Ministers failed to notify the EU about nationalising a shipyard at the centre of a ferry building fiasco despite being earlier found to have given £50 million of “illegal state aid” to two airports.
BLUE STAR PATMOS Sails to Malta for Scrubber
Blue Star Ferries’ BLUE STAR PATMOS is expected to sail for Palumbo shipyards in Malta on Friday or Saturday -this week- for her scrubber conversion (open loop).
The ship has been in Perama repair zone since 4 February 2020, undergoing small-scale works in order to be prepared for the scrubber retrofit. She is also the first ship of the Blue Star Ferries fleet to undergo such conversion. Also, in Malta she will probably undergo her dry docking while she is expected to return back in Greece on 30 March.
- BC Ferries announced that Jill Sharland has been appointed to the position of Vice President & Chief Financial Officer effective March 2, 2020. Most recently as a CFO in the medical industry, Ms. Sharland also has experience in the aviation and telecommunications industries.
- Alternative Shipping’s roro vessels HATCHE and QEZBAN are joining Stena Line’s Europoort – Killingholme route. HATCHE is already in service. QEZBAN is on her way from Turkey, with an ETA 3 March.
- Ro-ro VOLCAN DE TENEGUIA had a fire shortly after leaving Santa Cruz de Tenerife on 22 February. Fire was under control a few hours later. The ship was towed to Santa Cruz.
Fred Olsen Express BETANCURIA EXPRESS arrives at Morro Jable, Fuerteventura from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
At Fayard, LIVERPOOL SEAWAYS is being prepared for her new owners, La Meridionale.
Palma de Mallorca
Ferry Shipping News’ Mike Louagie was in Palma de Mallorca with cruise vessel COSTA SMERALDA, and took these pictures from Deck 18 from the mega vessel.
Early morning arrival of Balearia’s LNG-powered HYPATIA DE ALEJANDRIA.
More Balearia with ROSALIND FRANKLIN and ABEL MATUTES.
FORZA passes the famous cathedral on her way out.
More freight leaves the island with CIUDAD DE MAHON.
ABEL MATUTES Is one of Balearia’s ships that was converted into an LNG-powered ferry.
Ferry Launch at Remontowa
Remontowa Shipyard successfully launched B619/2. It is the second 120-cars, full-electric ferry designed by LMG Marin for Norwegian operator Norled.
Austal has celebrated the company’s latest development in high-speed trimaran technology with the revealing of an 83 metre trimaran ferry, under construction for JR Kyushu Jet Ferry of Japan, at the company’s Henderson South shipyard in Western Australia.
Austal Hull 396, to be known as QUEEN BEETLE, was designed and constructed by Austal Australia and is due for launch in mid-March 2020. The vessel will be handed over to JR Kyushu Jet Ferry in June 2020 and will commence services between Busan, South Korea and Fukuoka, Japan in July 2020.
Speaking at the reveal ceremony, which was attended by more than 100 guests, including Governor of Western Australia The Hon Kim Beazley AC and West Australian Premier The Hon Mark McGowan MLA, Austal Chief Executive David Singleton said the company was proud to be introducing the new trimaran to Japan while offering outstanding value to a new customer, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry.
Havila Voyages Orders Two New Coastal Route Vessels from Tersan
Havila has decided to build the 3rd and 4th passenger vessels called HAVILA POLLUX and HAVILA POLARIS in Tersan Shipyard, where the first two passenger vessels called HAVILA CAPELLA and HAVILA CASTOR are already under construction.
The construction of the first two vessels are progressing as planned at Tersan’s new building facilities in Yalova city and they are scheduled to be launched in May.
Construction of the two vessels at the Spanish shipyard Barreras was brought to a halt due to the shipyard’s financial problems.
The passenger vessels are part of Havila’s contract with Norwegian Ministry of Transport for the operation of four vessels in Bergen – Kirkenes Coastal Route as from 2021.
Now this route is being operated by Hurtigruten. As from 1 January 2021, the route will be operated 7 days by Hurtigruten and 4 days by Havila. The return trip from Bergen to Kirkeness takes 11 days, and each day one ship leaves Bergen.
Despite the uncertainty of the situation regarding the Spanish yard Barreras, Havila Voyages has sufficient equity and loan approval to fully finance all four vessels at Tersan, says CEO of Havila Voyages Arild Myrvoll. “Barreras’s financial problems and the suspension of construction at the Spanish yard have led to challenges for Havila Voyages that will affect early operations. Two new vessels will be delivered and are scheduled to sail from January 2021. While we wait for the next two vessels, we will use replacement vessels, and provide good and safe transport and meet our customers’ expectations.”
Havila Voyages has inspected several potential replacement vessel candidates, and the company says it is in ongoing commercial dialogue with stakeholders.
Chartering ships from Hurtigruten looks unlikely, as the latter needs its ships for year-round expedition cruises along the Norwegian coast (homeporting in Dover, Hamburg or Bergen). These voyages have been for sale for almost a year.
Even Hurtigruten’s veteran NORDSTJERNEN is on a long-term charter, reaching into 2023. During the off-Arctic season, she will serve as a hotel ship on yards where we Hurtigruten is upgrading ships.
A replacement ship needs to be strong ship and be able to maneuver in rough weather in small ports. Draft is shallow, max 5.30m. There should be a side ramp for cargo.
BC Ferries Names and Christens the first Damen-Built Island Class Ferries
ISLAND DISCOVERY and ISLAND AURORA are the newest hybrid vessels to enter the fleet and will enter service in mid-2020, serving the Powell River – Texada Island and Port McNeill – Alert Bay – Sointula routes, respectively. The names were selected with community input and celebrate the beauty of the journey and the important connection to the coastal communities the ferries will soon serve.
A ceremony on 19 February began with a few words from BC Ferries and Damen Shipyards, followed by the unveiling of the ships’ names, and the christening of the hulls.
Regione Siciliana will launch soon (April) a new public tender for the ferry links to and from the smaller islands surrounding Sicily. The contract is worth EUR 300 million for five years (60 million per year) and the draft plan has been drawn up by the consulting company T Bridge. The current concession is due to expire at the end of this year.
The procedure still to be opened will help the regional government to find companies interested at serving a network of 23 lines, of which one is a new entry: the Cefalù – Aeolian Islands maritime route.
The last concession awarded and still active today (it was launched five years ago for the same amount of money) saw Ustica Lines, Caronte & Tourist and Siremar as the companies with the highest number of lines granted.
Since Monday 17 February, passengers looking for peace and quiet can enjoy the new Relax Lounge on DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS. The lounge boasts luxury reclining chairs built into an airline style pod for extra privacy, complimented by soft lighting for the perfect stress-free environment. Prices depend on availability and start from £6 per person each way.
Children under 16 are not permitted into the Relax Lounge.
The ships’ Premium Lounge areas have also been fully refurbished with comfortable lounge furniture and modern décor to provide the luxurious and peaceful surroundings demanded by the modern traveller. This private lounge is open 24 hours a day and is available for all ages from £12 per person each way. Passengers can enjoy complimentary glass of Prosecco, premium snacks and pastries, hot and cold refreshments and hot food available from the Premium Lounge menu.
With the success of the Horizon restaurant, a pizza, pasta, salad concept on the Dover to Calais routes, the refit also includes this restaurant being installed on all three ships on the Dover to Dunkirk route. Here guests can enjoy a selection of freshly cooked, made to order pizzas, pasta dishes and healthy salads. Passengers can place their order, take a buzzer with them to their table and collect their meals when called.
Passengers will also benefit from new bathroom facilities throughout the ship and can now enjoy watching a spot of television in the Lighthouse Café, with newly installed TVs as an additional feature.
The refit was designed by SMC Design and carried out by Aecor Marine, with the bathrooms being fitted by Trimline.
DELFT SEAWAYS will be fully refitted from 1st March with DOVER SEAWAYS at the end of March 2020.
Viking Line Doubles Its Earnings in 2019
Key figures for the full year 2019
- -0.28% sales EUR 496.4 million
- + 87% operating income EUR 17.4 million
- +109% income before taxes EUR 13.6 million
- +96.3% income after taxes EUR 10.8 million
Key figures for Q4
- -3.5% sales EUR 115.6 million
- First three quarters was better than previous year.
- Improved net sales contribution per passenger and lower operating costs.
- Q4 was affected by solidarity strike by Finnish Seafarers Union.
