The Ferry-line is to double its capacity on Gedser–Rostock route from 2012. The new ferries are to be built by Volkswerft Stralsund will offer a capacity for 460 cars or 90 trucks. The passenger capacity increases from 1,000 today to 1,500.
»We believe strongly in strengthening the axis between Copenhagen and Berlin – offering a more direct connection to Eastern and Central[ds_preview] Europe that is attractive to our customers in terms of time, distance and fuel economy. Hence, we will do our outmost to develop the Gedser-Rostock route into a veritable traffic machine before the Fehmarn Belt bridge is completed. It is with great pleasure that our company – for the first time since 1997 – introduce new-built vessels on one of our routes« says John Steen Mikkelsen, COO of Scandlines.
The two new ferries and the planned extension of harbour facilities represent an investment totalling € 230 million. The new vessels will replace »Kronprins Frederik« and »Prins Joachim« built in 1980. The newbuildings will optimally utilize the dimensions in the harbour of Gedser. The hulls of the ferries are precisely adapted to the requirements of the passage, but also to the floor conditions in the ports and on the open sea. The bunker consumption and the emissions will be reduced as far as possible – a clear advantage for the efficiency and the environment. The propulsion system of the vessels allows adaptation to LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) as bunker. The optimum functioning of logistic on land is a significant success factor for the project. Disembarkation and embarkation is to last maximum 15 minutes despite the doubling of capacity. The plans therefore also include new ferry piers with ramps in Rostock and Gedser.
2009: Impressive results in a challenging year
With a leaner, more efficient and customer-focused organisation, the line considers itself well positioned for growth. Stefan Sanne is intended to be appointed interim CEO due to Michael F. Hassing’s decision to assume a new position outside the company In 2009, Scandlines posted total revenues of € 505 million against € 582 million in 2008, down 13.3 %. However, recurring operating profit (EBITDA) of € 159 million showed an improvement against € 131 million in 2008. »As predicted, 2009 was a very challenging year. Early on, activities were adjusted to the market conditions. The results are impressive considering the fact that the traffic in the Baltic Sea area was severely hit by the financial crisis. With a leaner, more efficient and customer-focused organisation, Scandlines is now well-positioned for an economic recovery,« said chairman of the Board, Jan Stenberg. Lower demand in 2009 was most profound within the freight based network. The traffic machine routes were more robust but overall, they also revealed a decline compared with 2008. The overall decrease in traffic in 2009 led to restructuring measures. During 2009, the equivalent of 340 full-time jobs were made redundant as part of the change programmes. By the end of 2009, the recurring number of full-time employees totalled 2,000. »We continue our focus on managing capacity in line with demand and to strength strengthen our competiveness even further. Today, we see signs of more stable demand. Thus for 2010, we anticipate a modestly positive net income«, Jan Stenberg states. In March 2010 the Board announced that CEO Michael F. Hassing will be leaving the organisation before end of April to assume a new position outside the Scandlines Group. »Since 2008, Michael F. Hassing has been a significant driver for bringing forward the new Scandlines. The results speak for themselves. I would like to thank him for the large effort and contributions he has made to the company«, says Jan Stenberg. The Board has launched a search for a new CEO and Stefan Sanne, 49, is intended to be appointed interim CEO. Stefan Sanne was a cofounder of Allianz Capital Partners and managing director until the end of last year. He has served on the Advisory Board of Scandferries Holding GmbH and Scandlines GmbH since August 2007.
