All Posts By

sandra

Sep 26
3

CLdN Publishes 2024 Emission Data: Best CO₂ Efficiency in Short Sea Shipping

By | 2025 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

CLdN has published its 2024 fleet emission data, confirming its position as the most carbon-efficient short sea operator (according to its press release).

The company says it achieved a weighted average of 37g CO₂/tonne-km, down from 39g in 2023. “This performance is 9% better than its nearest competitor, over 30% better than the peer group average, and twice as efficient as road transport by heavy goods vehicle.

CLdN’s results reflect significant investment in larger, fuel-efficient RoRo ships and eco-upgrades of existing vessels, with EUR 750 million invested over the past decade. The fleet now includes more than 30 ships, with an average age of 14 years, compared to the peer group average of 18 years

COO Gary Walker said: “High-efficiency ships combined with proactive operational management continue to position CLdN as a leader. With the arrival of our new hybrid vessels CHAUMINE and LEONINE, we are confident we will drive emissions per tonne down further.”

More information will be available in CLdN’s upcoming Carbon Report.

Source: CLdN

Sep 26
3

Construction of Seven Small Electric Ferries Gets Underway

By | 2025 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

Work has officially begun on seven new loch-class electric ferries for Scotland’s island communities, following the steel-cutting ceremony at Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdańsk, Poland.

The Small Vessel Replacement Programme (SVRP) will deliver seven fully electric ferries in this first phase, a £160 million investment from the Scottish Government. The shipbuilding contract is valued at £147.5 million. Delivery of the first vessel is expected in 2027.

The new ferries will serve routes including Colintraive–Rhubodach, Lochaline–Fishnish, Tarbert–Portavadie, Iona–Fionnphort, Sconser–Raasay, Tobermory–Kilchoan and Tayinloan–Gigha. Through cascading, the Largs–Cumbrae and Oban–Lismore routes will also benefit.

Rendering: Navalue

SVRP steel cutting – Mr Andzej Aksman, Project Director at Rementowa Shipbuilding with Kevin Hobbs, CEO of CMAL

Sep 26
4

Corsica Ferries Launches Tender for New RoPax ‘Bastia-max’

By | 2025 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

Corsica Ferries has revived its long-awaited RoPax newbuilding programme, with tenders now underway. The project, first unveiled in 2018 for the company’s 50th anniversary but shelved during the pandemic, has been reworked by NAOS Ship & Boat Design.

The new “Bastia-max” class is designed for Bastia port flexibility. Key specifications are: length 180 metres, capacity for 500 cars, 500 cabins and 2,200 passengers. Options for a second and third unit are also included.

Potential builders in China are Guangzhou Shipyard International (CSSC), China Merchants Industry, Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) and Wuhu Shipyard.

Corsica Ferries, controlled by Pierre Mattei, currently owns 11 ferries: the RoRo ROSA DEI VENTI (on long-term charter to Grendi), and ten RoPax units including PASCAL LOTA (2008), MEGA EXPRESS (2001), MEGA EXPRESS TWO (2001), MEGA EXPRESS THREE (2001), MEGA EXPRESS FOUR (1995), MEGA EXPRESS FIVE (1993), MEGA ANDREA (1986), MEGA SMERALDA (1985), MEGA REGINA (1985) and MEGA VICTORIA (1988).

Sep 26
3

HSC GOLDEN PRINCESS: Sea Trials Before Entering Service in Hellenic Coastal Shipping

By | 2025 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

Golden Star Ferries’ HSC GOLDEN PRINCESS (ex-GOTLANDIA II) is currently undergoing sea trials in the Saronic Gulf before entering service in Hellenic Coastal Shipping. The vessel is expected to replace her fleetmate HSC SUPEREXPRESS. She was purchased from Swedish owner Gotlandsbolaget AB in May 2023 and was built in Italy in 2006. The ship has a capacity of 900 passengers and 160 cars, and she will operate at 32 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Sep 26
3

Heavy Competition on the Europe – Türkiye Route (1)

By | 2025 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

The competitive battle between Italy’s Grimaldi Euromed and Denmark’s DFDS on the Istanbul–Trieste ro-ro route has entered a new phase.

DFDS has just redelivered the RoRo POL STELLA from charter (see next article).

At the same time, Grimaldi will deploy a fourth vessel on the line from next week, further boosting capacity.

The additional ship is EUROCARGO ROMA, a 200-metre vessel with capacity for 4,000 lane metres (around 280 semi-trailers and 200 cars). It will join three “Eco” series ships, each offering 7,800 lane metres (over 500 semi-trailers).

Sep 26
3

Heavy Competition on the Europe – Türkiye Route (2)

By | 2025 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

A new RoRo service directly connecting Marseille with Türkiye will begin on 1 October, operated by Turkish company UGR Roro. The vessel deployed will be POL STELLA, which was just redelivered by DFDS on 23 September. This service will be a direct competitor for DFDS in Sète (170 km by road from Marseille).

POL STELLA is owned by Polish Ocean Lines, and was on charter to DFDS.

FRANCESCO NULLO, also owned by Polish Ocean Lines, is currently on charter to DFDS too. She operates on the Trieste – Martas route.

Sep 26
3

Union STC Warns of Risks to Corsican Transport

By | 2025 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments
  • The Syndicat des Travailleurs Corses (STC) has issued a warning of a possible “collapse of transport” in Corsica.
  • The union denounces a Territorial Continuity allocation frozen at €187m since 2009, which it says is insufficient given rising costs.
  • It highlights the planned sale of KALLISTE by La Méridionale, “a vessel financed by the Territorial Continuity fund”, which would lead to the loss of “nearly one hundred jobs”.
  • The STC also points to:
    • ongoing restructuring at Air Corsica (70 jobs lost);
    • a rapid weakening of Corsica Linea, facing cascading economic difficulties.
  • The union stresses that Territorial Continuity must be seen as a right, not a budget adjustment variable.
Sep 19
3

Autorité de la Concurrence Rejects Anticompetitive Complaint Against DFDS and P&O Ferries

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments
  • Background: France Manche SA and The Channel Tunnel Group Ltd (“Eurotunnel”) filed a complaint against DFDS and P&O Ferries.
  • Allegations: The two operators were accused of a capacity-sharing agreement on the Calais–Dover route, with a mechanism to rebalance capacity.
  • Legal Basis: Objection raised under Article 101 TFEU and Article L. 420-1 of the French Commercial Code.
  • Decision: The Autorité found no anticompetitive purpose in the agreement.
  • Key Findings:
    • Capacity could be shared proportionally and adjusted at any time.
    • Both operators retained incentives to optimise costs, improve services and remain price-competitive.

Conclusion: The Autorité de la Concurrence ruled that the arrangement did not restrict competition. [source]

Photo Mike Louagie

Sep 19
3

Tallink Increased Passenger Numbers Over the Summer

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments

Tallink Grupp carried nearly two million ferry passengers between June and August 2025.

  • This represents a 5%+ increase compared to the same period last year.
  • Estonia–Finland: Almost 1.3 million passengers, up 15%. Three ships operated instead of two.
  • Estonia–Sweden: Around 187,000 passengers, down 27%. Only one ship served the route versus two in 2024.
  • Finland–Sweden: Stable, with more than half a million passengers.
  • Passenger vehicles: 283,000, up by 5,000.
  • Freight volumes: Down nearly 11%, reflecting economic uncertainty.
Sep 19
3

Stena Futura Joins Belfast–Heysham Route

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments

STENA FUTURA, the first of two “NewMax” RoRo vessels, has arrived in Belfast from China. The 147-metre ship features a multi-hybrid solution enabling operation on battery, biofuel and methanol. It is also rotorsail-ready and equipped to use both battery propulsion and shore power when available. STENA FUTURA will join the Belfast–Heysham route on 22 September, operating 12 sailings per week and adding 2,800 lane metres of much-needed freight capacity. The service connects local hauliers directly into the North of England road freight network.

Photo: Scott Mackey