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sandra

Sep 19
3

Shetland Islands Council Approves Outline Business Case for New Relief Ferry

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments
  • Shetland Islands Council has approved an Outline Business Case for a new vessel to operate as a relief ferry on the inter-island network.
  • The vessel will be 33m long with a 10.8m beam.
  • It will be able to operate from any existing ferry terminal, with no changes needed in crew certification.
  • Capital cost: £11.76m, part funded by a £10m Scottish Government grant.

Next steps:

  • Develop detailed designs and tender documents.
  • Present a Full Business Case in mid-2026.
  • Begin construction with entry into service planned for 2027.

Concept images courtesy of Macduff Ship Design Ltd.

Sep 19
3

MSC Returns to the RoRo Market

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments
  • Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has purchased the former MEXICO STAR from Baja Ferries.
  • The vessel has been renamed SARDINIA.
  • She is at La Nuova Meccanica Navale, Naples (an MSC-owned yard), for painting and modernisation.
  • The acquisition price and final deployment are undisclosed.

Possible uses:

  • Expansion of GNV’s fleet, possibly for a Naples–Catania RoRo line.
  • Container transport between Italy (Gioia Tauro, Naples, Genoa) and North Africa (Tunisia, Algeria).

Background:

  • Sister ship MSC BRIDGE (ex STENA FREIGHTER) was converted to handle containers loaded by RoRo equipment instead of cranes.
  • In North African ports, RoRo ships often berth faster than container ships, which face congestion.

SARDINIA – key data

  • Built in 1998, Italy (Viareggio / Marina di Carrara).
  • Length: 182.6m.
  • Width: 27.4m.
  • Speed: 22 knots.
  • Capacity: 350 passengers.
  • Cargo capacity: 2,715 lane metres.
Sep 19
3

P&O Ferries Expands Tilbury Services

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments
  • NORBAY will become the second ship on the Tilbury–Zeebrugge route. The vessel has been inactive in Zeebrugge since mid-August.
  • RoRo vessels NORSKY and NORSTREAM will now operate full time on the Tilbury–Europoort route.
  • Changes take effect Sunday, 28 September.

Europoort–Tilbury

  • Two dedicated vessels to strengthen reliabilityand increase capacity.
  • Tilbury–Europoort departure moves from morning to evening.
  • Europoort Terminal opens from 07:00 for earlier deliveries and collections.

Zeebrugge–Tilbury

  • Weekly sailings increase from 18 to 20.
  • Vessels LONGSTONE and NORBAY.

Capacity can be further scaled up depending on demand.

Sep 19
3

CLdN and Peel Ports Liverpool Have Big Plans

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments

CLdN plans to develop a new river berth for RoRo cargo vessels in Liverpool, in collaboration with Peel Ports Group.

The multi-million-pound investment will create a lock-free berth on the River Mersey, adjacent to CLdN’s existing facilities. This will allow seamless berthing of CLdN’s most efficient, higher-capacity ships.

  • Consent application expected: H2 2026
  • Construction could start: early 2028

Florent Maes, CEO of CLdN:

“This investment will bring significant benefits to customers, increase efficiency, and reduce the carbon footprint per freight unit. It underlines CLdN’s long-term commitment to developing port infrastructure and providing essential freight services between Great Britain and Ireland.”

Claudio Veritiero, CEO Peel Ports Group:

“CLdN’s investment is a strong vote of confidence in the Port of Liverpool. Together we will deliver a transformative project that enhances supply chain efficiency, cuts emissions, and creates lasting regional benefits.”

Source and Photo: CLdN

Sep 19
3

Baleària Files Lawsuit Against Ibiza Vehicle Restriction

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments

Baleària has lodged a lawsuit against the Agreement of the Consell d’Eivissa (28 March 2025), which enforces Law 7/2024 on vehicle traffic control for sustainable tourism.

The shipping company seeks:

  • Annulment of the restriction (valid until 30 September).
  • A constitutional review, arguing violation of fundamental rights: equality and mobility.

Key arguments:

  • Legal and technical inadequacy: reports by Universitat Jaume I and consulting firm Meteoclim claim the measure is ineffective, discriminatory, and amounts to “regulatory greenwashing.”
  • Minimal environmental benefit: the measure does not target the main source of congestion – resident vehicles – and lacks monitoring mechanisms.
  • Negative economic impact: restrictions harm maritime transport, while air passengers face no limits.
  • Unintended effects: vehicle registrations on Ibiza rose by over 70% (Feb–Jun 2025), bypassing the restriction.

Baleària President Adolfo Utor:

“We believe the Consell’s agreement is a political and management blunder and a legal botch… This measure seriously harms a strategic sector and paradoxically attacks what it claims to defend: the environment and maritime connectivity.”

The company will publish detailed evidence of the restriction’s impact in the coming days.

Sep 19
3

Baleària Launches AI Challenge With Marina de Empresas and Google Cloud

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments
  • Baleària has launched a new challenge at Marina de Empresas’ DataHub, in collaboration with Google Cloud.
  • Goal: develop an AI solution to improve customer experience using data such as occupancy, prices, promotions, weather, and market behaviour.
  • Participants will use Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and BigQuery, supported by experts from Sngular.
  • Programme runs 17–31 October, with final presentations on 31 October.
  • Open to students, faculty, startups, employees, and professionals with data/AI experience. Registration closes 10 October.

Source: Baleària (in Spanish)

Sep 19
3

New CEO for Lakeway Link

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments

The Board of Directors of Lakeway Link has appointed Per Zandrén as the company’s new CEO. He will take up his position on 4 November 2025, succeeding Göran Söderdahl, who will return to his role as a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

Lakeway Link is the sole shipping company offering scheduled RoRo transport for trailers and high and heavy cargo between Gdynia and Södertälje.

Lakeway Link is owned equally by Wallenius and Greencarrier.

Sep 19
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 38 | No Comments

Unity Line’s new RoPax, JANTAR UNITY, has started its sea trials on Monday 15 September.

On 17 September 2025, HSC TERA JET 2 (ex NATCHAN RERA) completed her summer service on the Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Koufonisia–Schinousa route.
She had served the line since 18 July 2025.
Built in Australia in 2008, she carries 1,350 passengers and 270 cars. Service speed: 40 knots.

Photo: Seajets

On 14 September 2025, Africa Morocco Link’s MOROCCO SUN (ex LE RIF, GALLOWAY PRINCESS) ceased service on the Algeciras–Tanger Med route.
She moved to Tanger Ville, where AML markings were removed.
AML acquired her from Detroit World Logistics Maritime in 2016. She entered service in August 2019.
The ship is part of the well-known “Saints” series. Reports suggest she is either for sale or scrap.
Built in Belfast in 1980, she carries 1,000 passengers and 280 cars. Service speed: 19 knots.

Photo: Africa Morocco Link

Sep 12
3

Mixed August Volumes as Some Markets Slow

By | 2025 Newsletter week 37 | No Comments

Freight volumes in August 2025 totalled 3.1m lane metres, 1.9% below 2024 and 3.9% lower when adjusted for route changes. Year-to-date growth was flat at 0.1% and -1.2% adjusted.

North Sea volumes fell compared to 2024, mainly due to weaker activity on UK routes. Mediterranean traffic was lower, reflecting a slowdown in Turkish automotive production, weaker domestic demand, and reduced capacity on one route.

Channel volumes rose thanks to the new Jersey services. Baltic Sea volumes increased, while Strait of Gibraltar volumes matched last year.

Over the last twelve months (2025–24), freight volumes rose 2.5% to 41.6m lane metres from 40.6m. Adjusted for route changes, growth was 1.9%.

Passenger numbers fell. In August, adjusted volumes dropped 3.3% to 911,000, with year-to-date growth at -3.8%. Higher Baltic Sea volumes were offset by weaker Channel traffic. Cars carried were 3.2% below 2024 on an adjusted basis.

For the last twelve months, total passenger numbers decreased 10.1% to 5.6m from 6.2m. Adjusted for route changes, the decline was 3.0%.

Sep 12
3

Nearly 1.8 Million Travelled with Viking Line in Summer 2025

By | 2025 Newsletter week 37 | No Comments

Viking Line carried 1.78 million passengers between June and August 2025, slightly more than last year. Cargo volumes on its five vessels rose 3.6 per cent, while greenhouse gas emissions decreased thanks to higher biofuel use. For the first time, passengers could book a totally fossil-free journey.

The busiest routes were Helsinki–Tallinn with 738,000 passengers and Turku–Stockholm with a similar figure, while 304,000 travelled on the Helsinki–Stockholm service. Extra summer capacity was provided by VIKING CINDERELLA and GABRIELLA alongside VIKING XPRS.

Customer satisfaction reached a record high. Deputy CEO Peter Hellgren said the company was pleased with volumes and highlighted continued growth on the Estonian route, where Viking Line presented a new electric ferry concept earlier this year. Communications Director Johanna Boijer-Svahnström noted the rise of domestic tourism and strong demand from German and Chinese visitors.

Source: Viking Line