After having been rebuilt for Levante Ferries, KEFALONIA is seen here doing sea trials.
Stena Line Installs Japanese Sleeping Pods
Stena Line has installed Japanese sleeping pods on its MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN and SKÅNE vessels, operating between Rostock in Germany and Trelleborg in Sweden.
Stena Line is the first ferry company to offer its customers Japanese sleeping pods which will be a cost-efficient way to sleep and rest during the crossing.
The pods are inspired by Japanese capsule hotels offer two square metre space for one person.
Each berth is equipped with a mattress and bed linen, as well as air conditioning, charging station and WiFi – and luggage can be stored outside the pods in lockers.
The journey from Rostock to Trelleborg takes 6 or 7 hours depending on the departure and is one of the most popular routes between Germany and Sweden, especially during the summer months.
How does it work? Watch this “Just Ferries” video on YouTube
Ferry YAMATO To Become STENA NOVA
As announced in February, Stena RoRo purchased the ferry YAMATO from the Japanese shipping company Hankyu Ferry. The vessel will be rebuilt at a shipyard in Europe and be fully adapted to European standards, after which it will be chartered out. This process will begin in spring 2020 and the ferry is estimated to be in traffic by the summer 2020.
Stena RoRo has now published a technical fact sheet
The new “queen of the Baltic Sea” is scheduled to begin cruising along the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route in two years. Viking Line has initiated a recruiting campaign to find a creative project leader with language skills to assume responsibility for the launch of this new, innovative, climate-smart cruise ferry. At the same time, the company is conducting an open competition to name their new maritime queen.
The third DFDS freight ferry from China had not been outside the dry dock for long before the site team and construction crew started the construction of our fourth newbuilding.
March 27, the traditional keel-laying ceremony took place at the Jinling Shipyard to officially celebrate the start of construction of the fourth DFDS freight ferry. In line with Chinese tradition, a coin was placed under the keel and this time Chief Engineer Matti Thomsen was given the honour of sealing it as a symbol of luck throughout the construction process and while at sea.
The fourth freight ferry is expected to be delivered in the last quarter of 2019.
ANEK LINES (Riaz Shipping) acquired the small ro-ro ISLAND EXPRESS. Our Greek correspondent believes she will be used to support LYKTOS, which operates in the Dominican Republic since 2018.
The ship is actually being overhauled in Perama.
ISLAND EXPRESS is a Visentini-built vessel from 1989, with a capacity for 70 trucks.
A Slice Of Hollywood For Holyhead
Holyhead could soon have its own version of one of the world’s most iconic landmarks if ambitious plans by Stena Line get the go ahead.
Stena Line, who own and operate Holyhead Port, want to erect a 30m ‘HOLYHEAD’ sign near the lighthouse at South Stack similar to the world-famous HOLLYWOOD sign which has provided the Californian city with an instantly recognisable global identity for the last 95 years.
HM Revenue & Customs has announced (on 22 March) further details of measures to support businesses with new customs requirements, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal
Tallink Grupp Publishes 2019 Q1 Passenger And Cargo Statistics
According to the figures published, the group transported
-3.9% passengers (1,855,772)
-3.7% cars (214,087)
+2.7% freight units (93,114)
Reason:
-2.8% less trips (2,234 trips against 2,299 in Q1 last year)
Six vessels have been going through various renewals and upgrades during planned dockings at shipyards in Poland, Lithuania and Finland.
In 2018, Color Line, the ferry branch of Color Group, had a turnover of more than NOK 5 billion, and an operating profit (EBIT) of NOK 686 million. The good result in 2018 is due, among other things, to increased earnings per customer, growth in freight markets by the addition of a ro-ro vessel and efficient operations.
