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sandra

Oct 17
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Environmentalist Group AGADEN Requests The Withdrawal And Scrapping Of The Ferry MED STAR

By 2019 Newsletter week 42

The environmental group AGADEN will demand the Port Authority of Algeciras to have the MED STAR (Intershipping) withdrawn and scrapped.

AGADEN started to publish a press release and a video, showing the vessel with dense smoke coming out of the funnel. The group considers that the ship has reached the end of its useful life.

The Maritime Authorities stopped six ferries due to pollution during the three months of the “Operation Paso del Estrecho”. In virtually all cases, the arrest was due to an excess of air emissions.

Oct 17
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Fast Ferry Tender To Be Issued For Third Time

By 2019 Newsletter week 42

The “complex” tender for the fast-ferry service between Malta and Gozo would be issued for the third time, the Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana has confirmed.

A first attempt was made in 2017 when the Transport Minister issued a request for proposals to seek interested parties wanting to offer the service in conjunction with State-owned ferry company Gozo Channel.

Though an evaluation committee had concluded that Virtu Ferries made the best offer and talks with Gozo Channel had started, the Transport Ministry cancelled the request for proposals in January last year and issued a slightly modified call.

Oct 17
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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

By 2019 Newsletter week 42

Grimaldi Group’s Ferries Undergoing Scrubber Conversion

Grimaldi Group’s ferries have already been in line in order to undergo their scheduled scrubber conversion. First to have arrived at Dock n°4 of Palumbo shipyards (Malta) was the cruise ferry CRUISE BONARIA. The Italian-built ship is also having her shafts repaired.

A few days later she was followed by the larger CRUISE OLYMPIA which is currently at Dock n°6 undergoing her scrubber conversion.

Oct 10
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TOP STORY

By 2019 Newsletter week 41

Ferry Shipping News Italian correspondent Nicola Capuzzo attended the 23rd EuroMed Convention, which took place in Sicily from 3 to 6 October 2019.

What did Mr Grimaldi talk about? You can read a full report here.

Oct 10
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FERRY SHIPPING

By 2019 Newsletter week 41

Good News For Moby: Court Rejects Insolvency Petition

The Court of Milan has completely rejected the insolvency petition presented by certain bondholders against Moby S.p.A.

By an order filed on Wednesday 9 October, the Court of Milan, composed of three judges and upholding the defence by Moby S.p.A., dismissed the insolvency petition presented by certain bondholders and awarded costs against them.

Under the order in question, not only did the Court of Milan find the allegations of a current state of insolvency groundless, in as much as the company is not burdened by any tax or social security liabilities, is not subject to any enforcement or provisional action and does not appear, in its current state, to be unable to pay its debts as they fall due, but the Court also held that there are no extraneous circumstances at present that show the subsistence of a prospective state of insolvency.

Moby is therefore evaluating the possibility of making a claim against speculative funds who filed the petition with a view to recovering damages for loss caused by their groundless action. (source: note on Luxemburg Stock Exchange)

This good news for Moby is also good news for DFDS. An insolvency could have jeopardised the agreement about the sale of the ferries to DFDS.

Oct 10
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Hyundai Mipo, China Merchants Group And GSI Shortlisted For Finnlines’ New Order

By 2019 Newsletter week 41

For the first time in its history, the Grimaldi Group will build ropax ferries in Asia. The order for the new ‘Super Star’ class for Finnlines seems to be very close, according to what Emanuele Grimaldi stated at the EuroMed Convention. “We are now discussing with only three shipyards. The deal can be done in one month.”

The new ice-class vessels are an evolution of the Fincantieri-built Star-Class vessels. They will have a capacity of some 5,000 lanemetres and 350 cabins. They will also have the biggest battery pack ever mounted on a ship.

Some sources revealed to Ferry Shipping News that the builders shortlisted are Hyundai Mipo in South-Korea, Avic, Jinling (both part of the China Merchants group) and Guangzhou Shipyard International in China. All the European shipyards has been left out since the price were in some cases twice as high. Chinese yards seem to have an advantage over the South Korean competitor.

In the near future Grimaldi Group will also order a new series of ‘Supercruise vessels’ for the Mediterranean network, designed “to halve consumption while doubling capacity”.

Oct 10
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CLdN Added 37 km Of RoRo Capacity In Two Years Next Step: LNG And More Ships

By 2019 Newsletter week 41

HERMINE is yet another newbuilding for CLdN. She started to operate last week from Zeebrugge to the UK. She’s the last unit of a 5,400 lane meter quartet of Hyundai Mipo built roro ships, including LAURELINE, YSALINE and SIXTINE. Before, two larger 8,000 lane meter roro’s were delivered, the CELINE and DELPHINE.

Previously, the order for two vessels at the Uljanik Yard have been cancelled because of the financial problems of the yard.

Instead, in July 2019 CLdN placed an order for an additional two roro’s at Hyundai Mipo. The major difference will be the fact that they will use LNG as fuel.

The two roro’s will have a 320m3 capacity C-type fuel tank, located under the main deck.

The 4+2 delivered roro ships are LNG-ready.

Four more ships will be ordered, as part of a twelve-ship expansion plan.

Oct 10
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STENA EUROPE Returns To Scheduled Services On Rosslare – Fishguard

By 2019 Newsletter week 41

Following an extensive refit programme at shipyards in Turkey and Liverpool, the STENA EUROPE has resumed its scheduled sailing services on the Rosslare – Fishguard route.

The upgrade programme took longer than had been anticipated but as Stena Line’s Trade Director (Irish Sea South) Ian Davies said, the upgraded vessel will now offer a significant improvement in customer care, Ian Davies said: “I know there has been a certain amount of frustration with the delayed return of the Stena Europe, a very popular vessel with both our freight and travel customers. We had planned for a number of improvements and additions throughout the ship both of a technical and customer-facing nature, but we did encounter a number of challenges which impacted on our works delivery schedule for which I’d like to apologies to our customers. “

“Apart from a number of technical upgrades our freight customers will be particularly pleased to hear that we have altered our deck height to be able to accommodate the increasing trend for high sided trailers and for our travel customers we have also added a new Hygge Lounge which offers luxury reclining seats set in a private, ultra-stylish but cosy surrounding, an upgraded Retail Shop and a refurbished Happy children’s play area to name a few changes.”