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sandra

Jan 06
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Norled wins Utsira tender

By 2024 Newsletter week 01

The new Utsira ferry will be operated by Norled.

An island right out in the open ocean, Utsira is one of Norway’s smallest municipalities in terms of population size. There is only one ferry connection: from Haugesund (a town between Bergen and Stavanger).

The contract is for 20 years with an option for an additional 10 years (5+5).

Breeze Ship Design in Leirvik will design the new Utsira ferry. The new double-ender ferry will be fully electric and designed to accommodate 179 passengers and 29 cars.

The new contract will commence on May 1, 2025.

Jan 06
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Baleària buys the hybrid ferry RUSADIR

By 2024 Newsletter week 01

Baleària has purchased the cruise ferry RUSADIR after completing more than half a year of charter on the Malaga – Melilla route.

The ferry was originally built as HONFLEUR for Brittany Ferries.

The power comes from LNG or MDO and drives an electric propulsion system.

Baleària considers LNG a transition towards decarbonization. The company says it prepared to operate with renewable sources that are neutral in CO2 emissions.

Jan 06
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Spanish MoD buys a second Ro-Ro

By 2024 Newsletter week 01

After buying a Suardiaz Ro-Ro vessel —now the YSABEL— the Spanish armed forces acquired a second ro-ro vessel: CADENA 4.

The vessel belonged to a company within the CLdN sphere. The former COLOR CARRIER was last chartered by Baleària on the route between the continent and the Canary Islands.

Purchase price: EUR 19.5m, according to infodefensa.com.

Jan 06
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VIKING CINDERELLA to return on the Helsinki-Stockholm route

By 2024 Newsletter week 01

VIKING CINDERELLA will make her long-awaited comeback on the Helsinki-Stockholm route on March 8. Although the vessel has not been in Finland in nearly 20 years, she has maintained her popularity as many people ‘s favourite vessel.

In 2003, Cinderella’s red hull was painted white, and the popular vessel was reassigned to the Stockholm-Mariehamn route for 20 years, with just a few summer visits to Helsinki.

“We are just as enthusiastic as many of our passengers in being able to bring CINDERELLA back to Helsinki to serve together with GABRIELLA”, says Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, Johanna Boijer-Svahnström. Read more about VIKING CINDERELLA’s rich history here.

CINDERELLA in 2003 – Photo: Kristian Bäckström – Wikipedia

Jan 06
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MOBY VINCI and SHARDEN to be sold to MSC

By 2024 Newsletter week 01

Moby has officially announced that two of its ferries, the ro-pax units MOBY VINCI and SHARDEN, will be sold to a company controlled by the MSC Group in the coming months.

Specifically, the ferries are to be acquired by Aponte’s Conglomerate Maritime Limited for a total sum of EUR 109 million. This sale is part of the shareholder loan provided by Mediterranean Shipping Company as support for Moby to repay debts and finalize the financial restructuring plan with creditors, which was approved last summer by the Court of Milan.

Last year, billionaire Gianluigi Aponte’s company acquired a 49% stake in the struggling Moby for an amount of up to EUR 150 million.

Jan 06
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Aegean Sea Lines’s ANEMOS temporarily on the North Aegean run

By 2024 Newsletter week 01

Aegean Sea Lines has announced that its vessel ANEMOS will temporarily replace Seajets’ AQUA BLUE on the Lavrion – Agios Efstratios – Lemnos – Kavala route. This decision comes after Seajets opted not to participate in the Hellenic Ministry of Shipping’s recent tender in December 2023 for the North Aegean barren line service.

The ANEMOS is scheduled to serve this route provisionally, potentially from January 5 to January 23, pending the outcome of a new tender process.

Photo: Marine Traffic (Michael Eugenides)

Dec 22
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Memorandum of Cooperation Signed Between Attica Group and ONEX

By 2023 Newsletter week 51

On December 15, the Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between Attica Group and Elefsis Shipyards with a total budget of EUR 1 billion. The agreement outlines a 10-year cooperation framework for Attica Group’s shipbuilding program, which aims to modernize its fleet as well as that of its subsidiaries. ONEX Group will undertake this initiative at its Elefsis and Syros Shipyards facilities.

The agreement was signed by Mr. K. Mageiras, Executive Chairman of Attica Group, and Mr. P. Xenokostas, Chairman and CEO of ONEX Group, in the presence of the American Ambassador to Greece, George Tsounis; the CEO of Attica, Mr. Panagiotis Dikaiou; the Minister of Development, Mr. Kostas Skrekas; the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis; the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Nikos Papathanasis; and the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Mr. Christos Stylianides. According to the Minister of Shipping, the signing of this Memorandum represents another significant step towards the development and ‘green’ transition of the Greek fleet.

Dec 22
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Official signing of agreement for the sale of 67% of Heraklion Port Shares to Grimaldi Group

By 2023 Newsletter week 51

On December 18, 2023, GRIMALDI EUROMED – MINOAN LINES officially signed the concession agreement with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) for 67% of the Port of Heraklion’s shares. The Hellenic Parliament is expected to ratify the agreement in early January 2024, while the transfer of the shares is anticipated to occur at the end of January 2024 in Heraklion, Crete.

Grimaldi Euromed S.p.A. – Minoan Lines secured the international tender last June with a bid of EUR 80 million, and the total investment by the Italian consortium is projected to reach EUR 100 million.

This specific agreement focuses on the green transition of the Cretan port through the electrification from renewable energy sources and the installation of a system for electrifying docked ships (cold ironing), along with the modernization of infrastructure and mechanical equipment. Furthermore, it aims to develop the cruising sector and facilitate the offloading of electric vehicles from China.