to other ships and so that is causing a problem. ‘My personal view is that there is a question mark as to whether a safe and suitable berth is being provided for a company that pays a lot of money in harbour fees.’ But deputy harbour master Captain Tony Pattimore said HD Ferries had been made aware of the facilities before it began operating earlier this year. ‘What is on berth one is 40ft cylindrical steel stanchions which are specially designed for vessels to sit alongside. The shape of HD1 is unusual and so whereas on most boats it’s thick rubber black belting around it takes the knocks, HD1’s belting is much lower in the water. ‘It is not feasible to attach rubber strips or tyres on the stanchions and what other differently shaped ships do is drop something over the side to sit between the stanchions and the vessel. ‘HD Ferries’ engineers have been over and looked at the situation and we understood they accepted that nothing could be done about it. ‘We are not holding a gun to anyone’s head. Ships do not have to use the berths, although it has to be understood that we can only offer what we have.’ Mr Carling said that HD1, which runs a daily service between Guernsey, Jersey and St Malo, would continue to operate normally and that repainting would take place soon. ‘The vessel has picked up black rubber marks from the other ports it visits and so the boat needs to undergo what is effectively a big hose-down first to remove it. ‘Arrangements must then be made to get another vessel with scaffolding alongside from which the painters can work.’ Scotland's Ferry link to Norway hits rough waterDate: 16 May 2007Source: The Scotsman Scotland faces losing out on a proposed ferry link to Norway because officials are not doing enough to beat competition from their English counterparts, it has been claimed. A Norwegian consortium is considering a service to Rosyth from Kristiansund but rival port Newcastle is also vying for the twice-weekly crossing. The group behind the crossing has today claimed it has been "disappointed" with the level of support from officials at Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland. Both organisations today said they needed more details of the proposal before they could make progress in talks. It is understood any service from Norway could go via the Shetland Isles without adding too much time on to the journey, which is likely to involve an overnight sailing. While much of the ferry freight would be bound for Britain, some loads could be transferred to Superfast's Zeebrugge service, which was cut back to three sailings a week in 2005. Lack of demand for freight traffic meant a daily route was no longer viable. Tourism is also likely to be a big draw for ferry passengers heading in both directions. Lorentz Boxaspen, project manager for Moregruppen, the consortium of Norwegian councils and transport firms behind the bid, said: "We have had contact with both Scottish Enterprise and VistScotland but I can't say that they have been too helpful. "We are disappointed at the lack of response and help from the Scottish side. We believe there is a huge market to be tapped into between the UK and Norway." A spokeswoman for VisitScotland said: "We would be delighted to collaborate on the marketing of a new ferry service linking Scotland and Norway, but we would need to see firm proposals in order to take this forward." An SE spokesman said: Once the consortium can provide detailed, costed plans we will be happy to consider whether it is appropriate to support this with public funds." LD Lines goes head-to-head with Brittany FerriesDate: 10 May 2007Source: Lloyds List The ferry war in the English Channel has hotted up this month with the start of a new service by French operator LD Lines between Newhaven and Le Havre – in addition to its existing sailing from Portsmouth. The Portsmouth Le Havre Ferry route was abandoned last year by P&O Ferries, and Brittany Ferries — the major operator in the western Channel — showed no real interest in adding Le Havre to its existing main hub ports of Cherbourg and Caen. But LD Lines new route from Newhaven to Le Havre, little more than an hour’s drive from south London, could have an impact, as it offers a viable alternative for those heading to Brittany by significantly shortening the distance needed to travel within France rather than drive from Boulogne or Calais Ferry Port. Ferry companies are up against budget airlines such as Flybe, which serves Brittany airports. However, this is not seen as a serious challenge as fare savings are offset by car hire costs upon arrival. Brittany Ferries will be carefully watching interloper LD Lines, but for now it is consolidating its dominance in the west by offering a mix of high-class cruise ferry and high-speed services from the '3 p's' — Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth — crossing to Caen, Cherbourg, St Malo and Roscoff. In addition, its flagship Pont-Aven, delivered in 2004, sails from Plymouth to Santander P&O Ferries operates a Portsmouth Bilbao Ferry service, and now has this route to itself following the withdrawal of Spanish operator Acciona Trasmediterranea, whose ferry has returned to the Mediterranean. Britanny Ferries is particularly pleased with its recent purchase of the fast ferry Normandie Express after two seasons’ experience with the vessel on a charter basis. A spokesman for Brittany Ferries commented 'We decided to buy the vessel because we had the opportunity to do so at a fair price and it also fits with our strategy of providing a range of options for our passengers.' 'Further, it confirms our commitment to the Portsmouth Cherbourg ferry route — and this high speed crossing of only three hours means it is a competitive product compared with flying for those for whom speed is important, but with the advantage of having your own vehicle. 'This is especially true for people residing in London and the south — within one to two hours drive from Portsmouth.' The Normandie Express operates from April to end October and at certain peak periods during the summer it makes two crossings each way Monday to Thursday. At weekends - Friday to Sunday — it squeezes in one return service to Caen. The Incat built ferry, originally named The Lynx, was completed in July 2000, and was the 57th hull constructed by Incat. In its present configuration it can accommodate 850 passengers and 235 cars. Typically, the Normandie Express averages 40 knots on a crossing, even against the tide. However, as with any fast ferry, there are strict operating criteria to get the right speed/fuel balance, at the same time keeping to the sailing schedule. On a recent crossing to Cherbourg ferry port, the vessel’s master Cyrille Fabry explained this is why on all Incat fast ferries the central seat at the bridge console is occupied by the chief engineer, with the chief mate on his left and the navigator on his right. The chief engineer is tasked with detailed monitoring, and planning of fuel consumption and speed throughout the crossing, taking wave and wind factors into account. Capt Fabry, who joined the company in 1989, said they were very pleased with the vessel’s reliability record. In addition to the master, chief engineer and chief mate, there are two other engineers, two deck officers, an electrician and four crew. At peak periods the complement changes twice a day. Now it owns the vessel, Brittany Ferries has the problem of finding work for it during the winter months, perhaps on charter in the Mediterranean or Caribbean. Meanwhile, Brittany Ferries is spending more than £130m ($260m) on two new ships. The truck carrier Cotentin, costing £50m, was floated out at Aker’s yard in Helsinki last month. It is due to enter service this autumn, trading out of a (yet to be finalised) UK port to Cherbourg and will replace Coutance. But the cruising speed of 23 knots will provide high utilisation, enabling the company to include a weekend Ferry to Spain operation for a rapidly growing freight market. The same yard is building another cruise ferry, the £81m Armorique, designed specifically for the Plymouth Roscoff ferry route, replacing the Pont l'Abbe, currently on short-term charter, in the autumn of 2008. With a cruising speed of 23 knots, the vessel will have 250 cabins and be able to carry 1,500 passengers, 470 cars and 65 lorries. For more information, please visit our Cross Channel Ferries page. Waterfront project gets under wayDate: 9 May 2007Source: BBC News Work to develop the Stranraer waterfront is finally set to get underway. The £1.3m project, which includes leisure, housing, and retail opportunities, had faced delays due to legal problems and escalating costs. The first phase of the development will involve the construction of a 90 metre breakwater which is expected to take seven months to complete. Dredging operations are scheduled to begin next week. The project is being financed by Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway, the European Regional Development Fund and the local authority. A temporary causeway will also be created to allow material for the breakwater to be transported into place. Permission Once completed, up to 50 pontoon berths will be created to accommodate sailing craft. Work on the harbour development, first announced in 2005, was held up after ferry company Sea Containers failed to give permission for it to start. The company, who previously operated a ferry from Stranraer to Troon, held a seabed lease for the area. Delays in getting permission cost the local authority an estimated £130,000. Concerns over the lease were resolved in March. A spokesperson for Dumfries and Galloway Council said the building materials needed for the project would be transported by road to a storage area next to the harbour and that every effort would be made to minimise disruption to road users and residents. Corsica Ferries wins SNCM concession delayDate: 1 May 2007Source: Lloyds List French Mediterranean ferry operator Corsica Ferries has again succeeded in preventing the Corsican authorities from awarding the subsidised concession for services between the French mainland and the island to its rival SNCM. The seven-year concession, which had been due to come into effect tomorrow, was awarded by the Corsican assembly to SNCM and its partner Compagnie Méridionale de Navigation on April 12. Following a legal challenge from Corsica Ferries, however, the court of administration in the city of Bastia has annulled the award procedure, which it said had been marked by irregularities. The annulment is the second in five months. The original award procedure for the concession, which had been due to come into effect at the start of the year, was annulled in mid-December by the French Council of State. It ordered the Corsican authorities to start the pro- cedure again or invite fresh bids from the competing companies. Corsica Ferries claimed that the Corsican authorities had failed to heed the decision of the Council of State in December. It said the authorities had not given candidates for the concession equal treatment in an affair which it said had been marked from the start by political rather than economic considerations. “It is time that the Corsican transport office respected the law and equity so that shipping can become a reliable and efficient instrument for the development of the island,” it said in a communiqué at the weekend. The Corsican transport office acknowledged that the concession would not now be able to be brought into effect this week as planned but said that the court decision would only have the effect of delaying the procedure. Brittany Ferries cuts pricesDate: 1 May 2007Source: Travel Bite The chances of finding a cheap ferry crossing to France have increased this summer as Brittany Ferries has announced it is cutting its summer fares by around 30 per cent today. Fares will be available from £35 per person with a car from now until July 4th 2007, with other offers continuing until the end of the summer. However, the price cuts do not apply to all tickets, so finding a cheap ferry crossing may require careful planning and choosing daytime crossings, Brittany Ferries says. The new lower fares apply to Brittany Ferries routes between Portsmouth and Caen, Poole and Cherbourg, Plymouth and Roscoff, the high-speed Portsmouth and Cherbourg service. En suite air conditioned cabins are also available for £10 per passenger on a day crossing. For more information, quotes or bookings, please visit our Brittany Ferries page. |
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