Wallenius SOL Adds Kokkola
Wallenius SOL continues to expand its service, now strengthening its offering by adding Kokkola on the north- and southbound route Antwerp – Zeebrugge – Tilbury, since end of February.
From Tuesday, 16 March 2021, Confido will open a new coronavirus testing location at Terminal D, Port of Tallinn and will thus make it easier for passengers to obtain the necessary negative COVID test certificates, required for travelling to Finland since the end of February.
In The picture: LIEKUT
SeaRoad’s new charter vessel LIEKUT departed Cape Town on 9 March bound for Melbourne and is scheduled to arrive at Station Pier on 26 March.
In preparation for LIEKUT’s arrival – which will service the Bass Strait route – SeaRoad has invested $15 million in developing the East Devonport terminal. This includes fendering, berth strengthening, and mooring bollards works, which are currently being completed for the 210-metre-long ship. In Melbourne, $600,000 of fendering relocation, pile restoration and mooring bollards works are also close to completion.
SeaRoad’s total lane metre capacity will grow by almost 70% when LIEKUT replaces the existing SEAROAD TAMAR.
LIEKUT will conduct its maiden, non-commercial, voyage from Melbourne on 1 April, arriving in Devonport on 2 April for operational testing.
The ship will then depart Devonport on its first commercial voyage on 5 April (Easter Monday) and travel to Webb Dock, Port Melbourne overnight, arriving on 6 April.
Levante Ferries Released Renderings From SMYRNAS’ Interior Conversion
Levante Ferries revealed renderings from the remodeled interior of SMYRNA, former ROSTOCK of Unity Line.
The ship is undergoing an extensive conversion. Her interior decoration will meet two cultures, East and West, since the oriental element is combined with the modern.
SMYRNA is expected to be dry docked in the summer, while she will be probably introduced on the Thessaloniki – Smyrna line in early 2022.
Renderings: Molindris / Levante Ferries
- The shipping company has maintained a positive EBITDA of more than 60 million euros, despite a drop in turnover (-24%) and losses of more than 15 million euros.
- The mobility restrictions have caused significant declines in all types of traffic: -52% in the case of passengers and -6% in the transport of goods.
- The shipping company has prioritized health safety and has sustained its projects and investments linked to its strategic areas of sustainability and digitisation.
- The company has maintained its commitment to the different regions, guaranteeing the transport of essential goods and the mobility of people.
Watch Baleària’s Corporate Social Responsability and Sustainability Report 2020
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Following the approval in 2019 of a fleet renovation plan by the Transport ministry for the ships deployed on the short sea links along the Italian coasts, the Sicily Region seems to be at the forefront for a pair of new vessels.
The Transport ministry and the regional administration have recently signed an agreement aimed at fixing timeline, cost and obligations related with a plan which is worth roughly EUR 143 million.
The first two units to be ordered and built will be A-class ferries set to be deployed on the regular links with the islands surrounding Sicily.
A second step will be dedicated to high-speed vessels and B-class ropax ships operating on short sea links.
Caronte & Tourist has signed the order for a new 8,300 GT ferry at Sefine in Yalova.
This order is entirely financed by Caronte & Tourist and is part of a wider fleet renovation plan. Four more ships will be commissioned to be deployed on the Strait of Messina and the short sea routes to Sicily.
The newly commissioned ferry will, as expected, be built on a project by the Trieste-based company Naos Design (see link) and will be ready for delivery within two years.
Dimensions: 110m long, 20m wide, 800 passengers, 420 lane metres.
Route: port of Milazzo – Aeolian Islands.
Dual-fuel LNG hybrid.
On March 6, 2021 Attica Groups’ BLUE STAR MYCONOS started a new ferry service between Thessaloniki, the islands of the North Aegean (Limnos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Fournoi, Ikaria), the Cyclades (Mykonos, Syros) and Piraeus, following the signing of a public service contract.
That new ferry connection offers an alternative port call from Northern Greece. Ropax DIAGORAS is serving the Kavala-Lemnos-Lesvos-Chios-Samos-Ikaria line (Kavala is a port east of Thessaloniki).
Both handy size ferries are suitable for the ports of the line and offer a punctual service.
The 25-knot BLUE STAR MYCONOS can also serve the Cyclades because of her high speed.
The new ferry service fulfils a long-standing request both from passengers and transportation companies.
Freight:
- Total volumes in February 2021 were 4.5% above 2020.
- Volumes for routes calling the UK were up 4%.
- North Sea volumes were above 2020 driven by added capacity and continued stabilisation of trade between the UK and the EU, particularly for UK imports.
- Lower UK exports increased the number of empty trailers coming back to the EU.
- Volumes on the English Channel were likewise above 2020.
- Volumes on the new route between Ireland and France continued to be ahead of expectations.
- Baltic Sea volumes were above 2020 adjusted for the closure of the Paldiski-Hanko route. Mediterranean volumes were above 2020 in all main corridors.
Passenger:
- Total number of passengers in February 2021 was 92% below 2020.
- The decrease reflects a continued negative impact from travel restrictions related to Covid-19 on the two cruise ferry routes, of which Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen was suspended in February, and the Channel.
- In the Baltic Sea, passenger numbers were somewhat below 2020.
Tirrenia Cin has positioned some of its most modern and high-capacity roro vessels on the routes linking Italy mainland with the ports of Olbia and Cagliari (Sardinia).
As from this week (week 10, 2021) the ships MARIA GRAZIA ONORATO, ALF POLLAK, ELIANA MARINO and GIUSEPPE LUCCHESI are all deployed on the lines connecting Cagliari, Olbia, Livorno and Genova.
This reshuffle was possible after closing the maritime links Ravenna – Brindisi – Catania and Genova – Livorno – Catania – Malta.
