Ultramar News

A study commissioned by trade association Interferry has revealed startling statistics on the far-reaching extent of the global ferry industry’s value to the world economy.Research into the latest pre-Covid full-year figures found that, in 2019, ferries carried 4.27 billion passengers – on a par with aviation – and 373 million vehicles across a worldwide fleet of 15,400 vessels. Among other findings, the industry provided 1.1 million jobs, contributed $60 billion to the world…

Incat Crowther has announced the delivery of a pair of Incat Crowther 37 passenger ferries to Mexico.Built by Wight Shipyard, Lady D and Lady A have been delivered to Mexico’s largest operator Ultramar, where they will join an extensive fleet of Incat Crowther-designed vessels. The project brings together a long-term Incat Crowther operator and a high-quality ship yard to deliver an outstanding product.With capacity for 459 passengers, the vessels have been built to a very high quality, notably higher than a regular commuter ferry.

UK shipbuilder Wight Shipyard Co has completed its second export order. The order placed by Ultramar, the largest ferry operator in Mexico, consists of two 37m fast ferries which will be transported to Cancun Mexico at the beginning of July.The critical issues for these newbuilds were timely delivery and the weight saving target that needed to be achieved. Fuel costs are high in Mexico and are of paramount importance to Ultramar. The vessels were designed by Incat Crowther, which…

A UK shipbuilder known for building high-speed ferries aims to enter the offshore wind market with a new line of wind farm support vessels (WFSV).Wight Shipyard Co (WSC) said its Vortisea brand of vessels, designed in collaboration with Australian naval architect Incat Crowther, is specifically geared toward European and UK wind farms, particularly those further offshore.“It’s fitting that being so well established in the fast ferry sector we have chosen to enter the WFSV market. There is still a niche to be filled.

Calgary-based natural gas, electrical and real estate giant ATCO is getting into the transportation business after buying a 40-per-cent stake in a South American port operator Neltume Ports for about CAD$450 million (USD$340 million).Neltume Ports, a subsidiary of Ultramar, operates in 16 port facilities and three stevedoring businesses primarily located in Chile and Uruguay. “This acquisition represents an important milestone in the execution of ATCO’s long-term strategy to diversify and complement our portfolio of existing businesses and geographies in industries that are fundamental to global growth and prosperity: housing, real estate, energy, water, transportation and agriculture,” said Nancy Southern, Chair & Chief Executive Officer with ATCO.

Mexican operator Ultramar has taken delivery of Ultramar II, the second in a series of new high capacity 48m catamaran passenger ferries.Ultramar II was built by Midship Marine in Harvey, La. and is specifically designed for the operator’s busy Playa de Carmen – Cozumel run, offering high capacity, high durability and a world-class passenger experience.According to designer Incat Crowther, the vessel’s fitout is yacht-like in keeping with Ultramar’s ‘Experience Innovation’ motto and includes aquarium-themed feature walls and glass pieces…

Export orders continue for shipbuilder Wight Shipyard Co with a multiple vessel contract from Mexico’s largest ferry operator. The order for two new 37-meter passenger ferries comes from Ultramar, who until now has built all its high speed ferries in the U.S. The newbuils will be the first British vessels to be built for Mexico in living memory. “This order for Ultramar really is very satisfying as it continues our move into international markets,” said Wight Shipyard CEO, Peter Morton.

YANMAR only recently arrived in the Pacific Northwest with its mechanical 6AYAM-ET diesel engine. It looks like they are here to stay. In November of last year, YANMAR America and its guests officially opened the YANMAR EVO//CENTER in Acworth, Ga. Situated on 50-plus acres of land in Cherokee County, the new 50,000 square foot facility features six state-of-the-art product training labs with classroom and hands-on space, three classrooms, multiple meeting rooms, office space, a 250-seat auditorium, and myriad other amenities and features. The event was probably the most recent, visible manifestation of YANMAR’s steady march into the North American markets.

Incat Crowther has delivered City Jet 1 and City Jet 2. The 28m Passenger ferries are part of a six vessel new build program for the Cancun-based operator, Ultramar. The vessels will operate at high frequency across the enclosed lagoon adjacent to Cancun, thereby sparing tourists a notoriously lengthy bus trip and reducing travel times by up to 70%. The ferries were built by Midship Marine in Harvey, Louisiana. The main deck cabin can accommodate 118 passengers in high-end seating. Sliding doors are fitted at both the forward and aft ends of the cabin for ease of access. The aft deck features a bathroom, electrical closet, standing room for passengers, and plenty of room for luggage. Also featured on the aft deck is a raised engine hatch increasing maintenance space in the engine room.

Global trade association Interferry has chosen Hobart, Tasmania, as the venue for its 45th annual conference in October 2020 – the third time that the ferry industry’s showcase event will have been staged in Australia following Sydney in 1995 and Gold Coast in 2002. Hobart was confirmed for 2020 during an Interferry board meeting in Atlanta, U.S. “We felt it was important to go back to Australia – we have a strong base of members there and they have always been very supportive,” explained CEO Mike Corrigan.

In October the world’s ferry operators gathered in Split Croatia for the Forty Second Annual Interferry Conference. The 470 or so delegates represented 210 operators and support companies from 27 countries. A trade show included firms from around the world including shipbuilders, naval architects, equipment suppliers, training and others of the diverse group that make up the ferry industry. In a panel on Mediterranean Ferries, Philippe Holthof, of the Belgian-based Shipax explained the huge size and complexity of the fleet.

Global Bulk Terminals market is expected to grow from $5.20 billion in 2016 to reach $7.41 billion by 2023 with a CAGR of 5.1%, said Forecast Research Study. Rising demand from industrial output, increasing usage of bulk commodities and its affordability in emerging countries are some of the factors fuelling the market. In addition downfall of coal consumption and business reforms in some countries are hindering the market growth. Based on type, dry bulk segment has acquired the largest market share and growth of this segment is attributed to developing countries and their cleaner energy utilizing approach and thus restricting the coal consumption.

A high capacity 48m catamaran passenger ferry Ultramar has been delivered to the Mexican operator Ultramar. Designed by Incat Crowther and built by Midship Marine in Louisiana, Ultramar is specifically designed for the operator’s busy Playa de Carmen – Cozumel run, offering high capacity, high durability and a world-class passenger experience. Carrying 844 passengers on a relatively short run, turnaround is paramount. Ultramar is optimized for a fast turnaround with multiple boarding areas over two decks. A pair of boarding ramps is located on the mid and main decks at amidships for passenger loading, while an additional pair aft gives direct access to the cargo room.

The business portfolio internationalization and the development of river operations are two of ETE Group’s strategic focus, as referred last Friday on the 80th birthday ceremonies at Naval Rocha shipyard (in Lisbon) with the presence of the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the Minister for the Sea Affairs, Ana Paula Vitorino and the Minister for Environment, Matos Fernandes. According to Luis Nagy, the CEO, “at ETE Group we are  starting the ninth decade with a strong focus on the internationalization of our operations, which have been growing and, we hope, will represent, in 5 years’ time, 30 to 40% of our turnover, against the present 10%.

Wilson Sons Ultratug Offshore, a joint venture between Wilson Sons and the Chilean maritime services provider Ultramar, has taken delivery of a Damen PSV 5000. The vessel was built at Wilson Sons shipyard in Guaruja,Brazil. The delivery is the first of a two-vessel contract, with the second vessel due for completion later in 2016. “For this vessel, and the one still under construction, we provided the full engineering package in addition to certain key materials,” says Damen Sales Manager Americas Rutger Dolk. At 85.25 metres long, with a 19-metre beam, this Damen PSV 5000 is to be known as Larus. Allowing for optimal use of the 920m2 deck area, the vessel is equipped with a travelling gantry crane along the work deck to allow optimal storage and movement of deck cargo.

Chile's government has declared a state of emergency in the central region struck by Wednesday's earthquake, the biggest to hit the country since 2010 and the most powerful in the world this year. The 8.3-magnitude tremor struck off the coast of Coquimbo, 46km west of Illapel, at 19:54 local time (22:54 GMT) on Wednesday evening. Tsunami waves hit the coast at Coquimbo and further out from the epicentre, with waves half a metre higher than usual as far north as La Punta. Small tsunamis were also reported along the west coast of the USA and Canada, as far away as Alaska. A powerful aftershock estimated to be close to 8 on the Richter scale shook the central part of Chile yesterday afternoon (17 September). All ships were again ordered to leave port ahead of a possible tsunami.

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), a leading container shipping line and emerging global carrier, has today appointed The Ultramar Group as its local liner shipping agency partner in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. This appointment is the latest milestone in UASC’s expanding presence in South America and will be instrumental to UASC’s growth plans. Ultramar has a long-standing, successful history in South America providing agency, ports and logistics services in 16 countries and covering all the main ports. UASC’s decision to select Ultramar as its local agency partner in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay marks a significant expansion in the relationship between the two companies.

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), a maritime services provider has appointed Olivier Lavau-Wira as Vice President Sales, Marine Solutions, for its South and Central America region. Of French nationality and educated in Paris, Olivier has been based in South America since 1996 where he started his industry career working in shipping operations in the Port of Talcahuano, Chile. He has worked in various commercial management roles in Peru, Argentina and Chile, latterly working for Agencia Maritima Internacional (Ultramar Holding).

A consortium of two Chilean firms, Puerto Mejillones SA and Ultramar, have won the rights to build and operate a $104.4 million port terminal in the north of Chile. In an initial phase, the consortium plans to build three berths capable of transferring 2.5 million tons of containers, general cargo and copper cathodes. The first phase would require an investment of $104.4 million between 2000 and 2002. In a second stage, the group would add a fourth berth, expanding the total capacity to 3.5 million tons.

An oil tanker that ran aground in a remote southern Chilean fjord in late May spilled 92,600 gallons (350,528 liters) of crude, leaving an oil slick 70 miles (112 km) long and damaging wildlife and a salmon farm, the Chilean Navy said on Wednesday. Maritime authorities initially dismissed the incident, which occurred on May 25, saying the leak had been negligible and had caused no damage to the environment. But the Navy on Wednesday admitted the spill was worse than first announced. "There is a slick measuring 70 miles," Commander Bernard Johnson, a spokesman for the naval district in the southern area of Chiloe, said. The Panamanian-registered vessel Jose Fuchs…

North Sea tanker markets tumbled to a one-year low by the middle of this week and have since fallen further still, brokers said. "There was virtually no Aframax (80,000 tonner) enquiry in the North Sea," said London tanker broker Gibsons. The transatlantic trade from the North Sea also fell. Despite one promising mid-week million-barrel fixture by Ultramar at W120 ($1.10 per barrel), Exxon subsequently haggled the trade down to W110 ($1.01 per barrel) for a Mongstad to U.S. Gulf cargo. Brokers described the Caribbean market this week as "brisk", but rates remained stable at W182.5 ($1.30 per barrel). It was the Mediterranean market that provided the greatest volatility.

North Sea tanker markets have tumbled further in the last few days to levels not seen in over a year, brokers said on Wednesday. "The Aframaxes (80,000 tons) are definitely in trouble," said a London broker. "The last (fixture) seen was at W120 ($0.64 per barrel), but I think even that's a bit generous. Oslo brokers said that Laguna had fixed a ship for an 80,000 ton cargo from Ventspils to northern Europe at W117.5 ($0.90), while London's Baltic Exchange downrated its assessment of the trade by 12 points on Wednesday to W121 ($0.93). One million-barrel ship was fixed from Mongstad to Quebec by Ultramar at a very promising W120 ($1.10 per barrel), seven points up on fixtures done on Friday. But brokers said this was misleading and the transatlantic market was much lower.

Incat Crowther announced that it is designing a fourth vessel for UltraMar of Cancun, Mexico. The 48m catamaran passenger ferry, to be built at Midship Marine in Louisiana, U.S., will operate on UltraMar’s busy Playa de Carmen – Cozumel run. Following the success of the Incat Crowther designed Ultrajet I, Ultrajet II and Ultrajet III, UltraMar approached Incat Crowther to develop a high capacity boat for the operator’s demanding Cozumel operation. High on the priority list was loading and disembarking more than 800 passengers…