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sandra

Jun 07
2

RoRo Cargo Vaitere 2 is on her way to Tahiti

By | 2024 Newsletter week 23 | No Comments

General RoRo Cargo vessel Vaitere 2, after more than a year of shipyard conversion in Poland (Remontowa), is now optimised for service in French Polynesia, extended by 15 meters and updated with a new design and colours.

This successful conversion, achieved with the help of various partners like Kongsberg Maritime and Bureau Veritas, has resulted in a vessel suitable for its intended purpose under a new class society and French flag.

Redwise Maritime Services are sailing her from Poland to Papeete.

Detailed information on the website of Alwena Shipping

Jun 07
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 23 | No Comments

The fast ferry Margarita Salas of Baleària has commenced its first navigation trials in Gijón. This vessel, currently in the final stages of construction at the Armon shipyards, is notable for being the second fast ferry in the world equipped with dual gas engines. It is a sister ship to the Eleanor Roosevelt and features enhancements such as a 10% increase in power and additional passenger capacity due to a second passenger deck.

The Margarita Salas will connect Barcelona with Menorca and Mallorca, offering improved speed and comfort while maintaining eco-efficiency through the use of LNG engines.

For more details, you can visit the original press release on Baleària’s website (in Spanish).

EQT company Torghatten’s self-driving electric ferry Estelle had its premiere on Thursday, writes Dagens Industri.

The inauguration and maiden voyage took place on Thursday, but starting on Tuesday next week, Estelle, named after the princess, will operate on Norra Mälarstrand/Söder Mälarstrand in Riddarfjärden in Stockholm.

The ferry is described as the world’s first commercial self-driving passenger ferry and the EQT-owned Norwegian shipping company Torghatten is behind the venture.

Attica Group has chartered the RoPax Af Claudia from Adria Ferries for 12 months. The ship will serve the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Venice route, replacing Superfast Ferries’ Ariadne, which will be moved to the Piraeus-Heraklion line. Af Claudia began its journey from Patras on June 4 under the Superfast Ferries brand. Previously used by Grimaldi and DFDS, the vessel was built in 2001 at the Visentini shipyard in Italy and can carry 1,000 passengers (306 berths) and 2,044 lane meters.

Photo: Adria Ferries

Starting June 8, 2024, Blue Star Patmos will service the North Aegean route, connecting Piraeus with Mykonos, Mesta (Chios), and Sigri (Mytilene) until August 31, 2024. Departing at noon, the ship will reach its final destination at 11 PM. This route, successful since its inauguration in June 2021, will feature the modern vessel Blue Star Patmos, built in 2012 at Daewoo shipyard. The ship has a capacity of 2,000 passengers, 430 cars, and sails at 25.5 knots.

Photo: Blue Star Ferries

Dalmatia, the largest ship in Jadrolinija’s Adriatic fleet, set sail on 3 July, on her maiden voyage from Dubrovnik to Bari. The vessel is the former Oslofjord.

Source: Jadrolinija (in Croatian)

May 31
2

Red Funnel to order new ferries for the Isle of Wight

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Red Funnel plans to order three new vehicle ferries to replace its ageing fleet, including the 30-year-old Red Falcon and Red Osprey. The new vessels, expected to cost around £100m, will be smaller and more agile but will offer similar capacity. The tender for shipyards to build the ferries will be issued later this year, with a possibility of them being built in the UK. The new ferries are part of an investment to address criticism of the company’s service in recent years.

Source: BBC

May 31
2

New Solar-powered ferry service announced for the Isle of Wight

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

A new solar-powered ferry service is set to launch for the Isle of Wight, spearheaded by Wight Gateway Limited. The all-electric ferries will connect Ryde and Portsmouth and are expected to be built locally, powered by a dedicated solar farm. This initiative aims to improve local connectivity and economic benefits. The Ryde terminal will be developed on WGL-owned land, and Portsmouth International Port will provide a ferry berth. The project has strong community support and seeks National Significant Infrastructure Project designation.

For more details, you can read the full article here (source: On The Wight)

May 31
2

The zero-emission ferry revolution must not be allowed to falter

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

An article from NRK Vestland reports that several Norwegian counties are dropping emission requirements for new ferry and fast boat contracts due to the lack of promised financial support from the government. Although the government pledged to mandate low or zero emissions for new vessels and compensate for additional costs, these commitments remain unfulfilled. As a result, contracts are being awarded without environmental stipulations, potentially hindering Norway’s efforts to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030. This shift is causing concern among environmental advocates and local officials.

For more details, you can read the full article here in Norwegian, or this article written by Maritime Clean Tech in English.

May 31
2

CLdN has joined the Maritime Battery Forum

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

This move aligns with CLdN’s ongoing efforts to explore and implement alternative fuels and propulsion systems, including battery technology, to reduce CO2 emissions. CLdN aims to leverage the forum’s resources and expertise to further integrate battery technology in its operations. The Maritime Battery Forum promotes energy storage technologies in the maritime industry and supports the transition to zero-emission solutions.

The latest vessels under construction will be equipped with two conventional main engines as well as two large shaft generators of 6 MW each, which can be used for generating power or for electric propulsion. In full electric mode, the ships will be able to achieve a cruising speed of 16-17 kn. The vessels, which will be delivered in 2025, have a high degree of flexibility allowing for a seamless integration of new fuels, fuel cells and/or battery technology in the future.

Source: www.maritimebatteryforum.com

May 31
2

Brittany Ferries, Wärtsilä and Incat partner on zero-emissions ferry project

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Brittany Ferries, Wärtsilä, and Incat have partnered to develop a 137m zero-emissions ferry, leveraging their combined expertise. This project aims to explore design and technical requirements for electric ferries, focusing on short routes as a potential path to net-zero emissions by 2050. The collaboration follows Brittany Ferries’ investment in LNG-powered and hybrid vessels. This initiative underscores the companies’ commitment to sustainable maritime transport and decarbonization, with Brittany Ferries’ CEO highlighting the importance of trusted partners in achieving these goals.

For more details, you can visit the full article on Brittany Ferries’ newsroom.

May 31
2

Fjord1 awards Norwegian Electric Systems autonomous navigation scope

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Fjord1 has contracted Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) to develop systems for automation of vessel functions and autonomous navigation for the four autonomous, zero-emission ferries that will operate the Lavik-Oppedal crossing on the northwest coast of Norway.

The ferry crossing takes 20 minutes, and the route is 5.6 kilometres long.

In close collaboration with Fjord1, NES will develop and deliver the systems for automation of vessel functions and autonomous navigation, including autocrossing and autodocking, that will replace some manual operations on board.

The four newbuild zero emission ferries will operate the route from 1 September 2026 onwards. Complete implementation of automation functions and autonomous systems, including autocrossing and autodocking, will happen from January 2027, while autonomous navigation will be implemented in 2028.

Read more: Norwegian Electric Systems

May 31
2

No use of batteries allowed on ferries in Italy

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

With the exception of Grimaldi’s ro-ro GG5G ships, which are testing the technology, all the other ferries equipped with battery systems onboard are not allowed to use them. Local branches of the Coast Guard in several Italian ports are not giving the green light due to a lack of dedicated rules and laws.”

This complaint was expressed by Lorenzo Matacena, CEO of Caronte & Tourist, during the Business Meeting for ferries and RoRo operators organised by Shipping Italy in Naples.

The owner highlighted the fact that today there are several companies investing in batteries (not only Caronte & Tourist but also RFI, Liberty Lines, Actv, etc.), but all the ships and HSC equipped with new technologies aimed at decarbonising maritime transport cannot reach the goal.

All the involved shipping companies asked local maritime authorities to address and resolve the matter as urgently as possible.

May 31
2

Port of Oostende fights to preserve crucial maritime route amid wind farm plans

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Port of Oostende is actively opposing the planned wind turbine park near Dunkirk, as it threatens the Dyckroute, a crucial maritime route linking Oostende with the UK. Despite diplomatic efforts, France persists with the project, jeopardising Oostende’s economic interests. The port demands an immediate halt or relocation of the project to protect navigation rights and regional economy. If unresolved, they urge the Belgian government to pursue international legal action against France.

Port of Oostende, once a busy ferry port, has new RoRo traffic linked to Toyota.