The Cruise Europe Conference in Le Havre provided the venue for member ports, speakers and press to discuss the future of the region as the European source market continues to grow and the ECA 2015 sulphur limit of 0.1% looms.
Captain Michael McCarthy, chairman Cruise Europe, opened the conference on the topic of the ECA and its impact on ports but said: “I feel that the EU may have to delay beyond 2015 as they cannot stop ships sailing. Europe imports gas oil. I think there will be a huge shortfall.”
Delegates heard how itinerary planning has become a science of balancing port costs with shore excursion revenue. Fuel costs and regulations are also part of the mix.
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Simon Douwes, director deployment & itinerary planning Holland America Line (HAL), explained: “We are totally committed to the European market and ports. We now have ships almost entirely filled with Europeans. It is very successful and growing rapidly.”
Indeed the line is sailing year-round ex Rotterdam with a round-trip to Indonesia during the winter. When HAL adds another ship to the fleet in 2016, he said there is “a good chance that we will increase capacity in Europe”.
Having said that it is by no means ‘all roses’ and fuel prices, even before the ECA effect, are certainly impacting itineraries as slower speeding means less fuel consumption. HAL has embarked on some open-jaw itineraries this year which “save quite an enormous amount of distance and fuel”, speed being decreased by 2 knots. This saves “millions and millions of dollars of fuel”.
The Emissions Control Area (ECA) is also having an effect with HAL sailing its Baltic itinerary from Copenhagen instead of Amsterdam next year and hence sailing 1,050nm less every 12 days. As another example, just moving a ship from Amsterdam to IJmuiden takes six hours out of any itinerary.
Source: cruiseurope.com
