The latest acquisition of the Greek based Kerkyra Seaways, the double-ended ferry HARDINGE, left the Norwegian port of Sandnes on January 30, 2024 and she is expected to arrive in Greece on February 15.
She was sold to Kerkyra Seaways along with her sister-ship MØYSALEN and both are expected to serve on the Igoumenitsa-Corfu line.
As from April 3, the high-speed catamaran HALUNDER JET will also stop in Brunsbüttel, on its way between Hamburg, Cuxhaven and Helgoland.
The Flensburg-based shipping company FRS Helgoline GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its departure ports towards Helgoland: in addition to Hamburg and Lower Saxony (Cuxhaven), Schleswig-Holstein (Brunsbüttel) will now be included, from April 3, 2024, to November 3, 2024, every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
For this purpose, the company acquires the ferry terminal in Brunsbüttel.
Source: FRS Helgoline Photo Anna Lange
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to the Estonian State Fleet for a hydrogen fuel-cell ferry designed by Finnish ship design and engineering company Deltamarin.
The zero emissions ferry is to be operated between the Estonian mainland and the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, on the Virtsu-Kuivastu and Rohuküla-Heltermaa routes, which connect the Baltic nation to its two largest islands.
As part of the certification, LR approved the current stage of the design process to be suitable for further design, construction and procurement of the ropax ferry. The thorough AiP process was conducted by LR experts and led by its Hamburg Technical Support Office.
Source: Lloyd’s Register
The Port of Dover and the Universities of Plymouth and Manchester have been awarded a £333,585 grant by Innovate UK to create and embed an AI-augmented digital twin of Dover harbour.
The enhanced digital twin will provide a dynamic 24-hour, 365-day all-weather simulation of the complex tidal flows across the harbour and predict with maximum confidence the conditions essential for safe navigation in the Port of Dover. As a result, the Port will be able to remain operational during harsher weather conditions and welcome larger vessels and an even greater range of cruise and cargo ships, enabling greater operational efficiency and an increased volume of UK imports and exports.
Source: Port of Dover
EST-Floattech successfully delivered and commissioned an Octopus Series battery system on the SFK Ferry LABOE. The ferry was recently successfully delivered to Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel (SFK) by Holland Shipyards Group. It is the 6th ferry in a series of 7 ferries with which SFK has the ambition to lower its CO2 emissions.
The Laboe is equipped with 560 kWh of the Octopus High Energy system. This battery system ensures the energy consumption remains low during the sailing, as the vessel can easily switch between generators and the battery system. The vessel can even sail fully emission-free around the city of Kiel, where it transports commuting pedestrians and cyclists from A to B.
The parking lot at the E40 highway in Jabbeke (Belgium) has been completely renovated. The parking now has permanent scanners that check for hidden refugees in trucks. This parking area is one of the last large place where truck drivers can stop before approaching the ports of Dunkerque and Calais. It has always been a problematic place regarding refugees, trying to enter the lorries.
Viking Line, Ports of Stockholm and the Port of Turku signed a Memorandum of Understanding, February 6, 2024, to create a green maritime corridor between Turku and Stockholm. The goal is for the corridor to be 100% carbon-neutral by 2035.
Source: Press Release Viking Line
Marine Atlantic took delivery of its newest vessel, the Ala’suinu, on February 7th.
Over the next several days, preparations will be underway to prepare for the journey home. This Stena RoRo E-Flexer is projected to arrive at Marine Atlantic’s facilities in April.
The Ala’suinu (pronounced Ah-laa-sue-in-ou), is a name that means “Traveller” in Mi’kmaq. The eagerly awaited vessel further builds upon Marine Atlantic’s commitment to the environment by reducing carbon emissions using battery power to complement the vessel’s efficient engine design. The Ala’suinu will also introduce measures to decrease underwater noise, reducing the impact on marine life. The vessel incorporates the latest Canadian accessibility standards and provides customers with a variety of amenities such as 146 passenger cabins (including 31 pet friendly cabins), 40 passenger pods, a variety of food service options, seating lounges, a children’s play area, and a kennel for pets.
The vessel will primarily operate on the Argentia service this summer, connecting customers between Cape Breton and eastern Newfoundland, and operate between Port aux Basques and North Sydney during the fall, winter, and spring periods.
Source: Marine Atlantic
The planned e-methanol factory in Port of Antwerp-Bruges will not be built. Despite receiving 1 million euros in subsidies from Flanders and the involvement of major players such as INEOS, Fluxys, and Engie, the green fuel for ships is too expensive and not attractive to shipping companies. Energy prices have risen due to the war in Ukraine and increasing geopolitical instability, further raising the costs of sustainable methanol. After extensive research, it has been concluded that customers are not willing to pay the higher price.
Source: Powertomethanolanantwerp.com
The Genoa-based and MSC-controlled ferry company, Grandi Navi Veloci, announced this week at the tourism exhibition Bit held in Milan that a third ferry will be deployed next summer on the Genova – Palermo regular route.
Matteo Della Valle, Chief Passengers Sales & Marketing Officer, stated that GNV recorded a 5% increase in transported passengers in 2023 compared to the previous year.
One of the significant developments for Grandi Navi Veloci in 2024 will be the delivery, scheduled for the last month of the year, of the new ship GNV Polaris, currently under construction at Ganghzou Shipyard International in China. This vessel is part of a broader order for four ships, each with a capacity of 1,500 passengers and 3,100 lane meters, along with 303 cabins. These four new units will be 218 meters long, with a beam of 29.6 meters and a maximum speed of 25 knots.
