sandra

Peel Ports to Invest £10 Million in Heysham Port to Boost Capacity and Efficiency

Peel Ports Group is set to invest £10 million in Heysham Port, enhancing its role as a vital trade gateway between the UK mainland, the Island of Ireland, and the Isle of Man. The investment aims to future-proof operations, improve resilience, and support growing customer demand.

The project will see major upgrades, including a reconfiguration of the trailer park, a new multi-lane smart gate operating system, and the implementation of a state-of-the-art terminal operating system. These developments will enhance capacity, reduce congestion, and improve safety and efficiency across the port.

The improvements are expected to benefit all operators at the port, including Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, CLdN, and Stena Line. The expanded trailer park will support future growth, notably Stena Line’s deployment of two new ‘NewMax’ ferries, which will increase freight capacity by 40%.

Work is due to commence in the coming weeks.

Source: https://www.peelports.com/news-articles/heysham-port-set-for-10m-upgrade-to-boost-capacity-and-efficiency-at-facility

A brand-new RoRo line is set to launch in May, linking the port of Chioggia (Venice) with Misurata and Benghazi in Libya, along with several other ports in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Loris Trevisan, a shipping agent active in Venice, confirmed to Ferry Shipping News that the 1990-built vessel MIMER has been chartered in and will be deployed by the new company Midline Shipping, which is controlled by Dubai-based interests.

The vessel’s planned rotation will also include calls at the Turkish ports of Izmir and Mersin, as well as Alexandria in Egypt.

“The vessel has a cargo capacity of approximately 1,030 linear metres and 4,491 DWT, with a loading ramp capable of handling up to 180 tons. The service is particularly aimed at project cargo (on Mafi), machinery, and large rolling stock,” Trevisan explained.

Sailings will take place every 15–18 days from Venice-Chioggia.

Since 20 March 2025, Grimaldi Lines’ RoPax VENEZIA has been undergoing a small-scale conversion and refit at the Perama repair zone. The works include the addition of 33 two-bed cabins, the installation of photovoltaic systems, and the fitting of a ducktail at the stern.

Her sister ship FLORENCIA underwent a similar conversion at Perama in February 2025.

VENEZIA currently serves the Igoumenitsa–Ancona route alongside FLORENCIA. She was built in Italy in 2004 and has a capacity of 946 passengers and 2,230 lane metres. Her service speed is 24 knots.

Photo: Anastasios Anastasiou

With high travel volumes expected over the Easter long weekend, BC Ferries has issued a public advisory—but the real headline lies beneath the surface: the fleet is ageing fast, and new vessels are urgently needed.

Two key vessels, the QUEEN OF SURREY and QUEEN OF OAK BAY—both 44 years old—will remain out of service into May due to delayed refits. These delays were triggered by unplanned repairs on other older vessels, including the 60-year-old QUEEN OF NEW WESTMINSTER, putting added pressure on dry dock availability and disrupting BC Ferries’ carefully coordinated maintenance schedule.

“This isn’t just about one ship—it’s about the challenge of operating a fleet where many major vessels are more than 40 years old,” said Ed Hooper, Executive Director of Shipbuilding at BC Ferries.

The current disruptions underscore the urgency behind BC Ferries’ recently approved New Major Vessels project. Four new vessels will be ordered by June, with the first entering service in 2029. Despite efforts to include local industry, no Canadian shipyards submitted proposals, prompting BC Ferries to look abroad for builders.

“Our plan is to build globally and maintain locally,” said Hooper.

https://www.bcferries.com/news-releases/fleet-renewal-underway-as-bc-ferries-prepares-for-busy-easter-weekend

No Bids for the Gozo Channel Ferry

A recent government call for tenders to lease a new ferry for Gozo Channel operations concluded without receiving any bids, as confirmed by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri. The tender, which opened on February 16 and closed on April 2, aimed to replace the aging MV Nikolaos—a Greek-flagged vessel over 30 years old, chartered in 2019, and reportedly costing the government €14,000 per day in rental and staff expenses, excluding fuel .​

Nationalist MPs Alex Borg and Ivan Castillo had previously expressed concerns about the tender, with Borg describing it as “a tender set to fail.” In response to the lack of interest, Minister Camilleri indicated that a new call for tenders might be issued. Additionally, he mentioned plans to issue a tender by mid-year for the construction of a new ferry tailored to Gozo Channel’s specifications .​

Currently, Gozo Channel operates three other ferries built in Malta to its specifications.​

Source: https://timesofmalta.com/article/call-tender-gozo-ferry-flops.1108201