From New RoPax Ferries to an Historic Air Fly Over Agreement - This Week's Industry Snippets

ARABIAN GULF – RED SEA – GULFS' OF ADEN and OMAN – INDIAN OCEAN – It is strangely comforting to know, even on the high seas and when speaking of elite naval forces, Covid-19 is ensuring conferences are being held virtually. Such was the case when Rear Admiral Nejat Inanir of the Turkish Navy, the Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces' CTF 151, discussed handing over command to the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Ops) of the Pakistan Navy.

Pakistan will assume command of CTF 151, responsible for mutual cooperation and security in the region, in December for a record ninth time, the international alliance providing the force needed to suppress pirate activity in the region. The Rear Admiral said there has been increased small vessel activity as monsoon season passes and the role of CTF 151 remains vital.

FINLAND – In line with company policy to expand its interests around the Baltic Sea Greencarrier Freight Services has acquired logistics business operations in the Baltics and the CEE countries from VR Group’s subsidiary Transpoint International (FI) Oy. The road traffic business operations in the Baltics and the CEE countries will become fully owned by Greencarrier Freight Services.

Approximately 40 people working in Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will transfer to the new employer. Transpoint International (FI) will retain VR Transpoint International road traffic and the transaction will not concern the Finnish parent company Transpoint International (FI) owned by the VR Group and the two Russian subsidiaries owned by Transpoint International (FI) Oy

SPAIN – XPO Logistics, provider of transport and logistics solutions, has invested in purchasing 10 additional mega-trucks and 280 semi-trailers, strengthening its eco-friendly fleet capacity. Mega-trucks have the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 20% compared with traditional trucks, as each 25.25-metre vehicle is able to transport 65% more freight per trip.

XPO will use its fleet of 25 mega-trucks to cover routes in its less-than-truckload (LTL) network, expanding services between Valencia and Malaga, Barcelona and Madrid, and Seville and Granada. The company transported over five million pallets last year on these routes. The new semi-trailers will be used for full truckload and LTL services across the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco. Each 13.6-metre unit has the capacity to transport up to 25 tonnes of freight using best-in-class transport technology for safety and efficiency. The expansion increases XPO’s semi-trailer fleet to approximately 2,400 units.

FRANCE – HAROPA - Port of Le Havre has joined the 'Getting to Zero' coalition alongside more than 90 companies from across maritime, energy and finance sectors. The coalition was launched at the United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019 as part of a partnership between three intergovernmental organisations (the Global Maritime Forum, Friends of Ocean Action and the World Economic Forum) to combat climate change.

It aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping by at least 50% by 2050. To reach this goal and to make the transition to full decarbonisation possible, the members of this coalition are committed to help developing zero-emission ships and fuels by 2030.

CHINA – SWEDEN – Ferry company Stena Line has announced that Stena Embla, which we reported on in June, the last of its three new RoPax ferries destined for the Irish Sea, has successfully completed its sea trials in China’s Yellow Sea. Constructed at the CMI Jingling Weihai Shipyard in China, the global pandemic did not delay the build of the vessel, which is being delivered to the agreed schedule.

Next up for Stena Embla is an official handover ceremony at the shipyard before she sets sail on the long journey from China to Belfast, arriving home around Christmas in time to start operating on the Belfast to Birkenhead route in early 2021 alongside sister ship Stena Edda, launched in March.

The new vessel replaces the Stena Mersey, which has successfully operated on the Belfast to Birkenhead route for 10 years. The Mersey will then head off to join sister ship Stena Lagan in Turkey where both ships are being extended, before re-deployment on the Baltic Sea. During the summer Stena Line also confirmed that the construction of two new larger E-Flexer ferries has begun in Weihai, China. Their keels were recently laid in the same shipyard in Weihai and the delivery is expected in 2022.

JORDAN – ISRAEL – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the recent overflight agreement between the Kingdom of Jordan and State of Israel that allows for flights to cross over both countries’ airspace. The agreement paves the way for commercial airlines to be able to fly through the Israel-Jordan corridor, which will shorten flight times, reducing fuel burn and CO₂ emissions.

Airlines have historically flown around Israel when flying east / west operating over Middle East airspace. The direct routing through Jordanian and Israeli airspace will on average cut 106 km eastbound and 118 km westbound on flights operating from the Gulf States and Asia to destinations in Europe and North America. Based on the number of eligible departure airports, this will result in a saving of 155 days of flying time per year and an annual reduction in CO₂ emissions of approximately 87,000 tonnes.

JAPAN – The K Line Maritime Academy (KLMA) has become the first organisation to be certified by DNV GL to train seafarers online. LNG seafarer training by KLMA Japan, the LNG SIGTTO Standard Training Course, was originally certified by DNV GL in 2007 and the recently devised online course was added to conventional face-to-face training.

The Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators Limited (SIGTTO) membership includes major oil companies, gas, electric and gas tanker transport companies, and is an organisation that aims at ensuring the safety of the LNG and LPG business, from production through transport to consumption.

Photo: Rear Admiral Nejat Inanir of the Turkish Navy (L) discusses the handover of CTF 151 command with Commodore Faisal Amin, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) of Pakistan.