Sale of MS Finnhansa to Cost Ten People Their Jobs

North European liner-shipping company Finnlines Plc said yesterday that it had ended employer-employee co-operation negotiations concerning the crew of MS Finnhansa (36 people) which started in July 2014.

Providing that the sale of MS Finnhansa takes place this will result to the maximum of 10 employees laid off until further notice, Finnlines said.

If realised, the plans will not affect the provision of maritime liner services or the service level offered to the customers, the company explained.

The vessel’s owner Finnlines is facing hurdles on how to keep its profitability afloat as new sulphur directive, soon to enter into force,  further hampers shipowners operations, forcing them to resort to unpopular solutions.

The company said previosuly that the operative use of the vessel has been unprofitable for a longer period and that changes in environmental legislation, especially the so-called sulphur directive entering into force January1st, 2015, have caused the company to make initial plans on salling the vessel.

Finnhansa sails between Rostock and Helsinki, belonging to the Hansa-class of the Finnlines’ fleet.

The sentiment across the shipping industry is that, although welcomed, sulphur emission cuts may trigger unforeseen chain reactions such as the rise of CO2 emissions due to the increase in road shipping, which might lead to serious road congestions.

It is also feared that countless sea faring jobs might be inadvertently put at risk