SEA BREEZES AUGUST 2010 • VOL 84 • NO. 776

During my own time in the ferry sector of our shipping industry from 1971 - 2007, life was never dull, in fact the only constant was change itself. Routes changed, ownership changed, regulations changed. Townsend Thoresen was taken over by P&O; Sealink was privatised, becoming part of Sea Containers and only a few years later was part of the Stena empire. Ferry companies also had to deal with the loss of duty free sales.

These are only a few examples of the ever changing scene. Today it is no different - the changes continue. It has now been confirmed that the European Commission has approved DFDS’s aquisition of Norfolk Line which has, in recent years, become a major player in the ferry market around the UK coast, but especially on the Channel and the Irish Sea. In a bold move it also picked the Rosyth - Zeebrugge route previously operated by SuperFast. We now await with interest to see how the combined force of DFDS and its new aquisition impacts on the market.

On a very positive note it was good to hear that Incat of Australia is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of its hold on the famous Hales Trophy for the fastest Atlantic crossing by a passenger vessel. I was also delighted to hear that Dan Sten Olsson of Stena has been awarded the CBE, a well deserved recognition of his and Stena Group’s considerable contribution to our own industry over many years.

Captain Hamish A C Ross (Editor)