ruben.maritime: Attica withdraws from the Baltic

Attica withdraws from the Baltic

LONDON 05 December – Greek ferry operator Attica has announced its complete withdrawal from Baltic Sea routes following the sale earlier this year of its three Superfast ships to Tallink, and the relocation of its two ro-ro vessels. The 7,395-gt ro-ro Nordia has already been placed on charter with Fret Cetam of France until October 2008, while the 5,972-gt Marin, which was operating on the Rostock-Uusikaupunki route, is being transferred to the Med from early 2007 to “serve on the Greece-Italy routes in the Adriatic Sea and in the domestic market.” Having also sold the Superfast X, which has been operating the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route, a new ship will be placed on this service early in 2007 following delivery to its new owner, Veolia Transport, which paid euro112M. Attica group director Yannis Criticos told Fairplay the withdrawal from the Baltic would have "no impact" on the North Sea route. "They are completely different routes with different passenger and freight dimensions.” In the nine months to 30 September, the Rosyth service, with a 48% reduction in sailings handled 89,000 passengers (down 42%), 30,000 private cars (30% fall) and 21,000 freight vehicles (29% down). Attica commented in its nine month statement that: “The operation of one vessel against two on the Scotland-Belgium route in 2006, contributed to the increased capacity utilisation per sailing and the profitability of this route.”

Etiquetas: ferries, international maritime affairs