The new temporary Tallinn-Turku route launched for this summer, has turned out to be so popular that Tallink Grupp has decided to add 6 more departures to this route in late July and early August. BALTIC QUEEN will operate on this route and will operate for a further three weeks between the two cities. In total, 12 return trips will be operated on this route this summer, thus enabling holidaymakers to plan shorter or longer trips to either Estonia or Finland.
The repair works on the Fast Ferries’ EKATERINI P. engine room are intensive. A development that shows the intention of her operator to reactivate her for the summer season 2020.
The ship had suffered serious engine damage on April 2019 and led her to the Perama Repair Zone in order to install new engines.
On February 2020, the two brand new MAK-Caterpillar 8M32C (7,200kW) arrived from Germany and have already replaced the older Daihatsu machinery set (7,000 kW).
EKATERINI P. will undergo her dry docking from 13 to 16 July. On July 22 she is expected to have her first sea trials testing her new engines. In any case, Fast Ferries is examining the developments very carefully in order to decide whether it is better for the company to reactivate the ship or not. Meanwhile, the current bookings are not so encouraging.
On June 21, roro vessel ARMENISTIS (4.529gt/1972) of the Ainaftis Shipping Company (Kalimassias) arrived at Neos Molos (Drapetsona/Piraeus).
The former CTMA VOYAGEUR was at Avlis Shipyards (Chalkis) since March 12, in order to be repaired. On April 28, she was registered in Chios, while she is expected to be introduced in a North Aegean line. The small roro was built in Norway in 1972 as the ANDERIDA for Stena Line and purchased from Canadian CTMA in February 2020.
Brittany Ferries confirmed a limited return to scheduled passenger services this summer. In all, five ships will carry passengers when services resume from Monday, 29 June. A further three ships covering four routes will re-open to passengers in July.
With the tourist season now commencing and the transportation of passengers to and from the Greek islands now permitted, Attica Group is using the new service ‘Restart your business with BV’ in cooperation with Bureau Veritas, in order to certify the quality and reliability that have established the Group as a provider of maritime passenger transport.
Introduced in May, “Restart your business with BV”, addresses biological risks, as posed by COVID-19 and other infections, providing procedures and measures to protect people. The new service includes a framework of standards, which after the completion of strict audits and certification, is validated through the new Bureau Veritas label ‘SAFEGUARD’, providing operators, crew and passengers with the confidence that dangers occurring from potential infections or pandemics are being addressed effectively.
10 vessels of Attica Group have now been certified by Bureau Veritas.
Mr. Spyros Paschalis, CEO of Attica Group commenting further said: ‘Attica Group is systematically implementing measures towards the protection of the health of its passengers and crews on board its vessels. Since the first day of the outbreak of COVID-19 we intensified and adapted our procedures accordingly, remaining always in close collaboration with the Health Authorities. During this process we became familiar with “Restart your Business with BV”. Bureau Veritas, after checking carefully our procedures and based on the standards it has established, concluded that they are being implemented correctly and proceeded to the issuance of certification for each vessel with the SAFEGUARD label, demonstrating that the services offered by Attica Group are effectively addressing health, sanitation and hygiene requirements.”
New LNG Roro Vessels Reduce Greenhouse Gases By 63%
Wallenius SOL’s new, ice-rated LNG-powered RoRo vessels will have a significantly lower environmental impact compared to older vessels. According to IVL, hull design had a major beneficial effect on energy efficiency.
IVL – the independent Swedish Environmental Research Institute – was commissioned to calculate how the new type of vessel compares with those currently plying the route from the northern Baltic to ports on the continent. The vessels are currently under construction at the CIMC Raffles shipyard in China, where the project is led by Wallenius Marine. A comparison was made with the roro ship THULELAND, which has been in operation since 2006 and is best-in-class in terms of low environmental impact.
Poole To Cherbourg Ferry Route Will Not Operate Again This Summer
Brittany Ferries have confirmed that their Poole to Cherbourg route will not be operating for the rest of the summer.
The City of Turku, the Port of Turku Oy, Tallink Silja and Viking Line have begun to consider three alternatives for the location of the Turku passenger terminal. The original joint terminal project planned for Linnanauko is proving to be too expensive.
Condor Ferries has maintained essential freight links only since March, but has not run any fast ferry passenger services.
Currently, anyone arriving in the Channel Islands has to self-isolate for 14 days with penalties for those caught breaching the law.
Condor is working with the authorities to establish a date to start services.
Eckerö Reopens Buffet
Until 25 June Eckerö serves a summer menu and breakfast that have been modified for safety and hygienic reasons.
As of 26 June, the company returns to normal buffet dining, with a reduced number of customer seats.
Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea will reactivate the Ceuta – Algeciras – Ceuta line starting June 22
After the virus-forced suspension, Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea will restart the route to the Spanish Autonomous City of Ceuta with high-speed ropax catamaran CIUDAD DE CEUTA.
Godby Shipping: Newbuilding Project Delayed
In a message on its social media, Godby Shipping says that, “global lockdown has made the demand for roro vessels almost disappear.”
“At present only MIMER and LINK STAR are trading and it remains uncertain when and how all vessels will be back in traffic.”
“Before the downturn the office was manned to handle at least seven vessels and the first stage of a newbuilding project. The newbuilding project is now at least 2-3 years into the future and the focus is to survive.”
As from July 10, several of the office staff will leave the company.
