At the end of February 2024, Eimskip will implement important changes to the container sailing system to further increase the service level and reliability while reducing carbon emissions. The changes include a simplified structure of the sailing system by reducing miles sailed and the number of port calls resulting in lower emissions and lower cost. This revised plan may involve slight adjustments to port arrival days and timings in certain instances.
The updated schedule will be effective from week 9 onwards.
The main topics
1. The objective for the total changes to the sailing system, including the planned changes in Q1, will be on an annual basis the following:
- Total number of sailed miles reduced by approximately 40,000 miles or 5%
- Decrease the bunker consumption by about 5,000 tons and reduce CO2 emission by about 15.000 tons or 7% but in comparison with the year 2022 the reduced bunker consumption is about 11,000 tons or 14%
- The number of container vessels has already been reduced by one, with the total number now being 11 vessels
- Decreased number of ETS allowances for the benefit of the Company‘s stakeholders
2. Increased service level and more reliable system include e.g., the following:
- Increased services with shorter transit time from the UK
- Monday arrivals in Reykjavík for import from Denmark and Sweden
- Weekly coastal service in Iceland with increased service and more environmentally friendly solutions
- Simplified sailings at North-America route that support the fresh fish services
- Increased service from northern and western Norway to the Faroe Islands and North America
- Direct connection from the Faroe Islands to Germany
3. Increased productivity in ports which enables slower sailing speed and increased reliability
- New terminal service provider in Rotterdam
- Introducing a new port in Teesport in the UK
- Port time slots changed and increased capacity in selected ports
- Investment in a new mobile harbor crane in Reykjavík and an additional crane added to Reydarfjordur in Iceland
4. Changes to the vessel sharing sailings with Royal Arctic Line (RAL) with added calls to Bremerhaven in Germany on the Red line
5. Eimskip will continue to work on various other measures to further reduce its emissions both short- and long-term
The modifications represent a progression initiated in early 2023, encompassing the introduction of dedicated coastal service in Iceland, the integration of reefer liner services in Norway with container liner services via the Faroe Islands, and the deployment of the new container vessel Bakkafoss on the North-America route.
These changes will impact three routes within the company's sailing system: the Red line, Yellow line, and Blue line. The Red Line will retain operations under the VSA with RAL, featuring an additional call in Bremerhaven, Germany, alongside simplified sailing and reduced calls in other ports. Meanwhile, the Blue Line will discontinue calls in Bremerhaven and instead introduce calls at Teesport, UK. Multiple adjustments will be made to the Yellow line, preserving its significant role for Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland while expanding services for the Faroe Islands market.
These adjustments are aligned with heightened international shipping regulations and reflect customer expectations for more eco-conscious services. They also form part of the company's initiatives to minimize costs associated with the anticipated implementation of shipping under the European Emission Trading System (ETS) from January 1, 2024.
Further details regarding these changes can be accessed on the company's website, with additional information provided by the company's sales and services representatives.
