Marfret launches regular Egypt-Italy service

The Egypt-Italy Express service is going to be launched mid-October between Genoa and Salerno in Italy and Alexandria in Egypt.  Following on from Marfret’s founder Claude Vidil who, in the 1950s, provided tramp services in the Eastern Mediterranean, Guillaume Vidil is renewing ties with the destination, this time by way of a regular service.

Being a shipowner implies being at the forefront of market changes and accompanying producers, manufacturers and distributors in determining their strategies in order to minimize shipping-related risk. “In these times of relocating, in which more and more economic stakeholders are diversifying their supply chains in search of local suppliers, we are launching a fast, direct and high-quality service between Italy and Egypt with a dedicated turnaround,” says Guillaume Vidil.

Mid-October, the 400-TEU Lydia will set sail from Genoa and Salerno for its maiden voyage to the terminal at Alexandria’s Old Port. At destination, Marfret will be using the services of Pan Marine, a ships’ agent present in Egypt’s main ports.

A turnaround centred on three ports

“We have a strong interest in the Italian and Central European markets via Italy. Trade between Italy and Egypt, as with our other north-south lines, is balanced, with dry goods on the journey out and reefer traffic, mainly fruits, coming out of Egypt,” explains Guillaume Vidil, reminding that Marfret has been present in Italy for 32 years through its AEM agency

To ensure the best launch possible, Marfret has positioned 200 new reefer containers at Genoa. “Italy is Egypt’s second biggest trading partner in Europe. Economic cooperation between the two countries covers a wide range of sectors,” points out Amal Louis, director of the Maghreb service and Intra-Europe and Mediterranean Short Sea Lines development manager.

Clients have been urging for this line to start, with traffic ready to flow. If the expected volumes materialize, Marfret may open up new destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Marfret Guyane out of dry dock

The Marfret Guyane is looking spic and span again after its refit in a Shanghai dry dock over the summer. Marfret took advantage of the refit to carry out work to reduce the ship’s environmental impact.

A ship’s refit is a major event that involves a mandatory in-depth inspection of certain components in order to ensure compliance with classification society standards. Consequently, the 170m-long, 27.2m-wide, 1700-TEU Marfret Guyane had to undergo a thorough and complete overhaul from stem to stern.

Marfret had the work done in a shipyard in Shanghai, a first for the company, who normally use European companies for repairs to its fleet. “The work carried out by Cosco Shipyard Shanghai China was to a high technical standard. The complete overhaul was also an opportunity to implement improvements to the ship’s performance to reduce its environmental footprint,” explains Guillaume Vidil. “We installed a ballast water treatment system. To reduce drag in the water, we also had the hull sandblasted and repainted with a special coating that improves penetration through water, thus reducing fuel consumption and, therefore, pollution,” points out Hugo Becquelin, superintendent in charge of the Marfret Guyane.

All hands on deck

For such a major refit -which included a week in dry dock- to be successfully completed, it was vital to prepare the specifications, carefully select the shipyard and service providers and order the parts in advance. “The Marfret Guyane arrived in Shanghai on 6th July 2022, barely a month after the lockdown had been lifted in the province. Due to the health crisis, it was the first time we had overseen a refit from a distance, with the help of a local agent,” adds Becquelin.

Replacement of hatchway seals, work on the guide rails and the three shipboard cranes, repairs to bulkhead and fuel bunker plating, replacement of ventilation ducts… between 50 and 80 workers from the shipyard and subcontractors (Mac Gregor, Optimarin, Radio Holland, Kawasaki Service Engineer…) worked flat out on the ship for more than a month.

The Marfret Guyane left the Chinese dry dock on 10th August last, ready for another five years of service. The ship is currently in service as part of a new eighteen-month charter contract. Following this successful refit, the sister ship Marfret Marajo could well be heading for China too next year.

Marfret stands by its ukrainian seamen

On 24th February last, Yuri, Petro and Oleksander were at sea. At their posts aboard their respective Marfret vessels, the seamen were stunned to learn of the Russian attack on their homeland, Ukraine. Incredulity gave way to anguish and distress: return home by whatever means to protect their families and country, or continue to work to provide for their loved ones? These mixed emotions created confusion and uncertainty, they felt they were prisoners, there was a sense of guilt. This fragile mental state is the opposite of what is needed for their job as seamen, which requires concentration and a cool head to make the right decisions for the vessel’s safe running. It was a potentially dangerous state of affairs.

While Ukrainian and Russian seamen work side by side as colleagues aboard ships, their countrymen on shore have for the past month been engaged in a merciless, fratricidal war. Ukrainians represent 38% of Marfret’s crew numbers, essentially in engine room positions as engineers, chief engineers, motormen or fitters.

Indeed, the Odesa Maritime Academy, recognized for the high quality of teaching, trains many engineering officers. Marseille, which is home to Marfret, is twinned with Odesa, with Marfret having employed Ukrainian seamen to oversee the running of its ships’ engines for the past 20 years or so.

Ukraine has 76,442 registered seamen (4% of the world total), including 47,058 officers and 29,383 ordinary seamen. Together with their Russian counterparts, they alone make up 14.5% of the world’s merchant marine crews. Everybody remembers the prestigious Soviet-era Black Sea Shipping Company, based in Kiev until its demise in the 90’s.

Today, more than ever, Marfret stands by its Ukrainian crews and their families. I know some of them personally, having worked alongside them. We need to find the best way to organize crew changes from Poland and Romania in order to protect our Ukrainian crews’ jobs. We have many difficulties to overcome, both on the human and administrative levels, for example certifications not being renewed and visa problems. We have arranged accommodation in Romania to provide safe shelter for our Ukrainian crews’ families. Marfret is fully behind its Ukrainian crew members and have even adopted the country’s colours to show our solidarity.

Guillaume Vidil