“For speakers addressing the Customer Experience, we are looking for innovative approaches that both enhance the passenger experience throughout the customer journey and improve efficiency and revenue for operators. In the area of Sustainability, we will especially consider proposals demonstrating a decrease of the environmental impact throughout the entire lifecycle. In addition to emission reduction, we are also welcoming proposals addressing various types of vessel discharge, ship construction, maintenance, and refits, as well as onshore power and port practices,” says Mike Corrigan, CEO of Interferry.

According to Mike Corrigan, Interferry is looking for speakers who can present advanced solutions on the verge of or in the process of being implemented.

“Today’s challenges require tangible actions, and we are happy to provide a global platform for discussions and information exchange so that the entire industry can learn and improve. We believe that our industry is “Stronger Together” when we work collectively to embrace opportunities, overcome challenges and share our knowledge. Our 47th Annual Interferry Conference on November 4-8 in Hobart, Tasmania, will once more gather industry leaders and visionaries from around the world who share our passion for ferry transportation”, says Mike Corrigan.

Interferry encourages all interested parties to submit proposals that align with the program’s theme until May 30, 2023, through the Interferry website. Selected speakers will be notified by mid-July. Priority consideration for speaking slots will be given to Interferry members and conference sponsors, subject to the merits of their respective submissions.

The article Interferry invites industry leaders to share customer experience and sustainability solutions at the 47th Annual Interferry Conference first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

1. Check the schedule & plan
Since you will be travelling on a ferry after more than two years, you do not want to miss your ferry journey. This is the reason why it is suggested to check the schedule of your upcoming trip. To stay on the safer side, make sure you leave to reach the place of departure on time. Everything from packing to travelling to the place of departure shall be well planned and executed. If it is in another city than your place of residence, then book all the necessary travel options in advance.

2. Complete digital works
After some time at the beginning of the ferry trip, you might lose your mobile network. This means there will not be any access to your mobile phones and laptop. If you have an urgent meeting or an email to send, then you shall complete the same before the beginning of the trip. Isolation with the mobile network and all your electronic devices will help you enjoy the trip and hence make it even more memorable. Finish all your professional and personal tasks related to the internet before you lose network and ghosts from the digital world.

3. Warm clothes
If you want to stay healthy and comfortable during the trip, then you shall wear something that keeps your body warm. Since you will be travelling on a ferry, you shall expect chilly winds to touch your skin throughout the journey. To ensure that you and your family are safe, you all must carry and wear enough warm clothes. Wear a layer of clothes to stay warm and hence enjoy the ferry ride. Even if it is the month of summer, the presence of water all around will make the atmosphere chilly. Do not neglect to carry warm clothes during your trip on a ferry.

4. Recreational activities
Travelling on a ferry is the best time to make some of the best memories with your family. To make it possible and even more interesting, you can carry some devices and products for several recreational activities. This can include everything from a speaker to a board game. These kinds of devices will not take up much space in your luggage but can facilitate entertainment during the journey on a ferry. If you are travelling with a large group, then you can even plan some interesting and fun games as well as activities.

The article Passenger traffic between Spain & Morocco gradually normalizes after two years first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Now, just over a year on, we, at Borrow A Boat, have announced that we too will accept payment by cryptocurrency. The decision will likely cause some debate as to why now? Why now when the long-term future of crypto currencies is so uncertain? 

And the answer
We want to make getting on the water easy and accessible for everyone, and Crypto helps make that happen. The speed and simplicity of a crypto transaction helps us take payments from international clients without waiting for days like we would with traditional banking. This means we can be more agile, reduces friction and leads to happier clients and smoother processes. Cryptocurrencies also attract a younger client base, who we’re keen to get interested in yachting holidays – once they’ve tried one, we know they’ll be hooked! 

Embracing new technologies is just one of the ways we can work to future-proof the world of boating. We, as an industry, need to ensure that we are constantly embracing new ways to make chartering a yacht more accessible, flexible and inclusive for all. All the while doing our utmost to shake off old-fashioned elitist connotations so that even more people have the opportunity to discover the joy of boating.

The opportunity presented by crypto currencies
The fact that 94 percent of crypto buyers are 18-40 years old¹ presents a huge opportunity for any business wanting to adapt and appeal to a wider audience. 

On average traditional charter clients are around 45-60 years old, many of whom have been boating enthusiasts since childhood but in order to continue fuelling future growth, we need to be drawing in the next generation of travellers – Millennials and Gen Z. An audience who likely hasn’t chartered a yacht before, put off by misconceptions about booking flexibility and affordability.

One of the ways we can tackle these misconceptions is by embracing crypto currency. Widely lauded for being a speedy and efficient payment method, ideal for a customer base that has grown up in a world of near instant gratification and where at the touch of the button, they can buy what they want, when they want. The appeal really couldn’t be any clearer.

And far from alienating our existing audience, the speed of transaction is also attractive to wealthier clients who tend to make last-minute decisions – a position that was brought into even sharper focus over the last two years by the unpredictable nature of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The future of cryptocurrency payments in the charter industry
Whilst the long-term future of cryptocurrency is admittedly unclear, it’s undeniable that in this time of global economic uncertainty, when many traditional currencies are diminishing in value, bitcoin – one of the world’s best-known cryptocurrencies – is not, meaning it still holds a vast amount of appeal to Millennials and Gen Z, who continue to invest in it.

So, for now, at least, businesses, investors and brands should all be doing their utmost to explore all of the possibilities presented by crypto currencies. 

The opportunities might be greater than you realise.”

1) 2021 https://www.stilt.com/blog/2021/03/vast-majority-crypto-buyers-millennials-gen-z/ 

The article Peter Harrison- Hill CCO of Borrow A Boat Group analyses the impact and future of cryptocurrency on the world of yacht charter first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The Green Shipping Challenge, whose primary aim is to catalyse the global transition to green shipping, was issued as part of a joint statement on climate by Norwegian Prime Minister Johas Gahr Støre and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry in May 2022.

The Norwegian collaboration will be formally announced on Monday 7th of November at a high-level launch event during COP27 in Egypt. Prime Minister Støre will be in attendance alongside Mr Kerry and Norwegian Climate and Environment Minister, Espen Barth-Eide. The Norwegian maritime partners will be represented by Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) President, Svein Tore Holsther.

Participants in the Norwegian collaboration will strive towards reducing emissions from shipping by 50% by 2030, in line with the Norway’s national climate goals. This comes in addition to the current target of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce CO2 emissions from global shipping by at least 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2050.

Alongside efforts to improve the energy efficiency of existing vessels, the partners undertake to develop, design and build the zero-emission vessels of the future. Achieving 2030 national climate goals will require 700 low-emission and 400 zero-emission ships in Norway alone.

“Together we are ready to enter into a binding partnership with the authorities to reach our national climate targets, and this is a big step towards closer cooperation,” said Head of Cluster Daniel Garden of GCE Blue Maritime.

“To have the lowest impact on the world's natural resources, the transition must consist of both a green conversion program for existing ships, as well as a comprehensive green newbuilding program. The partners will also contribute to nascent green shipping corridors in Europe through the development of port infrastructure along the Norwegian coast,” he added. “To transform the entire industry, we must provide and share zero-emission solutions, products and knowledge both within the collaboration and out in the wider market.”

Harald Solberg, CEO of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association, commented: “The Norwegian maritime industry has set ambitious climate goals, and we are taking a leading role in developing green solutions for the future. Already, nine out of 10 Norwegian shipowners say that they will equip their ships with new technology that cuts emissions. The same number also believe they will be climate neutral by 2050. Owners are considering a wide range of solutions, such as green ammonia, hydrogen, wind-assisted propulsion, batteries and the use of artificial intelligence to reduce ships' fuel consumption. However, to succeed with the green shift we need strong partnerships between the industry, governments and academia. We welcome the Norwegian government’s commitment in this regard.”

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV Maritime, added: “Climate change caused by human activities is the greatest challenge of our time. The Norwegian maritime industry is taking this extremely seriously. We are very optimistic about this partnership as Norway is very well positioned to be in the vanguard of change and to create significant value in new solutions to combat the climate crisis.”

Norwegian financial partners with maritime patronage will utilise capital instruments to support green measures and projects through the provision of risk capital and financial advisory services in line with regulatory requirements and expectations. Norwegian government support for green initiatives and infrastructure development for fossil-free energy sources will also play a key role."

Collaboration participants comprise GCE Blue Maritime (maritime cluster centre of excellence), NCE Maritime CleanTech (Cluster for Clean Maritime Solutions, Næringslivets Hovedorganisasjon (The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, NHO), Norsk Industri (The Federation of Norwegian Industries), Norges Rederiforbund (Norwegian Shipowners Association), Kystrederiene (Norwegian Coastal Shipowners), Maritimt Forum (Maritime Forum industry association), Havila Kystruten (Havila Voyages), Hurtigruten, Kongsberg (marine technology) and DNV (classification society).

Havila Voyages supports the initiative
At Havila Voyages, the support of this industry appeal was decided quickly. “This is completely in line with our visions for the future of our industry in general, and along the coastal route in particular. Therefore, it was only natural for us to support this initiative”, says CEO of Havila Voyages, Bent Martini.

“In many ways, we have already set a new standard both in the world heritage and along the coastal route and have proven that it is possible today to reduce our emissions significantly, while at the same time have forward-looking and achievable thoughts for the future. Our goal is to be the first to sail emission-free along the Norwegian coast”, Martini concludes.

The article Norwegian maritime partners join forces to find the fastest way to zero emissions first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Almost two-thirds of travellers say that the pandemic has made them want to travel more sustainably, according to Booking.com’s Sustainable Travel Report. So, it is no surprise that 70% more travellers sought sustainable options in 2021 than in previous years, as found by Google Data. This follows a 33% increase in middle-aged adults' concern for tourism sustainability, as discovered by Statista.

The Quattro Fly C Green has a zero-emission propulsion, meaning that it is both non-polluting and totally silent. Not only does this make for a much more tranquil journey, but spares the water of the toxic gases and oil typically emitted by motorised boats. 

Travellers can glide through France’s waterways in complete harmony with their surroundings and in the knowledge that their outdoor adventure is not at the detriment of the very landscape that they are admiring.

Key features of the Quattro FLY C Green include:

• “Zero emission” propulsion that allows it to be non-polluting.
• An onboard generator that relieves passengers of the need to limit their travelling to areas with charging stations. 
• A lifespan that is three times longer than models with heat engines and requires virtually no maintenance.
• At least 6 hours of navigation, meaning guests can easily explore France’s dreamy landscapes, pretty villages and towns, without having to recharge or refuel during the day. 
• An electric motor that has zero energy consumption as soon as the boat is put into neutral, either in a lock or when the driver is wanting to slow down, unlike heat engines that continue to run.
• A battery life indicator that shows the navigation time and distance that can still be covered, eliminating the risk of becoming unexpectedly stranded. 
• A silent battery-run engine that spares guests of the loud vibrations heard on heat-engined boats, leaving passengers with only the sounds of the local wildlife and lapping waters to contend with.

Charging stations that are exclusively reserved for the electric boat and accessed using a badge given to guests upon boarding. 220kg lighter than the diesel boats, meaning that it does not require as much energy to run.

French Waterways is always striving to find ways to help travellers reduce their carbon footprint while still being able to enjoy cruising in France. It is proud to be marketing this new eco-friendly boat and working with partners with such strong values.

In particular, its boat-providing partner, Le Boat has implemented a Green Strategy to strive toward improving the cleanliness and quality of the waterways. 

A fellow partnering company, Locaboat, has already seen 3 of its bases awarded “Blue Flag” status and has equipped 100% of its fleet with sorting bins to encourage recycling and 98% with water tanks. It’s also transitioning its fleet to be hydro-powered – 38 such boats are already in use.

The article Inland boating company offers brand new eco-friendly boat first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

This day is very important for Attica Group but also for the Greek passenger shipping, as the three AEROs are the first new-built vessels joining the Greek coastal fleet, 10 years after the arrival of Blue Star Patmos, the latest coastal shipping new-built also delivered to Attica Group, in June 2012.

The three AERO vessels arrived in Greece from Norway on the 1st of August 2022 and were immediately deployed on the Saronic routes, where they were warmly welcomed by our passengers.    

Attica Group has been and still is the leading company on the lines it operates offering reliable and high-quality services. A pioneer in the introduction of new and innovative vessel designs and having worked for almost two years on the concept design, Attica Group took delivery of a superior and eco-friendly end-product setting once again new standards in the domestic lines. 

The three AERO vessels were built at the Brødrene Aa shipyard in Norway. The total investment cost amounted to Euros 21 mln (Euros 7 mln per vessel) and was financed with equity and bank loans from the Norwegian Export Finance Norway (“Eksfin”), with the guarantee of the Norwegian Export Credit Guarantee Agency (“GIEK”) and Alpha Bank who trusted us and contributed significantly to our investment.

The AERO Highspeed state-of-the-art Catamaran vessels, comprise ultra-modern design and innovative features upgrading significantly the travel experience for over 3 million passengers travelling annually on the Saronic routes and offering a unique travel experience. The deployment of these three vessels have increased the total capacity on the Saronic routes and will contribute further to the economic development of the Saronic islands and their local communities. 

Each vessel has a maximum speed of 32,2 knots at full load, total length 36 meters, width 9.7 meters and carrying capacity of 150 passengers. The innovative interior layout guarantees a high level of comfort and service to the passengers, offering:

• a comfortable trip even in rough seas, resulting from the innovative hull form and upgraded ride control system,
• spacious passenger accommodation area with large windows providing excellent view and ample natural light,
• overhead luggage bins, as well as specially designated luggage areas,
• special provisions for the facilitation of passengers with reduced mobility,
• dedicated area for bicycle transportation,
• dedicated air-conditioned kennels for pets.

During the event Mr. Spyros Paschalis, CEO of Attica Group, stated: “The investment in the AERO Highspeed vessels contributes to the reduction of Attica Group's environmental footprint and the gradual transition to a low-carbon, greener and more competitive economy, enhancing sustainable development, among others through low fuel consumption and reduced emissions due to the vessels' lighter construction material, as well as the installation of photovoltaic units (solar panels) which generate the energy required for all lighting and energy consumption of the accommodation area."

"With this investment we carefully implement our business plan to strengthen our market leading position in line with international requirements of the ferry industry. Moreover, we reaffirm our long-term commitment to continuous improvement of the services provided to the Greek islands, to their local communities and to the growth of the Greek economy."

"Moreover, in a period of intense financial difficulties due to the global pandemic, as well as to the geopolitical and energy crisis in Europe, this investment strongly reaffirms our Group’s long-term commitment to sustainable development while incorporating ESG criteria in every new investment project and in our daily operation and at the same time, to our material contribution to the national effort for the growth of the Greek economy."

"In conclusion, I would like to thank our shareholders, creditors, partners, suppliers and our passengers for their trust, cooperation and preference over the years, as well as Attica's employees, at land and at sea, for their dedication and high quality work that led our group to be the largest Group in our sector in Greece, the third largest in the Mediterranean and in the top 10 in Europe."

Attica Group is active in passenger shipping through Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, and Africa Morocco Link, operating 35 vessels in total, which provide modern and high quality transportation services in Greece and abroad. The Group’s vessels travel in 4 countries, to 60 unique destinations, connect 71 ports and transport over 7 million passengers, 1 million private vehicles and 400,000 freight units annually.

The article Attica Group inaugurates the 3 new AERO Highspeed vessels first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The Carbon Calculator uses emission figures based on the Department of Energy, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), to calculate the travel carbon footprint of a specific journey, based on three data entry points – departure point, arrival destination and number of people travelling.

With the three data entry points filled in by website visitors, the calculator then produces a comparison for the CO2e impact per person for ‘Train + Ferry’, ‘Electric Car + Ferry’, ‘Petrol Car + Ferry’ and ‘Short-haul Flight’.

The travel sector accounts for around 8% of global carbon emissions, and there is now more than ever a desire for people to make greener and more eco-friendly choices when it comes to travelling and reducing their travel carbon footprint.

Ferry travel is a great way for travellers to reduce their travel carbon footprint. A single foot passenger travelling on a ferry produces only 19g of CO2e per kilometre compared to 154g for the average short-haul flight passenger (Department of Energy, Food and Rural Affairs).

Niall Walsh, Chief Executive Officer at Direct Ferries said: “As the climate crisis worsens, it’s important that we each look at the travel choices we make and the impact they have on the planet.

Combining a car or train journey with a ferry is a great way to not only see more of the world but also to take positive action on the climate crisis. Our carbon calculator can simply and easily help customers see the positive impact they are making in just a few clicks.

For example, the calculator shows that for a family of four travelling from London to Dublin could lower their emissions by 58% by travelling with a car and ferry, in comparison to taking a short-haul flight. That’s a huge difference and we hope that by demonstrating the carbon reduction for each journey will lead more people to make better travelling choices for a healthier planet.”

The article Direct Ferries launch new Carbon calculator first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The three Aero Highspeed Catamarans, built at Brødrene Aa shipyard of Norway, commenced today their itineraries to the Saronic islands, offering up to 17 daily connections of the port of Piraeus with Aegina, Agistri, Poros, Hydra, Spetses, Ermioni and Porto Heli, in replacement of existing Group capacity in the market.

The total investment amounts to Euro 21 million and was covered by own funds and bank financing. The new, state-of-the-art Aeros boast an ultra-modern design and innovative features that will upgrade significantly the travel experience for the over 3 million passengers travelling annually on the Saronic routes. Deployment of the new Aeros will increase the total capacity on the Saronic routes and will contribute to the further economic development of the Saronic islands and their local communities.

Each vessel, at full load has a maximum speed of 32,2 knots, total length 36 meters, width 9.7 meters and carrying capacity of 150 passengers. The innovative interior layout guarantees an upgraded service to the passengers, offering a comfortable trip even in rough seas, spacious passenger accommodation area, dedicated area for bicycle transportation, dedicated air-conditioned kennels for pets.

Attica Group is active in passenger shipping through Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, and Africa Morocco Link, operating 35 vessels in total, which provide modern and high quality transportation services in Greece and abroad. The Group’s vessels travel in 4 countries, to 60 unique destinations, connect 71 ports and transport over 7 million passengers, 1 million private vehicles and 400,000 freight units annually.

The article The Aero Highspeed Catamarans commence voyages in the Saronic islands first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

"Τhis acquisition strengthens Liknoss’ presence in Greece and the Mediterranean and accelerates its course in becoming the world’s leading B2B platform for Ferry ticketing and Travel services” stated Mr. Michael Mavropoulos, CEO of Liknoss. “Focused on our strategy for continuous reinforcement of our network, with an already strong position in Greece and the Mediterranean, we continue to add meaningful partnerships with international shipping companies and travel groups in Northern Europe, now offering more options, higher quality content, and better experience to our customers in booking routes and services.”

Mr. Michael Mavropoulos added: "In the context of this strategy, the integration of UTS will help us achieve our goals. On the one hand, we strengthen our market presence, and on the other hand, we accelerate our international growth. We are confident that the UTS team, with its high technology and know-how, prestigious customers, and, above all, capable and experienced people, will significantly support our efforts for Liknoss’ continuous and strong growth in the global arena. We welcome the UTS team to the Liknoss family and wish them great success."

The article Liknoss acquires the Business Unit Ticketing UTS TicketLink of Profile first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

“This is a milestone for our shipping company, and it was great to see the beautiful Havila Castor arrive here to Bergen”, says CEO Bent Martini.

“The crew on board has made a fantastic effort on the voyage from Turkey and arrived much earlier than expected in Bergen. At the same time, they gained a lot of experience from the return voyage with Havila Capella last year and have performed the sailing with significantly less consumption of natural gas (LNG). It is simply impressive what they have achieved”.

State-of-the-art ships – built for the future
Havila Castor has an energy-efficient hull design, created to handle the varied weather along the Norwegian coast. The ship has the world's largest battery pack on a passenger ship with 6.1 megawatt hours (MWh), which means that the ship can sail emission-free for up to 4 hours.

"Our ships are the most environmentally friendly passenger ships that have ever sailed the classic coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes, and already in June, Havila Castor will be the first ship to sail into the world heritage in the Geirangerfjord silently and emission-free," says Martini.

The ship's propulsion is a combination of natural gas (LNG) and the battery pack, which means that the ship already reduces CO2 emissions by up to 30 % and NOX emissions by 90c%. This means that you can call the ships of Havila Voyages the most environmentally friendly ships that sail the coastal route.

“Our investment in climate, environment and sustainability is more than just words. We will deliver, and we deliver from day one on the requirements that were set in the contract with the Ministry of Transport”, Martini explains.

Havila Castor is also built for climate-neutral fuel alternatives such as hydrogen and ammonia. With current technology, gradual blending of biogas will further reduce CO2 emissions.

“We can sail climate-neutral already today, by using biogas as fuel. In the short term, it is about access and price, and we work closely with our supplier to find a solution”, says Martini.

In addition to reduced emissions, some of the ship's properties include heat recovery from sea and cooling water, as well as a food concept that includes food from short-haul and local producers. The menu on board changes during the sailing and will reflect the areas in which Havila Castor sails.

“Our goal is to cut food waste on board, and we have a completely unique food concept which, among other things, means that we do not have a buffet. There has been a lot of positive feedback regarding menus. The concept will certainly see a development along the way, but we believe we have food that contributes to an extra edge in the whole experience of sailing with us”, says Martini.

Unique and intense exercise
Havila Castor will now go through the final preparations before the first roundtrip starts from Bergen on Tuesday 10th of May at 8.30 pm.

“Internally, we use the term to "turn the ship around", and we will be able to do that in just over 5 days. It is a unique and quite hefty exercise, but we will manage it”, says Martini.

“We are very much looking forward to getting the ship on the route along the Norwegian coast – for our passengers, for the coastal communities and for our employees. The countdown has started and we look forward to the maiden voyage”.

During the roundtrip, Havila Castor will visit 34 ports along the Norwegian coast in 11 days.

“We have been waiting for the delivery of Havila Castor, to deliver on our mission and agreement with the Norwegian authorities. At the same time, we have a state-of-the-art ship with large cabins and a stylish Nordic design that our passengers will be able to enjoy to the fullest”, concludes a proud Martini.

The article Havila Castor has arrived in Bergen first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.