Six electric ferries for the DFDS Dunkerque and Calais Channel routes

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At the occasion of President Emmanuel Macron’s ‘Choose France Summit 2024’ in Versailles, DFDS announced (and confirmed) its substantial investment (up to €1 billion) in 6 battery electric vessels for its Channel services by 2035.

The first two electric vessels will be in operation by 2030, while the rest is expected to follow before 2035.

DFDS CEO Torben Carlsen met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss electrifying maritime transport on the English Channel.

This will require an intensive collaboration with the authorities and ports in France and the United Kingdom.

Scandlines delivered solid performance in 2023

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Scandlines maintained 2023 revenue and earnings in line with 2022 levels in a challenging market environment. The ferry operator realised a record peak season for leisure, as an increased number of passengers (+5%) used Scandlines’ services (cars +3%).

Whilst freight volumes were down (-7%) from the record levels of 2022, Scandlines maintained its market share.

Scandlines maintained the positive momentum in 2023 with passengers continuing to return to the two ferry routes after years of negative impact from COVID-19 and related travel restrictions. The positive development drove moderate revenue growth of 1 percent to EUR 466 million and a solid result before tax of EUR 122 million.

Revenue from the two Germany-Denmark routes grew to EUR 369 million in 2023 from EUR 363 million in 2022 based on a solid development in total traffic volume.

Management expects revenue and profits to increase moderately in 2024 subject to realising the anticipated level of positive trends in the macro economy during 2024.

Management also expects a positive effect from the deployment of Scandlines’ new electric ferry on the Puttgarden-Rødby route in the second half of 2024.

The full annual report and the sustainability report for Scandlines Infrastructure ApS can be downloaded here.

Torghatten won the Kjerringøy tender in Nordland

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Torghatten Nord has won the tender for the operation of the Festvåg-Misten ferry service.

A new 60-car electric ferry is on its way.

“It’s very satisfying to win this tender and to be back on the Mistenfjord from January next year. It is particularly pleasing that we will be introducing a new all-electric ferry on the route starting in 2027,” says Marius Martin Hansen, CEO of Torghatten Nord.

A few days ago, Nordland County Council announced that Torghatten Nord had won the tender. The actual operator is Fjord1.

The tender will start on 1 January 2025, and the contract will last for 10 years.

Hydrogen-powered speedboats will revolutionise the maritime green shift, but the State has to step in

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The article from Nordland Fylkeskommune (in Norwegian) discusses the development of hydrogen-powered high-speed boats as part of a collaborative project between Vestland, Trøndelag, Nordland, and Finnmark counties. Supported by the Klimasats fund, the project aims to create zero-emission vessels to reduce the high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from current boats. Two innovative designs featuring hydrogen as the energy carrier have been developed. These boats, using SES technology for efficiency, are expected to transform coastal transport, pending state funding for full implementation.

For more details, you can read the full article here.

Brittany Ferries renews its partnership with the École Nationale Supérieure Maritime (ENSM)

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Brittany Ferries and ENSM are strengthening their long-standing collaboration to boost the maritime economy. By renewing their partnership, they aim to reinforce their relationship and create strong synergies aligned with their mutual values and ambitions.

Key initiatives include:

  • “School in ship” sessions, offering ENSM students real navigation experience aboard Brittany Ferries vessels. In 2023, 55 students participated.
  • Educational visits for ENSM teachers to enhance their skills through onboard exchanges.
  • Opportunities for Brittany Ferries officers to teach at ENSM.

The partnership renewal was signed on 13th May in Saint-Malo.

Vittorio Morace delivered to Liberty Lines by Armon shipyard

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Baleària has announced plans for the 2024 “Operación Paso del Estrecho” (OPE), scheduling 27 daily connections with 10 ships to meet the high demand. The routes will connect Algeciras, Almería, Motril, and Málaga with Tánger, Nador (Morocco), Ceuta, and Melilla. This operation will utilize nearly a third of Baleària’s fleet, comprising eight ferries and two high-speed vessels.

The service includes 15 daily connections to Morocco, with 12 from Algeciras to Tánger Med, one from Motril to Tánger Med, and two from Almería to Nador. Additionally, Baleària offers 12 connections to Ceuta and Melilla, including 10 daily services between Algeciras and Ceuta, and two connections from Málaga, Motril, and Almería to Melilla.

Baleària has tailored its services to cater to Moroccan passengers by providing Arabic and French-speaking staff, halal food, prayer rooms, and customer support in Arabic.

Source: Baleària (in Spanish)

“Operación Paso del Estrecho 2024”: Baleària schedules 27 daily connections with 10 ships

By | 2024 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

Baleària has announced plans for the 2024 “Operación Paso del Estrecho” (OPE), scheduling 27 daily connections with 10 ships to meet the high demand. The routes will connect Algeciras, Almería, Motril, and Málaga with Tánger, Nador (Morocco), Ceuta, and Melilla. This operation will utilize nearly a third of Baleària’s fleet, comprising eight ferries and two high-speed vessels.

The service includes 15 daily connections to Morocco, with 12 from Algeciras to Tánger Med, one from Motril to Tánger Med, and two from Almería to Nador. Additionally, Baleària offers 12 connections to Ceuta and Melilla, including 10 daily services between Algeciras and Ceuta, and two connections from Málaga, Motril, and Almería to Melilla.

Baleària has tailored its services to cater to Moroccan passengers by providing Arabic and French-speaking staff, halal food, prayer rooms, and customer support in Arabic.

Source: Baleària (in Spanish)

IMAGE CARDS

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On May 10, 2024, Anek Lines’ Prevelis resumed service on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene route after a complete refit at Elefsis shipyards, following a merger with Attica Group. The ship had previously served the Dodecanese line for 12 years until May 2023, then briefly chartered by Aegean Sea Lines for the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos-Santorini route from June 30 to August 3, 2023.

Photo: Anek Lines

On April 24, 2024, it was reported that Intershippings’ RoPax Med Star was sold to Starlines. The ship was laid up in Gibraltar for 10 months and is currently under tow to Greece.

She was sold in Greece in 2008 (Endeavor Lines) as the Princess T.

In 2013, she was chartered to Gotlandsbåten AB and renamed Västervik but plans failed.

In 2015, she had an unsuccessful presence on the Igoumenitsa-Kefalonia (Sami)-Corfu-Bari route. In August 2017 she was eventually sold to the Moroccan Inter Shipping for the Algeciras – Tanger Med route.

From 2018 to 2023 she served sporadically on the above line until her operator’s collapse. She will be probably used on the Italy-Albania service.

Photo: Matt Davies

On 14 May, Tallink Grupp’s vessel Superfast IX (currently named Atlantic Vision) was redelivered to the company at the Port of Odense in Denmark. The vessel has been chartered to Canada and operating between Newfoundland and Sydney, Nova Scotia for the last 15 years.

The vessel completed its final trip on its Canadian route on 15 March this year, and left Canada in early April.  For the last month, the vessel has been berthed in a shipyard in Denmark, where it has been prepared for the handover to Tallink Grupp ahead of the charter contract ending on 14 May 2024.

Superfast IX is expected to arrive in Tallinn on 16 May. The vessel will initially be berthed at Paljassaare port until decisions are made regarding the vessel’s next operations.

Baleària has reintroduced the “Passió per Formentera” ferry on the Ceuta-Algeciras route, enhancing comfort and eco-efficiency. The ferry now features improvements such as upgraded seating, expanded services, and greater energy efficiency, contributing to a more sustainable and comfortable travel experience. For more details, visit Baleària’s press release.

Building upon the success of the Stena Germanica in 2015, Lloyd’s Register (LR) and Stena Lines will work together on a project to retrofit two Superfast vessels with methanol propulsion.

The conversion will see the Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII ferries, which operate on the Scotland to Northern Ireland route between Cairnryan and Belfast, converted to methanol dual-fuel propulsion with the vessels transferring class to LR.

As part of the project, the retrofit process will convert two out of the four main engines in each vessel to run on methanol alongside MGO (Marine Gas Oil). The ship’s bunkering, storage, fuel supply and supporting systems will also be adapted for methanol.

Source: LR