On account of the continuing decline in cargo resulting from the economic slowdown across Europe, the shipping company Scandlines has announced that it is “adapting its range of services to current market developments” on the routes to and from Ventspils from January 2009. From January 3, on the Nynashamn-Ventspils service, Scandlines will be operating its ferry Ask, which previously covered the Rostock-Ventspils line, in place of the RoPax vessel Petersburg. The departure frequency and crossing time will remain unchanged, with only the timetable modified. The Petersburg, chartered from the shipping company Reederei F Laeisz, will be returned to its owners. On the route between Rostock and Ventspils, which is dominated mainly by cargo traffic, Scandlines will also be reducing the number of departures from the current five to four departures. The RoPax vessels Urd and Fellow will serve this route in future. "As we do not anticipate any recovery in the transport market before the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010, we have had to adjust our tonnage to present market developments”, said Gerald Lefold, line manager for Sweden and the Baltic states. “If the market does recover, however, we will be in a position to readjust capacities and departure frequencies according to the needs of our customers at any time.

 

Stand By News, 2008-12-19