Low Sales Activity of Significant Ferries in 2000

Within the ferry industry, 50 secondhand vessels were sold in 2000, representing a total value of $317 million. The information, provided in a market report by ShipPax Information in its latest publication GUIDE 01, reveals that most of the activity took place within the South East Asian market, which bought more than half the numbers, or 26 of the ferries. Fourteen of them came from Japan, 6 from Europe and another 6 were bought within the region. Ferry operators in the Mediterranean sold 16 ferries, whereas Northern Europe only exported 9. Whereas in terms of numbers, the sale & purchase market was quite hectic, most of the ferries sold were small in size and representing low value. Two of the major deals of the year failed to materialise and both involved Greek ferries. In their absence, probably the most significant sale of the 2000, though with delivery this year, was the sale of STENA CHALLENGER to Marine Atlantic in Canada. 28 ferries were ordered within 2000. At the same time, only 3 high-speed catamaran or monohull ferries were ordered by specific buyers.