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FERRY, ROPAX AND RORO GALLERY

Dec 20
2

Port of Holyhead Closed until Mid-January after Storm Darragh Damage

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

The Port of Holyhead has suffered significant damage during Storm Darragh (6 and 7 December) after two separate berthing incidents.

Originally set to reopen on 20 December, Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 will now remain closed until 15 January 2025 at the earliest, prioritising safety. Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have announced significant contingency measures to mitigate disruption in this very busy period:

Stena Line:

  • Chartered BEN MY CHREE (Isle of Man Steam Packet) to operate a Dublin–Heysham freight route (from 17 Dec), adding 850 lane metres of freight capacity.
  • Additional Dublin–Birkenhead sailings on STENA ESTRID for car passengers with existing bookings.
  • Stena Line has also deployed STENA ADVENTURER to operate between Dublin and Fishguard.
  • Introduced a 12-hour rule for trailers and unaccompanied vehicles, limiting acceptance to 12 hours before departure for confirmed bookings only.

Irish Ferries:

  • Increased capacity on Rosslare–Pembroke with the redeployment of JAMES JOYCE.
  • ISLE OF INNISFREE on Dublin-Fishguard.
  • Added sailings on the Dublin–Cherbourg corridor, with ULYSSES successfully undertaking its first crossing to France, boosting freight capacity.

CLdN:

  • Implemented a similar 12-hour rule at key terminals including Dublin T4, Liverpool, and Heysham.

As one of the key gateways between the UK and Ireland, Holyhead plays a critical role for freight and passenger transport. Stena Line and Irish Ferries move two million passengers per year and some 1,200 freight units per day.

Photo: Philphos – Commons Wikimedia

Freighlink published a comprehensive overview of the changes on Linkedin. Click on the photo below to access the post.

Dec 20
2

MSC Enters Direct Competition with DFDS and Grimaldi on Türkiye –Trieste Link

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

MSC has officially entered the Türkiye –Trieste maritime link market, directly competing with Grimaldi and DFDS.

  • Route: every Saturday: Gebze, Türkiye → Trieste, Italy
  • Transit Time: 4 days to Trieste; 9 days for the return journey to Türkiye
  • Target Cargo: Industrial goods, commercial freight, and automotive cargo
  • 45ft HCPW containers

In a recent statement, the Geneva-based global carrier announced the introduction of 45ft HCPW (high-cube palletwide) containers on its short sea route connecting the Gebze region in Türkiye to Trieste in Northern Italy.

“This door-to-door transportation solution offers customers a very competitively priced option for larger shipments. This strategically designed service addresses the growing demand for reliable and efficient freight solutions while facilitating the shift from traditional trucks and RoRo vessels to larger-capacity containerised transport,” MSC stated.

Departing weekly from Gebze every Saturday, the service ensures a transit time of just four days to Trieste. Customers benefit from enhanced capacity, competitive pricing, and the convenience of working with a global logistics operator. This solution is further supported by MSC’s own inland transportation provider, MEDLOG, in both Türkiye and Italy.

Dec 20
2

Green Shipping Corridor: A New Era for Tyne and IJmuiden

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

The Green North Sea Shipping Corridor Project has officially launched. The initiative aims to establish the first green shipping corridors between the Port of Tyne (UK) and the Port of IJmuiden (The Netherlands), reducing carbon emissions and advancing greener trade routes.

Key partners, including the Port of Tyne, DFDS, Ricardo, KVSA, and Zeehaven IJmuiden, gathered recently to kick off this ambitious project. Supported by a £9 million UK government investment through the International Green Corridors Fund, the initiative focuses on transitioning from ageing vessels to methanol-fuelled ferries, cutting CO2 emissions and setting a benchmark for sustainable shipping.

The project will assess the infrastructure needed at both ports for future fuels and electrification, as well as analyse the benefits of cleaner shipping practices.

Source: Port of Tyne

Dec 20
2

Construction of New Terminal at Långnäs Port Underway, Completion Expected by 2026

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments
  • Långnäs Port, a key maritime hub in the Åland Islands, is set to receive a state-of-the-art terminal by 2026, with groundwork now officially underway.
  • The new terminal is specially designed to handle passengers from Finnlines’ new ferries FINNSIRIUS and FINNCANOPUS.
  • Långnäs hamn Ab invites tenders for ground works for the upcoming terminal building: http://www.langnashamn.ax/anbud-41242395
Dec 20
2

FuelEU Maritime: Brussels Confirms Exemptions for Italy

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

The European Commission has published Italy’s exemptions under the FuelEU Maritime Regulation (EU 2023/1805), which promotes renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport.

Italy will exempt:

  1. Ports on small islands (see list here).
  2. Ships and routes under public service contracts or obligations, operating between mainland ports before the regulation took effect.

These exemptions are based on information submitted by Italy to the Commission.

Photo: MOBY TOMMY is one of the ferries exempted under the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, operating key routes like Civitavecchia–Olbia and Genova–Porto Torres between October and May, ensuring essential services remain uninterrupted. (photo: Moby)

Dec 20
2

Baleària Continues to Grow on Algeria with New Routes

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

Baleària continues to expand its connections to Algeria with a new route, between Valencia and Oran, which started on 18 December.

Baleària now has three weekly departures to Algeria, and soon four.

  • Valencia-Mostaganem (which has been operating since 2016)
  • Valencia-Algiers (which began operating in October 2024)
  • Valencia-Oran
  • Barcelona-Algiers (starting 15 January 2025)

Competition is rising on the Spain to Algeria routes, with the traditional State-owned Algerie Ferries, Baleària, Naviera Armas and newbee Nouris Elbahr Ferries (with the chartered CRACOVIA on Alicante and Marseille).

Dec 20
2

Company Bastø Fosen Changes Name

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

Next year, Norwegian ferry company Bastø Fosen will become Torghatten Sør.

  • The Torghatten Group is rebranding the shipping companies within the company. The Torghatten Group consists of the shipping companies Bastø Fosen, Torghatten Midt and Torghatten Nord.
  • Bastø Fosen operates in the Oslofjord between Horten and Moss. The company has been part of the Torghatten family since 1995.
  • Torghatten has approximately 90 vessels and 1,200 employees, operating 50 ferry and high-speed ferry routes in Norway.
Dec 20
2

DFDS Announced its Three Ships for the Jersey Operations

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

DFDS, set to become Jersey’s new ferry operator, unveiled the vessels to serve the island:

  • HSC TARIFA JET – Incat 043 – built 1997 – 700 pax and 150 cars
  • HSC LEVANTE JET – Incat 068 – built 2015 – 675 pax and 151 cars
  • RoPax STENA VINGA –built 2005/2010 – 400 pax and 200 cars – 108 beds -1,235/1,538 lane metres

The other Channel Island, Guernsey, will be deserved by Brittany Ferries / Condor Ferries.

Dec 20
2

Paving the Way for Climate-Neutral Shipping: Gotlandsbolaget’s Major Biogas Investment

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

Gotlandsbolaget is taking a giant step towards achieving climate-neutral crossings between Gotland and the mainland by 2045

Partnering with Andion CH4 Renewables and Equitix New Generation Fund, Gotlandsbolaget is investing in a state-of-the-art biogas plant near Eskilstuna, scheduled to produce high-quality liquefied biogas (LBG) by the end of 2026.

Key highlights:

  • 5,400 tonnes of high-quality LBG annually.
  • A 10-year agreement with Destination Gotland to purchase the majority of the plant’s output.
  • 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ reduction over a decade compared to fossil LNG.

Photo: Mike Louagie

Dec 20
2

BC Ferries Hope for Approval for Five New Major Vessels

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

BC Ferries has now formally submitted its plan to build five New Major Vessels (NMVs) to the BC Ferries Commissioner for approval. [press release]

  • The NMV project proposes to replace four aging vessels and add one new vessel to the fleet, adding critical space on the busiest routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
  • This will reduce wait times and boost overall capacity by up to 28% for passengers and 19% for vehicles.
  • The first of these vessels is expected to enter service in 2029, with five operational by 2031.
  • The public can provide feedback until mid-January 2025.
Dec 20
2

Ripple Operations Appoints Sigrid Kviteberg as Chief Operations Officer and Head of Client Services

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments
  • Sigrid Kviteberg brings over 30 years of experience in maritime and technology.
  • Former leader at AdonisHR, a maritime HR solutions provider, now part of Ripple Operations.
  • Role: Chief Operations Officer and Head of Client Services.
  • Enhancing client satisfaction and operational efficiency.
  • Driving innovation in maritime HR solutions.
  • Supporting Ripple Operations’ mission to empower maritime organisations by prioritising their workforce.
  • Collaborating with the leadership team to deliver world-class HR solutions globally.

Source: Press Release

Dec 20
2

Attica Group Collaborates with Orbyt Global and Telenor Maritime to Upgrade Onboard Connectivity

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

Attica Group announced a strategic partnership with Orbyt Global and Telenor Maritime to enhance telecommunication and connectivity services onboard.

  • This collaboration aims to provide passengers and crew with uninterrupted, high-speed internet access, even in remote areas, by leveraging advanced satellite and network technologies.
  • The upgrade, powered by Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Starlink satellites, will combine multiple technologies (LEO, GEO, 4G, and 5G) through an integrated platform that selects the best connection in real-time.
  • The agreement involves a €7 million investment and covers the entire fleet operating under brands such as BLUE STAR FERRIES, SUPERFAST FERRIES, HELLENIC SEAWAYS, and ANEK LINES.
  • Completion is expected in 2025.

Photo © Mike Louagie

Dec 20
2

Finnlines’ Board of Directors Appoints Thomas Doepel as the New President and CEO from 1 March 2025, when Finnlines’ President and CEO Tom Pippingsköld Retires

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments
  • Tom Pippingsköld will retire and it has been agreed that he will continue in his position as the President and CEO until 28 February 2025.
  • Finnlines Plc’s Board of Directors has appointed Vice President and Deputy CEO, COO Thomas Doepel as the new President and CEO of Finnlines Plc from 1 March 2025.
  • Tom Pippingsköld and Thomas Doepel have been members of Finnlines’ Executive Committee since 2013.
Dec 20
2

La Méridionale To Use Former Brittany Vessel on Marseille-Tangier Med

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

CMA CGM owned company La Méridionale has started to advertise the Morocco Line.

Dec 20
2

Audit Scotland: “Future of Ferguson Marine’s Port Glasgow Shipyard Remains Uncertain

By | 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

Audit Scotland says in a report:

  • The future of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (FMPG) is uncertain, with no work secured beyond the completion of GLEN ROSA, expected in September 2025. While the yard recently delivered the delayed GLEN SANNOX, significant investment is needed to remain competitive.
  • FMPG currently relies on Scottish Government funding, guaranteed until 2026, and lacks contracts beyond the two ferries.
  • Hopes to secure work under the small vessel replacement programme were impacted by UK subsidy laws, requiring FMPG to compete with five other firms for the tender.
  • Auditors have highlighted serious governance issues, including unauthorised employee exit packages exceeding public sector thresholds and improper contract changes leading to £48,000 in underpaid taxes. Addressing these governance failings is critical for the yard’s future stability.

Publication: The 2023/24 audit of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Holdings) Limited

Dec 20
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 50, 2024 Newsletter week 51 | No Comments

On 9 December 2024, EVIA STAR resumed her regular Rafina–Marmari service, fully refurbished and showcasing her new livery. The ship was sold to the newly established Olympian Ferries last June, along with her fleetmate PANORAMA. She has been serving this route since June 2001 under the ownership of Marmari Shipping.

Photo: Spyros Roussos

On 16 December 2024, ANEK Lines’ HELLENIC SPIRIT arrived at Elefsis Shipyards (ONEX Group) for her scheduled major overhaul. The vessel ceased operations on the Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona route on 15 December to prepare for an extensive refit.

The upgrade will include a complete engine overhaul, installation of scrubbers, and a transformation of her livery to that of Superfast Ferries. The ship will also be renamed SUPERFAST IV and is expected to resume service on the Adriatic route by February 2025.

Photo: ANEK Lines

STENA EUROPA, freshly repainted in the colours of Africa Morocco Link, has started the operations between Algeciras and Tanger Med.

Watch the stunning video made by Voyagair / Christos Chatzaras.

Besiktas Shipyard started a partnership with Corsica Linea. The first retrofit project, including bulbous bow modification has been successfully completed for RoPax PASCAL PAOLI.

Source: Besiktas Shipyard on Linkedin

Ferry ticket distribution company Liknoss started a partnership with Blu Navy Traghetti, the company that operates between Piombino and Portoferraio.

Source: Liknoss on Linkedin

DFDS’ GALATA SEAWAYS called for the first time at the Greek port of Patras. It will be a weekly call on the RoRo route between Sète (France) and Yalova (Türkiye).