Shipping Conference OnBo09ard

Networking under the Mediterranean sun ferry shipping conference 09 Qualified optimism as the industry is riding the storm As expected, the bank crunch, the economic downturn and a shrinking freight market were all hot discussion topics at the Ferry Shipping Conference (FSC). But it was not all doom and gloom at this year’s annual ferry industry’s get-together. By Philippe Holthof • Photos Mike Louagie . “We could ban these ships to enter an EU port”, he said. “Scrapping of tonnage will produce a rebalance of offer versus demand. Disposing of 30+ year old tonnage will further enhance safety and reduce emissions since new tonnage is more environmentally friendly”, Paul Kyprianou explained. Carl-Otto Dahlberg from Imperial Shipping Ltd. clearly disagreed and wondered which operator would maintain a high quality in the knowledge that the ship will be sent to the scrap yard at the age of 30. “You risk he annual Ferry Shipping Confer- consumption in recent years despite higher that maintenance will be disregarded and ence migrated to the Mediterrane- payloads. As Per Wimby from it will jeopardize the second hand market, Tan for what has become one of the Scandinavia explained, Stena Line’s fuel i.e. it will be difficult to sell. Probably world’s premier annual gatherings of ferry consumption has decreased by 2.5 per cent shipyards will build ships that are good for industry executives. Thanks to the increas- per year since 2005. Actions to reduce this only 30 years”, were all arguments against ing success – over 60 ferry operators were consumption included a propeller blade the idea of imposing an age limit. represented and some 360 delegates regis- change with a blade area that is optimized But if the freight market has shrunk tered – the organisation is almost forced to for the actual service speed, solar guard by 20 to 25 per cent, passenger carryings organize its future conferences on Scandi- films on windows, efficient lighting, RPM navian ferries, although a future Med con- controlled pumps, an intelligent speed ference is not excluded. pilot, and cold ironing. Some themes that were discussed during earlier editions still provide food for Freight plummets thought such as the emissions issue. With Not surprisingly, the economic crisis is the price of bunkers more or less back to worrying many players, with freight vol- a more acceptable level, the bunker debate umes having plummeted during the last was not as hot as it was last year. Even so, two quarters. This has created an overca- some speakers warned that the industry pacity, with ferry operators fighting for vol- does not have to rest on its laurels and can umes. As a result of the overcapacity, ship better be prepared for high bunker costs. values have gone down rapidly but as one Sooner or later high bunker prices will be broker pointed out, it is somehow difficult the order of the day again. to define values of ships since there have The industry has to take action and been too few transactions of late. further invest in more efficient engines, To solve the problem of overcapacity hulls, propeller designs, etc., seemed to be Paul Kyprianou from Grimaldi Group the general tenor. Stena Line is one such Napoli suggested to introduce an age operator that has further reduced fuel limit of 30+ years for ro-ro and ro-pax SNCM’s CEO Jean-Marie d’Aspe opening the conference.

2 CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 www.shippax.se ferry shipping conference 09 Carsten Wieber gave a speech on the ship financing outlooks, while Alfons Guinier reported on the latest from Brussels. Below right: The panel debate, with Superfast’s Spiros Paschalis, SNCM’s Jean- Marie d’Aspe and Grimaldi’s Paul Kyprianou. have remained fairly stable. The North African market seems to be the exception to the rule, passenger figures having dropped dramatically. As SNCM’s Paul de Rosen described during the “Remote Mediterranean” session, the Algerian passenger market dropped by 35 percent during the off-season months. Passenger numbers to Tunisia fell by ten per cent during the same period. Passengers travelling on these routes are usually North African emigrants that work on the European mainland. According to Mr de Rosen, this category has been first hit by the crisis and postpones a visit to family or relatives in North Africa. The traffic to North Africa is extremely seasonal, 60 percent of the volumes being generated in two months time. Mrs Isabel Muños und Fährtouristik e.V. (VFF), the German Frédéric Dagnet (below) from the Marseille Fos port from Acciona Trasmediterranea explained counterpart to the PSA. Mr Berg believes authority talked about Marseille’s aspirations in the that, surprisingly, there are few – if any – that ferries will benefit from closer to ro-ro and ro-pax field. summer advance bookings. “Maybe this is home vacations by car. “But”, he said, “we Bruce Peter (middle picture) gave a lecture about the effect of the Ramadan, which this year have found out that between 0.7 and 1 waterfront trends all over the world. coincides with the summer peak”, she said. percent of the German travelling public is Jonathan McGregor (bottom picture) talked about the The Algerian market is still the poor potentially interested to travel by ferry.” environment as a tool for competition. relation with long security controls in port On a more positive note, he added coming on top of a 20-24 hour crossing that according to a recent opinion poll, time. ferries are considered ‘trendy’. Moreover, the tremendous popularity of ocean Healthy passenger market cruising in is spilling over to the Due to the crisis, passengers are holiday- ferry industry. The joint efforts of ferry ing closer to home and prefer short breaks operators, be it under the umbrella of instead of long holidays. Most operators the PSA or VFF, are paying off with ever agreed that this will be to the benefit of the more passengers turning their back on the ferries. Bill Gibbons from the UK-based airlines, a trend which was already apparent Passenger Shipping Association said that during last year’s conference. Flying is no there has also been an increase of inland longer as ‘sexy’ as it used to be and UK tourists to from the residents with a second home overseas find zone, stimulated by the strength of the it harder to get there since many (budget) currency. The backside of the coin is that airlines have slashed routes to minor the currency imbalance between the Euro airports. “Flightmare?” and “How the ferry and the non-Euro currencies – such as the could save your holiday” are examples of Pound Sterling and Swedish krona – erodes journal titles that speak in favour of the the revenues of the Euro zone operators. ferry industry. Several new ferries have recently been in- The luggage restrictions and the risk troduced on the UK market, with more of losing luggage all add to the weaker newbuildings to follow for Stena Line, LD perception of airlines. In 2007, 42 million Lines and P&O Ferries. bags were mishandled in airports around Bill Gibbons’ words of optimism the world – on a ferry there are no luggage were echoed by Jens-Peter Berg, Vice- restrictions, one can actually take a lot of Chairman of Verband der Fährschifffahrt luggage back even when not travelling by

CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 3 www.shippax.se ferry shipping conference 09 like Interferry stands up for the interests of the world-wide ferry industry, having a consultative status at IMO in London and an observer status at ECSA in Brussels. ECSA for its part is very active on the European level and during the conference ECSA’s Alfons Guinier told the audience what is hanging over our heads. The 2015 implementation of 0.1% SOX emissions in the Emission Control Areas (ECAs, i.e. the Baltic, and ), endangers the modal shift from land to sea. Per Wimby (left) told the audience about Stena Line’s For this reason, ECSA has commissioned a fuel saving measures. study by the Universities of Antwerp and Jon Boyce (above) announced the winners of this Louvain to investigate if the 0.1 % SOX year’s ShipPax Award. emission will not cause a modal backshift car. UK ferry operators are very active to win internet users having researched or looked from sea to land. After all, the extra cost for back passengers and members of the PSA’s for information about holiday and travel alternative fuels or abatement equipment Sail and Drive campaign have launched during the past twelve months. Over one will have to be paid by the customer. a ‘National Ferry Fortnight’ with some third of Europeans purchase holidays and Not happy with the 0.1% SOX limit fantastic offers and deals for passengers travel online. Needless to say that online and the fact that it will only apply in the booking a crossing in the period between 9 branding speeds customer acquisition”, ECAs, TT-Line’s Hanns Heinrich Conzen and 22 May. This National Ferry Fortnight Mrs Cotterell said. noted that “we are one industry with one will also be the time for unveiling the latest interest, but with different rules in different statistics and trends in ferry travel. The call for one voice areas.” Carla Cotterell from Platform-A Bodies such as the PSA and VFF unite the The ’s proposed underlined the importance of ads on commercial interests of the industry in regulation on passenger rights, was another the internet to further increase brand their respective countries, but several del- issue touched upon by Alfons Guinier. awareness and direct internet surfers egates wondered if there is no single plat- Although ECSA is not opposing the to your homepage. “The travel sector form and industry voice. Unlike the airline objectives, Alfons Guinier pointed out is subject to more commercial scrutiny industry, the ferry sector is fragmented with that a “one fits for all” approach is not an than other categories, 70 per cent of the 378 operators world wide. An association option. “It can not be a mere copy and paste

Top row: Bill Gibbons from the UK’s PSA talked about the UK ferry market. Jens Peter Berg from the VFF gave his view on the German market. Carla Cotterell, Platform A, stressed the importance of web presence. Anders Ørgaard Hansen, OSK-ShipTech, talked about on board living and also presented a new ship concept. Middle row: Hans Sandström from Marine Profile and Helge Tvedt, Adecco, talked about finding and training crew. Finnlines’ Staffan Herlin provided a report from the Baltic Sea. Bottom row: P&O’s Simon Johnson presenting his view on the UK-Continent market. FSG’s Uwe Otto talking about the yard’s novel ICON project.

4 CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 www.shippax.se ferry shipping conference 09 Far left: STX Europe’s Johan Snellman reported on one of the latest challenge to ferries: the “Safe return to port” rules. Left: Paul de Rosen gave his view on the ferry market to North Africa. Below left: Acciona Trasmediterranea’s Isabel Muños commenting from the audience.

Flensburger Schiffbau Gesellschaft’s from it”, Viking Line’s Nils-Erik Eklund (FSG) Uwe Otto explained that the argued. yard’s strategy to focus on ro-ro ships Commenting on the same subject, and ferries has been very successful. With Birka Cruises added that more attention the revolutionary ro-pax ferry ICON, helps to grow the market. “But there are the company has developed a whole limitations because of the small population new concept of ferry travel. It holds in the area.” believes that every promise to be another Flensburger the traditional cruise lines are no direct sensation, because it is based on a fuel- competitors for “they offer 4 to 5 days efficient hull form. Discussions are ongoing cruises which are more expensive than our with several interested parties. 2-night mini-cruises.” exercise from other transport modes, i.e. air Another innovative ferry design comes Last but not least, there was the and rail, by virtue of the characteristics of from OSK-ShipTech A/S. Developed in merger talk. Both delegates and speakers shipping being totally different”, he said. cooperation with ShipPax Information and believe that given the current economic ECSA has meanwhile formulated detailed Ivar Moltke, the ‘turnaround ferry’ features circumstances, further mergers and comments. For instance compensation a full-width bow with a total of 14 lanes acquisitions are a necessity. Grimaldi for delays should be based on the time of on two levels. Obviously, it needs dedicated Group Napoli has been very active in this arrival, not on the time of departure. port facilities, but 3,400 lane metres can be respect and Paul Kyprianou concluded that The definition of a passenger ship turned around in 15 minutes. The vehicle only financially strong operators can face should be clarified – does it include decks of the patent-pending design boasts the ongoing crisis. ships with driver-only accommodation? straight lanes lined with pillars to speed up Comments have also been made on a string loading and unloading operations. Large of proposals with regard to persons with airbag type cushions are mounted on the reduced mobility. pillars to secure trailers. Non-accompanied trailers will be Ferries of the future coupled in advance the Australian way and One of the sessions focussed on the ‘shape will be driven on board as a single train. of ships to come’. Johan Snellman from The circular shape of the superstructure STX Europe Cruise & Ferries dilated upon with public spaces and cabins is as daring the “Safe Return to Port” (SRTP) princi- as the hull design and can be built and put ple, which will be required for all passenger on the hull by a third party. ships with a length of over 120m and of Several other topics were also discussed which the keel is laid after 1 July 2010. Pas- during the conference, including ports and senger ships in general and cruise ships in waterfront development, Dr Bruce Peter particular have grown bigger and the evac- giving some ‘worst’ and ‘best practice’ uation and rescue of up to 10,000 persons examples of terminals. The crewing at sea is no sinecure. Towing of these behe- situation was another topic that was moths is considered as very risky and the touched upon. amendments to Solas Chapter II-1 and II-2 During the interactive debate the outline that the ship must be capable to established Baltic operators, i.e. Viking safely return to port under its own power. Line, Tallink Silja Line and Birka Cruises, P&O’s new ferries for the - were asked if they consider the international Calais route will be the first ever ferries cruise ships in the Baltic as a threat. Not so, to incorporate SRTP rules. Already in according to Viking Line. the very early stages of the project P&O “We are happy that the large cruise Ferries had decided to adopt the new rules, ships are popping up in our region. It Top picture above: EuroMed’s Marc Abeille talked about Mediterranean Motorways of the Seas. although the ships could have been built to increases the interest for cruising in the Above: Roman Gonopolsky from UKRFerry gave his view old rules. Baltic in general and we can only benefit on the Black Sea ferry market.

CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 5 www.shippax.se Christer Schough ( RCCL), Carsten Wiebers (KfW bank), Peter von Weissenberg (Finnshipping)

Marseille Chamber of Commerce invited all delegates to the historic “Palais de la Bourse” for cocktails 21st of April.

Michal Jackiewicz, Welcome speach by Raymond Fredrik Johansson Vidil Chairman of Marfret Tillberg Design) talking No one left hungry to Leith Thomson (Incat) Jean-Marie about hi-speed design? d’Aspe, (SNCM)

EHRENBERG Kommunikation; Magnus Ehrenberg, Jean-Marie d’Aspe Björn West and Mats Svanberg, Ralph and Brigitte de Victor Börje Lassfolk Krogerus, Barbro (SNCM) talking to from RG Line McAusland, Matthias Mies Raymond Vidil (Marfret) An all time high of 365 delegates, many of them representing ferry operators, had an efficient and most relaxed networking conference under the Mediterranean sun. The event was fully booked five months prior to the sailing. Be sure to register early for next year. We already have lots of bookings.

Ian Vernon (Amanzitel), Franck Beroard Günter Becker (Comanav) and Sebti Nacer (Comarit): three (Förde Reederei first time delegates who we hope will return. Seetouristik)

Per Björnsen (V Ships) having lunch with Jarmo Valtonen (Deltamarin) and colleagues Niels-Erik Lund (International Shipping Partners) and Didier Chaleat (Bureau Veritas). Magic tricks can be such great fun. Arkadiusz Skierkowski (Pol Line) and Gunnar Lind (Cherry Maritime) playing Black Jack between the sessions Eric D Nilsson with wife Marieann from Rederi AB Gotland

Jean-Bernard Raoust (Barry Alain Meylan, Bruno Saint-Dizier (AIA) Rogliano Salles) sponsor of the and Thibault De Keghel (LD Lines). “We lunch, Didier Bourdin and Francois have some great ideas for your ships.” Lally from STX Cruise

6 CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 www.shippax.se Björn Blomqvist and Jukka Suominen(Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö), Mikael Lagström (Brax Shipping) Bo Severed (Stena RoRo), Carsten Wiebers (KfW Bank) and Sattu Pellikka (Eckerö Line) talking business…

Ole B Larsen and Jan Meinertz (Nordic Ferry Services A/S) Toomas Susi having a nice (Tallink Group) lunch time and Jon Boyce (Sea Highway Ltd)

Arnaud de Lestapis Ove Eknes (Georg Eknes Sören Lindergaard (Locatel Nordic) and Jimmy Ahlgren (Elmo (Almarine) and Marc Industries) trying the Leather) Jesper Svendsen (Locatel) and Ranveig Eknes Benoit (DCN Services new chair model, seems Reikerås (Georg Eknes Industries) relaxing! No one left hungry Toulon) Svein Ege, Ingvald Fardal, Peter Frölich (Fjord Line) taking a coffee break Christa Aganimov (Navicon) and Enrico Scolaro shipbrokers

Jean-Michel Giguet () also having a good Totto Hartmann (R.S.Platou), Arild laugh Kalkvik ( Group), a business meeting with a delegate

Frode Teigen Steve Chamberlain (Fjord Line) (RTS) enjoyed the having a good conference laugh

Bruno Riosa and Giacomo Olivari (Fincantieri) relaxing at the pooldeck

Mikael Lagström (Brax Charlotte Lundgren and Shipping) invites Anne Johansson (Elmo all delegates to the Leather) having a nice welcome drink “Bloody cup of coffee Brax slightly changed”

Delegates having a beer Fredrik Lantz (Stena Line) and at the pooldeck, on the Hanns Heinrich Conzen (TT-Line) right Guido Schulte (Wadan Yards)

Pim de Lange and Gunnar Blomdahl (Stena Line)

CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 7 www.shippax.se Pierre Courteaut (Aminima Shipbrokers) and David Longden (Brittany Ferries), Pim de Lange (Stena Andrew Duncan (Caledonian Maritime) Line) and Bill Gibbons (PSA) talking stories from the sea.

Finn Schjoeth Essendrop ( Broker), Kell Robdrup () and Charles Kroogsgaard-Nordsted (Maersk Broker). “We like blue ships!”

Lars Møller (Ege Taepper), Hans- Juul Jacobsen (Kinon) and Camilla Caroline Horn (OSK)

Christophe Mathieu (Brittany Ferries) and Alain Meylan (AIA). Jan-Olof Grönhult (DNV), John Kollander “And on our next ship we’d like to...” (Stena RoRo) and Michael McGrath (Stena Line) Angelika Nieder (Macholl Specht), Jan Willem Doeksen (Doeksen Transport), Frans Baud (KVSA) and Peter van de Meerakker (Zeehaven IJmuiden)

Karl Morten Wiklund (DNV) welcomes all delegates to dinner sponsored by Leith Thomson (Incat) surrounded Victor Velton (Versonix), Frans by beautiful ladies, Kerry Sturmey, DNV Jan Lundberg (Hogia Bookit), Keith Sherwood, Mats Baud (KVSA) and Tim Watson Karolyne Reynolds and Kim Clifford Olsson (Carus) and Henry Jørgensen (Blue Line). waiting for a beer in the sunshine “Choose us!” “No, choose us!”

John Steen Mikkelsen () ShipPax Awards waiting for 2009 Ferry the dinner Arkadiusz Skierkowski (Pol Concept goes Line) dining together with Jan to Color Line & Schauman (Onboard Napa), Superspeed 1. Odd ShipPax Charles Kroogsgaard-Nordsted Grönberg receives Award (Maersk Broker) the price.

ShipPax Awards 2009 Ferry Exterior goes to Viking Line ShipPax Awards 2009 Cruise & VIKING Interiors goes to STX Europe XPRS & MSC FANTASIA

ShipPax Awards 2009 Ferry Interior 2009 MARTIN I Proud and happy winners of ShipPax Awards 2009 SOLER goes to Oliver Design

8 CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 www.shippax.se Ralph Strand and Helene Albrektson Trond Retterholt and Cristian F Bay (Nordic Flooring) (MCP Maritime Communications Lars Hellman and Sofus Gedde-Dahl happy to show their Partner) (Cavotec) taking a coffee break products

Ulf Sandevärn (Port of Karlshamn)

Gabriel Yasak (Myboatmodel.com) Delegates showing ship models for Robert visiting Brude Clifford (Incat) and Jimmy Mason Safety / Oyvind Johan Thorbjörnsson (Mason Shipbrokers) Sundgot (Platform A)

Sr Anchér and Jr Anchér Tim Watson Frank Robertsson and (Simsonship) (Quintek) Einar Ulrichsen (Alu talking to Bo Design) selling chairs to Severed the captain?

Coffee break and networking Björn Persson and Monika Smidlik showing their products to Hans- Juul Jacobsen

Kell Robdrup (Norfolkline), Arnt Møller Pedersen (Copenhagen Håkan Enlund (STX Malmö Port), Ole B Larsen Catarina Mikkelä Rockstrand (Svenska Orient Linien) Cruise) with Peter Albrecht (Nordic Ferry Services) and Jens and Eero Mäkinen (STX Finland Cruise) and Sture Aurén (Elomatic) Vind Jensen (Jensen & Partners)

CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 9 www.shippax.se Arndt Soendergaard (Blücher Metal)

Peter Morris (Navitas Telecom) talking telecom with Peter Fleming Nielsen (Viking Life Holm () Saving) with visitors at the stand

Maggie Long (Mason Shipbrokers) and Henry Jørgensen (Blue Line) Simon Smith and James Bennett (Austal)

The team of Cherry Maritime Håkan Jönsson (TTS Port Equipment) and Robert Åkerlund (Stena Rederi)

Michael Björkman (Hogia Bookit Systems) and Gerald McMillan (Vingcard Thomas Woldbye Marine) (Norfolkline)

Excursion Bastia Tour…

… by train

Have a nice trip in Bastia!

10 CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 www.shippax.se Visit MEGA SMERALDA In Bastia, Pierre Mattei (CEO of Corsica Sardinia Ferries) invited all delegates onboard the cruise ferry MEGA SMERALDA for a presentation, drinks and cocktails

Pierre Mattei (Corsica Ferries) welcomes all onboard the ship

Happy ship, happy passengers

Mike Wake (Austal) - on board at last

The ship was previously operated by Color Line, whose delegates praised the well maintained ferry

The delegates from Samsung Heavy Industries on their way to visit Bastia

Poul Bredesgaard and Daniel Mirecki (Navitaship) relaxing in the sunshine Catching some sun in between all the fun

United we stand: Pawel Wojdalski, Piotr Waszczenko and Maciej Komorzycki (Unity Line)

An ICON in the Baltic? Jukka Suominen (Eckerö Line) Nils-Erik Eklund (Viking Line) Uwe Otto and Wolfgang Bühr (Flensburg Schiffbau)

Vanessa Marchesseau (Ariane Systems) Heikki Jäntti (Foreship) and business Christer Schough (RCCL) talk?

Delegates from SRC and Tallink

Olof Berndtson (Aquamarine) and Tony Öhamn (Viking Line) ...talking to the guy with the pink tie

Wilco van der Linden (Wärtsilä) and Jean-Bernard Raoust (Barry Rogliano Salles)

CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 11 www.shippax.se A glass of Muscat for the Interior suppliers

Steen Friis Finn Vollesen Petersen (Knud E Hansen), Kari Granberg and Johan Snellman Yiota Hansen Jacques Goudchaux (Barry Rogliano Salles (STX Finland Cruise) and Richard Krassakapoulou and and Ann-Sofie Forss (Stena Roro) Nilsson (Figura Arkitekter), enjoyed the and Spiros Monika dinner drink sponsored by STX Paschalis (Attica) Smidlik

The more the merrier... How a Dinner drink at the sundeck table for four can be adapted Table of Honour to the situation

Carsten Jensen (DFDS), one of the captain’s guests, tasting the excellent wine Important agreements were signed, even if it was on a napkin, between Zacharias Yannakoudakis (Fintry Marine Design) and Øyvind Sundgot (Brude Safety)

Discussions during the dinner, Spiros Paschalis (Attica) and Isabel Munos (Accionia Trasmediterranea)

Mate Renic (Brodosplit) all smiling

Odd Grønberg (Color Line) Showtime at Galaxie host of the Ferry Shipping Conference 2009, welcomes Mats Olsson (TTS Ships Equipment, Keijo Mehtonen (Tallink Silja), Mikael Lagström (Brax Shipping) and Jukka everyone to Suominen (Eckerö) enjoyed the French dinner menu COLOR MAGIC

Thank you for this conference! See you next year!

Esther, Elizabeth and Anna Bo-Lennart Andreas Göran Klas

Last but not least, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the exhibitors and sponsors of the event, including:

SHIPBROKERS SINCE 185 6

Descriptors below 50mm CMYK

TM

Marine Design AG

Seaware www . vilax . se Organizer: ShipPax Information – BOLT Consulting

12 CRUISE & FERRY Info JUNE 09 www.shippax.se