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sandra

Jun 14
3

Scandlines Converts Two Fehmarn Belt Ferries to Plug-In Hybrids

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments
  • Scandlines will invest over EUR 31 million to convert two of the four Puttgarden–Rødby ferries into plug-in hybrids. (DEUTSCHLAND and SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN)
  • The goal is to cut CO₂ emissions by up to 80% using renewable electricity.
  • Each ferry will be fitted with a 5 MWh battery system.
  • Charging will take place in just 12 minutes at Puttgarden and Rødby terminals.
  • The conversion contract has been awarded to BLRT Grupp Western Shiprepair (Lithuania).
  • Work on the first ferry starts in August 2025; both conversions to be completed by early 2026.
  • Scandlines reaffirms its commitment to protecting the Baltic Sea and operating sustainably in the sensitive Fehmarn Belt area.
  • The German Ministry of Transport has awarded the project financial support, which covers up to 40 percent of the conversion expenses.

Photo: Matthias Tasler/Scandlines

Jun 14
3

Viking Line Unveils Concept for World’s Largest Electric Passenger-Car Ferry

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments
  • Viking Line has introduced the concept of HELlOS, the world’s largest (according to press release) fully electric passenger-car ferry.
  • Developed in partnership with Rauma Marine Constructions, Åbo Akademi University, and KONE.
  • Will operate on the Helsinki–Tallinn route, a crossing of just over two hours.
  • Capacity: approximately 2,000 passengers and a mix of passenger vehicles and freight.
  • Powered by 85–100 MWh batteries, enabling fully emission-free operations.
  • Designed with lightweight construction, efficient hull, and advanced propulsion to optimise energy use.
  • Part of the FIN-EST Green Corridor initiative, with a targeted launch in the early 2030s.
  • If realised, HELIOS will be a global benchmark for climate-smart short sea shipping.

Viking Helios concept ferry

  • Length: Approx. 195 m
  • Width: Approx. 30 m
  • Power source: Electricity (100%)
  • Battery capacity: 85–100 MWh (charging power requirement >30MWh)
  • Speed: Approx. 23 knots
  • Passengers: Approx. 2,000
  • Private cars: Approx. 650
  • Cargo capacity: Approx. 2,000 freight metres

Source: https://news.cision.com/viking-line-abp/r/viking-line-conceptualizes-the-world-s-largest-electric-passenger-car-ferry,c4159134

Jun 14
3

RoRo SOUTH ENABLER Delivered to Wallenius SOL

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments
  • On 11 June 2025, SOUTH ENABLER was officially delivered to WALLENIUS SOL during her westbound passage past Gibraltar.
  • The ship was part of the Mann Lines acquisition announced in February.
  • She replaces ML FREYJA on the Tilbury–Cuxhaven–Turku–Paldiski–Bremerhaven–Tilbury route.
  • SOUTH ENABLER is now heading to Zeebrugge to load cargoes before entering regular service.
  • ML FREYJA will be redelivered to her owners. (Visemar Levante SRL c/o Visemar di Navigazione)

Key Specifications

  • Built by Visentini Shipyard, designed by NAOS Ship and Boat Design
  • Length: 203.4 metres
  • Engines: 2 × 7,200 kW Wärtsilä, methanol-ready
  • Speed: 22 knots
  • Classification: RINA, Ice Class 1A
  • Capacity: Two vehicle decks, 197 vehicles
  • Cargo: RoRo, LoLo, high and heavy

SOUTH ENABLER is designed to reduce emissions with a modern hull and efficient propulsion system. She enters service under a 5-year time charter.

Jun 14
3

Stena Line Invests £17 Million in 12 Quays Terminal

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

Stena Line is investing £17 million to expand and futureproof its operations at the 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead.

    • The terminal has seen a surge in freight volumes, following the launch of a freight-only Liverpool–Dublin service in February 2024.
    • 200 new freight parking spaces are now complete, increasing unaccompanied freight capacity by nearly 30%.
    • In 2024, the terminal handled over 315,000 freight units – a 20% year-on-year rise.
    • Next project phase includes reconfiguring front-of-house operations to improve safety, ease congestion, and streamline traffic flow.
    • Stena Line operates two routes from 12 Quays: Liverpool–Dublin (freight) and Liverpool–Belfast (freight and passenger).
    • STENA EDDA and STENA EMBLA, added in 2021–2022, have doubled travel volumes on the Belfast route.
    • Freight-only vessels STENA FORWARDER (to Belfast) and BORE SONG (to Dublin) offer daily round trips.
Jun 14
3

Baleària and Fred. Olsen Express Add Fourth Weekly Sailing on Huelva–Canary Islands Route

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments
  • Baleària and Fred. Olsen Express are boosting capacity on the Huelva–Tenerife route with a fourth weekly service between 15 July and 18 September.
  • New sailings are scheduled to meet increased summer demand for both passengers and road freight.

Vessels in Service

  • SICILIA: 1,000 passengers, 400 vehicles.
  • MARIE CURIE: 800+ passengers, 600 vehicles.

Strategic Alliance Milestone

  • The route has been jointly operated for over six years.
  • Since launch:
    • 2 million linear metres of cargo.
    • 250,000 passengers transported.

Statements

  • Juan Ignacio Liaño, Fred. Olsen Express: “The fourth trip helped meet high demand in 2024, so we’re repeating it this summer.”
  • Georges Bassoul, Baleària: “Freight demand continues to grow—this market is key for Baleària.”
Jun 14
3

Viking Line Predicts Record Summer on Estonia Route

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

Viking Line expects another record summer on the Helsinki–Tallinn route, following 732,000 passengers in 2023.

  • From 18 June to 10 August, three daily departures will be offered with VIKING XPRS, GABRIELLA, and VIKING CINDERELLA. Four sailings on Fridays.
  • A new partnership with Onnibus enables bus connections to the Katajanokka terminal from 15 Finnish cities, easing access for car-free travellers.
  • Estonia remains the top summer destination for Finns, with increasing interest in budget-friendly holidays and regions beyond Tallinn.
  • Viking Line reports strong early bookings, especially for car travel. Many departures are already full.
  • International tourism is also rebounding, with more US and Japanese visitors expected this summer.
  • Source: Viking Line
Jun 14
3

Finnlines Adds Gdynia to its Weekly North Sea Service

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

Starting from week 26, Finnlines will expand its North Sea network by including the Port of Gdynia, Poland in the weekly rotation.

This route offers a cost-effective and practical intermodal alternative to the road transport for goods moving to and from Poland to Belgium, France, the UK, Spain, and Finland. Additionally, it enables to connect Poland directly to the global Grimaldi Group network, offering links to the Far East, the Middle East, Mediterranean, West Africa, South America and the East Coast of the United States.

To support the service expansion, Finnlines is also introducing brand-new 80-foot mafis with embedded rails, specifically designed to facilitate the transportation of non-standard cargo – such as trains and wagons – with greater efficiency and flexibility.

Jun 14
3

Baleària Launches Its Largest Ever OPE Summer Offer

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

For this year’s Operación Paso del Estrecho (OPE), Baleària is deploying its largest maritime offer to date, with up to 34 daily sailings from 15 June to 15 September to meet high seasonal demand.

  • New route: Tarifa–Tánger Ville operated for the first time by Baleària, offering up to 12 daily sailings with two high-speed vessels.
  • Expanded Algeria service: First-ever sailings from Barcelona to Algiers and Oran, plus an increase from one to three weekly rotations on Valencia–Mostaganem.
  • Fleet: 10 vessels (ferries and fast ferries), several recently refurbished.
  • Crew reinforcement: Over 300 seasonal staff hired in southern Spain and North Africa.

Routes to Morocco

  • Tarifa–Tánger Ville: 10–12 daily sailings (1-hour crossing).
  • Algeciras–Tánger Med: 8–9 daily sailings with up to 3 ferries.
  • Almería–Nador: 2–3 daily departures.
  • Motril–Tánger Med: Seasonal service.

Routes to Ceuta & Melilla

  • Algeciras–Ceuta: 9 daily sailings (5 fast ferries, 4 ferries).
  • Málaga–Melilla: Up to 2 daily sailings, including the cruise ferry RUSADIR on Saturdays.

Routes to Algeria

  • Barcelona–Algiers & Oran: Weekly sailings on Mondays and Wednesdays.
  • Valencia–Mostaganem: Increased to 3 weekly sailings (Tue, Thu, Sat).

Onboard services are tailored to OPE travellers, with Arabic and French-speaking staff, halal food options, and prayer rooms.

“This is our most ambitious OPE operation ever, reflecting our commitment to efficient, high-quality mobility for the thousands of North African passengers travelling each summer,” said Georges Bassoul, CEO of Baleària.

Jun 14
3

Italian Operators Control 63.9% of RoRo Market to/from Italian Ports

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

Italian shipping companies controlled 63.9% of RoRo traffic to and from Italian ports in 2024, up from 60.1% in 2023 and 49.3% in 2022.

This data comes from a Banca d’Italia survey on sea freight transport. It confirms the growing dominance of local operators in RoRo, general cargo, and container sectors.

Foreign companies have much smaller shares:

  • Greek operators (2nd place): 12.6% (down from 14.1% in 2023)
  • Denmark (3rd place): 8.3% – a new entrant in the ranking

The rise of Denmark reflects DFDS’s acquisition of Turkish Ekol Logistics, pushing Turkey out of the top three.

Jun 14
3

New Top Management Appointed at the Helm of BN di Navigazione (BluNavy)

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

Giulio Schenone and Aldo Negri have been appointed as the new Chairman and CEO, respectively, of BN di Navigazione, the company that owns and operates the BluNavy ferry brand, which connects mainland Italy from the port of Piombino to Elba Island (Portoferraio). The new composition of the Board of Directors reflects a renewed harmony between the Genoese and Sicilian shareholders.

Luigi Genghi has also been appointed as Director with responsibility for the technical management of the fleet.

The shareholding structure of BN di Navigazione remains as follows: Bolzaneto Container Terminal Srl (Schenone) and Finsea Spa (Negri) jointly hold 45% of the shares, Caronte & Tourist Spa holds 25%, Elbasol Srl 15%, the Associazione Albergatori Isola d’Elba 7.5%, and Gianluca Morace 7.5%.