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sandra

Apr 18
3

New Wallenius SOL RoRo on Sea Trials

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

SOUTH ENABLER, the new RoRo vessel for Mann Lines / Wallenius SOL, reached the sea for the first time on Saturday, 12 April.

The ship has been built by Cantieri Navale Visentini, based on a concept by NAOS Ship and Boat Design.

She will join the Wallenius SOL fleet in May. The vessel was originally ordered by Mann Lines, a company acquired by Wallenius SOL in February 2025 [press release].

She will primarily serve the ports of Turku – Paldiski – Bremerhaven – Zeebrugge – Tilbury – Cuxhaven – Turku.

Newbuilding C.236, initially intended for Mann Lines, is a lengthened version of the RoRo vessel ML FREYJA, completed by the same shipyard for the same operator in 2017.

The owner of the vessel will be a company within the Visentini Group, and she will be chartered to Mann Lines / Wallenius SOL.

Main data of SOUTH ENABLER: 3,000 lane metres plus 200 cars | LOA 203m | 2 Wärtsilä engines of 7200 kw each | 22 knots speed | RINA Class | Ice Class 1A | methanol ready

Apr 18
3

Newly Built RoPax Ship GNV ORION Delivered to MSC

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

GNV, the Genoa-based ferry company owned by the MSC Group, has taken delivery of GNV ORION at Guangzhou Shipyard International in China. This is the second vessel in a series of four new RoPax units.

The ship, owned by MSC and bareboat chartered to GNV, will soon depart for the Mediterranean to complete final fittings before entering service by the end of June on the regular Genoa–Palermo route.

With a gross tonnage of approximately 52,000 tons, a length of 218 metres, a beam of 29.60 metres, and a maximum speed of 25 knots, GNV ORION can accommodate 1,700 passengers in 433 cabins and transport up to 3,080 lane metres of cargo.

The vessel is equipped for cold ironing. It also features advanced emission reduction systems, including exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR), complying with IMO Tier III requirements.

Apr 18
3

PREVELIS Laid Up at Elefsis Bay

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

On 15 April 2025, ANEK Lines’ night ferry PREVELIS was transferred to Elefsis Bay to be laid up until further notice.

The ship was purchased in 1994 and initially served on the Piraeus–Rethymnon route until 2007. In 2008, she was transferred to the Piraeus–Cyclades line, and from 2009 to 2023 she operated on the so-called “barren line” Piraeus–Milos–Santorini–Anafi–Heraklion–Sitia–Kassos–Karpathos–Chalki–Rhodes. This route established her as one of the most important ferries in the Greek ferry scene.

From December 2023 to May 2024, she was reassigned to the Piraeus–Chios–Mytilene route. Since then, she has remained laid up at the ONEX Elefsis yards.

PREVELIS was built in Japan in 1980. She has a capacity of 1,300 passengers and 652 lane metres, and can sail at a speed of 19 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Apr 18
3

Grimaldi Lines’ RoPax VENEZIA Completing her Conversion at Perama

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

Since 20 March 2025, Grimaldi Lines’ RoPax VENEZIA has been undergoing a small-scale conversion and refit at the Perama repair zone. The works include the addition of 33 two-bed cabins, the installation of photovoltaic systems, and the fitting of a ducktail at the stern.

Her sister ship FLORENCIA underwent a similar conversion at Perama in February 2025.

VENEZIA currently serves the Igoumenitsa–Ancona route alongside FLORENCIA. She was built in Italy in 2004 and has a capacity of 946 passengers and 2,230 lane metres. Her service speed is 24 knots.

Photo: Anastasios Anastasiou

Apr 18
3

BC Ferries Highlights Ageing Fleet as It Prepares for Busy Easter Weekend

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

With high travel volumes expected over the Easter long weekend, BC Ferries has issued a public advisory—but the real headline lies beneath the surface: the fleet is ageing fast, and new vessels are urgently needed.

Two key vessels, the QUEEN OF SURREY and QUEEN OF OAK BAY—both 44 years old—will remain out of service into May due to delayed refits. These delays were triggered by unplanned repairs on other older vessels, including the 60-year-old QUEEN OF NEW WESTMINSTER, putting added pressure on dry dock availability and disrupting BC Ferries’ carefully coordinated maintenance schedule.

“This isn’t just about one ship—it’s about the challenge of operating a fleet where many major vessels are more than 40 years old,” said Ed Hooper, Executive Director of Shipbuilding at BC Ferries.

The current disruptions underscore the urgency behind BC Ferries’ recently approved New Major Vessels project. Four new vessels will be ordered by June, with the first entering service in 2029. Despite efforts to include local industry, no Canadian shipyards submitted proposals, prompting BC Ferries to look abroad for builders.

“Our plan is to build globally and maintain locally,” said Hooper.

https://www.bcferries.com/news-releases/fleet-renewal-underway-as-bc-ferries-prepares-for-busy-easter-weekend

Apr 18
3

PORTS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

No Bids for the Gozo Channel Ferry

A recent government call for tenders to lease a new ferry for Gozo Channel operations concluded without receiving any bids, as confirmed by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri. The tender, which opened on February 16 and closed on April 2, aimed to replace the aging MV Nikolaos—a Greek-flagged vessel over 30 years old, chartered in 2019, and reportedly costing the government €14,000 per day in rental and staff expenses, excluding fuel .​

Nationalist MPs Alex Borg and Ivan Castillo had previously expressed concerns about the tender, with Borg describing it as “a tender set to fail.” In response to the lack of interest, Minister Camilleri indicated that a new call for tenders might be issued. Additionally, he mentioned plans to issue a tender by mid-year for the construction of a new ferry tailored to Gozo Channel’s specifications .​

Currently, Gozo Channel operates three other ferries built in Malta to its specifications.​

Source: https://timesofmalta.com/article/call-tender-gozo-ferry-flops.1108201

Apr 18
3

Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A. – FY2024 Financial Highlights

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments
  • Record revenues:
    • €100.7 million, up 17% from €85.9 million in 2023.
    • Growth across all segments:
      • Container Terminal: +19%
      • Conventional Cargo: +14%
      • Passenger Traffic: +54%
      • Real Estate: +7%
    • Profitability:
      • Gross profit: €47.1 million (+25%)
      • EBITDA: €42.6 million (+25%, margin: 42%)
      • Earnings before tax: €36.3 million (+37%)
      • Net profit: €28 million (+38%)
      • Earnings per share: €2.78
    • Dividend:
      • Proposed at €2.00/share, up 54% from €1.30/share
      • To be approved at AGM on 14 May 2025
    • Liquidity:
      • €123 million in cash, equivalents, and financial assets
      • Includes €76.4 million in long-term deposits
      • Up €28 million YoY
    • Capital expenditure:
      • €6.3 million in 2024
    • Outlook:
      • Master Plan approved, enabling key investments including Pier 6 expansion
Apr 18
3

Interferry Welcomes Historic IMO GHG Regulations

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

After more than 15 years of negotiations, the IMO has adopted global rules to reduce the carbon intensity of shipping fuels, marking a major step toward meeting its greenhouse gas targets. Under the new Global Fuel Standard, ships must gradually reduce the carbon content of the energy they use, starting in 2028 and benchmarked against 2008 levels.

The compliance system includes financial penalties for high-emission fuels and rewards for low-carbon alternatives. Revenue will help fund the IMO’s Net-Zero initiatives. Interferry supports the move, though notes the new system’s complexity.

Read more on the Interferry website: https://interferry.com/regulatory-reports/

And this is the IMO announcement: https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/pages/IMO-approves-netzero-regulations.aspx

Apr 18
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

Cemre Shipyard proudly marks a new milestone with the delivery of NB1091 HINNØY, Norway’s largest zero-emission ferry, now en route to her new home in the north. Built for Torghatten Nord and designed by The Norwegian Ship Design Company, this innovative double-ended ferry is set to operate on the Bognes–Lødingen route, offering a record-breaking one-hour crossing powered entirely by electricity.

HINNØY features an advanced battery-electric propulsion system, supported by shore charging infrastructure, and is equipped with two separate propulsion configurations—ensuring both high flexibility and reliability in even the most demanding Arctic conditions.

Classed by DNV and flying the Norwegian flag, she can carry up to 399 passengers and 120 cars, combining energy efficiency with passenger comfort and operational safety.

HAWAIKINUI 2, under construction for the Société de Navigation Polynésienne – SNP, is out at sea for trials. The photo shows the vessel leaving the Royal Bodewes Shipyard in Hoogezand, the Netherlands, under tow.

Once delivered, the cargo-ferry will operate in the Îles Sous-le-Vent, or Leeward Islands. They are a group of islands in the Society Islands archipelago of French Polynesia, located in the South Pacific. They lie to the west of the Windward Islands (which include Tahiti) and are known for their stunning lagoons, lush mountains, and traditional Polynesian culture.

Vessel type: RoRo

Passengers: 12

LOA: 86.98m

Capacity: 2,000 DWT

Propulsion: 1 x CPP shaft line

Service Speed: 12 knots

Route: Iles sous le Vent

Photos courtesy Mark Prummel. More of his photos: https://markprummel.nl/ship/hawaikinui-ii-1015612/

Apr 11
3

2024: A Strong Year for Color Group

By | 2025 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

Color Group – the parent company of Color Line – delivered results in 2024 on par with its record-breaking 2023, despite ongoing inflation and geopolitical uncertainty.

Highlights from 2024:

  • EBITDA reached NOK 1.4 billion, only marginally lower than in 2023
  • Operating profit (EBIT) came in at NOK 808 million, compared to NOK 819 million in 2023
  • Carried 3.7 million passengers and 160,000 freight units
  • Nearly 4,700 sailings across four international routes and five ships
  • Maintained robust performance despite weaker Norwegian currency and softer freight markets

 “We delivered results in line with 2023 – the best year in the company’s history. This proves the strength of our product portfolio and our ability to adapt swiftly to changing market dynamics,” says CEO Trond Kleivdal.

Accelerating the Green Transition:

2024 marked the inclusion of shipping in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)

Color Line is actively preparing for future requirements:

  • Route optimisation and energy efficiency initiatives
  • Increased use of biofuel and silicone-based hull coatings
  • Deployment of digital support systems for optimised sailing
  • Continued exploration of zero-emission fuels and hybrid technology
  • For the first time, Color Line reports according to the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) – a key step towards transparency and alignment with 2030 and 2050 climate targets.

Strong Financial Position:

Net interest-bearing debt (excl. hybrid bond): NOK 3.6 billion, down from NOK 3.75 billion

Available liquidity at year-end: NOK 1.7 billion

Outlook

Looking ahead to 2025: Despite an intensive docking programme to meet new environmental standards, Color Line expects another solid year of operations in 2025.

https://live.euronext.com/en/products/equities/company-news/2025-04-08-color-group-annual-report-2024