ANEK LINES’ small RoRo ISLAND EXPRESS (1989) was eventually chartered out to the Dominican Republic based Priority Ro/Ro and soon she will depart for the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
The ship was purchased last March and she will support her operator’s presence in the area where traffic is growing fast. ISLAND EXPRESS was built in Italy in 1989 (Cantieri Navali Visentini) and flies the Cypriot flag.
On May 16, 2019, Atlantico Line announced that AZORES EXPRESS (7.657gt/1975) eventually will not be introduced on the seasonal Azores routes on May 23, 2019.
It is underlined that the ship is delayed in Greece as her major hull conversion has not been finished yet and so she can’t obtain the proper certificates. The ship will start as soon as is ready. However, the conversion repairs are in progress and the ship will carry out her sea trials within the week.
According to the official website of Aegean Seaways, the specific ship will be operating this run in 7 hours (as from 2 June).
She will depart every night at 22.00 from each port and she will arrive at 06.00 in the morning at each port destination.
However, the ship’s speed and passenger capacity are inconsistent with the company’s initial announcement.
The ship, which will be chartered from the Ukranian company is expected to be transferred at Haidar Pasa yards soon for the proper repairs.
The ship belonged to DFDS. In 2018 she was sold to Ukr Ferry for the Istanbul-Odessa run.
Tallink Consider Vuosaari-Muuga As One Option For STAR When MEGASTAR 2 Is Ready
Tallink Group has not yet decided whether the new shuttle express ship ordered from the Rauma Marine Constructions shipyard will replace the STAR on the route between Helsinki and Tallinn or whether the new ship will simply be added to the route for additional capacity.
Paavo Nõgene, Tallink’s CEO, says in a publication of Port of Helsinki that extra capacity is needed on the route Muuga–Vuosaari. STAR could be used on that route when the new ship arrives.
Currently Tallink operates the route with the 47-year-old SEA WIND.
In its trading update (year to date, 11 May 2019), Irish Continental Group notes healthy figures for ro-ro freight, but a little dip in tourism transport.
ICG’s Ferries Division Irish Ferries (1 January – 11 May)
-8.5% Cars
+6.6% Ro-Ro Freight
ICG’s Ferries Division Irish Ferries (1 January – 30 April)
-1.1% Total revenues (including intra-division charter income). The decrease was principally due to lower tourism volumes resulting from the planned suspension of fastcraft services on the Dublin to Holyhead route in the period up to 14 March compared to the prior year, partially offset through increased freight volumes.
The planned suspension of fastcraft sailings in the off-peak season was the primary reason for reduced tourism carrying in the period. In addition, the proposed withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union had some negative impact on UK passenger bookings in the lead up to the proposed exit date of 29 March 2019.
The recent agreement between the Irish and British government to continue and formalise the Common Travel Area whatever the outcome of the UK withdrawal negotiations is a positive development, says ICG.
Canadian engineering firm Aspin Kemp and Associates Inc. (AKA) and German MAN Energy Solutions are working together on the delivery of the propulsion package for 1+1 Ro-Pax for TT-Line. The vessel is to be built at Jiangsu Jingling shipyard in China. The MAN/AKA power and propulsion package includes eight MAN 51/60DF dual fuel engines, propellers and gearboxes, a fuel-gas supply system and HyProp ECO – an innovative, fuel-saving, hybrid propulsion system.
Norsepower Oy Ltd., the provider of auxiliary renewable wind energy propulsion systems, announced that independent test results showed that its Rotor Sail technology has great potential to deliver savings on the Viking Line’s VIKING GRACE.
Long term, LNG marine fuel savings is expected to be up to around 300 tonnes on annual basis
CBRE Caledon And Capman Infra Buy Norwegian Ferry Operator Norled
The firms are each acquiring a 50% equity stake in Norled, which holds a fleet of 59 ferries and 28 express boats, from Norway-based shipping firm Det Stavangerske Dampskibsselskab.
(not ferry related yet, but good to know)
The ownership of the Helsinki Shipyard transferred formally on Monday 20 May from the Russian state-owned United Shipbuilding Company to Algador holdings, owned by Russian businessmen Rishat Bagautdinov and Vladimir Kasyanenko.
