TransEuropa Ferries Activities
QUOTE FROM FOCUS-WTN:
"Crews and harbour personnel of TEF in Ostend have this afternoon been informed about the financial situation of the company. And that is definitely bad. The next days will be decisive for the Slovene shipping company. The money for necessary investments is blocked in a Maltese bank. The two ferries on the Ostend - Ramsgate route have not left the port since last week and have been confiscated until all debt will be paid. The crews on the vessels, 49 Slovenians and Croats, can't go home. There's another 20 employees on land, as well as 20 workmen including 15 dockers.
Sufficient work and freightThe next days will be crucial for TEF. Because there's no shortage of work or freight in Ostende. The Slovenian owners have concluded a takeover contract with Italian investors and should even add a third vessel. But the necessary money is being blocked by a bank in Malta. They first want information about the origin of the invested money."
It would appear that P&O called back the Ostend Spirit to make sure she was not confiscated as well. This was allowed under the rules of the charter. She is now alongside European Seaway in Tilbury, it is believed that TEF crew are still on-board her.
The future for TEF does not look good, but at the moment all we can do is wait and speculate. No freight company or tourist is going to travel with and operator who may be suspended when they arrive at the port. Dunkirk is only 40mins away from Ostend by road. So baring this in mind, will people even want to risk using TEF if they get out of this. The ferries OLEANDER and WISTERIA have both been sold. Both ferries were sold to Russian interests.The Oleander is now owned by Novgorod Shipping Company Ltd of the Marshallislands. Wisteria is now owned by Nizhniy Shipping Company Ltd with the same address as the Oleander. We will keep you updated on the situation with TransEuropa Ferries as soon as we have the information!
