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sandra

Oct 25
2

IN THE MEDIA: Summary of Tasmania’s Premier’s Announcement on the New Spirits Project

By | 2024 Newsletter week 43 | No Comments

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has posted an annoucement on his Facebook page.

It is about the fact that the terminal in Devonport will not be ready when the new “Spirit of Tasmania” ferries arrive from Finland.

  • An expert report on the necessary port infrastructure has been received, and the Premier has laid out the reasons for the government’s intervention.
  • The situation has caused significant frustration, but the focus is on moving forward rather than dwelling on past issues.
  • The government will prioritise the construction of permanent berthing infrastructure at Devonport Port.
  • Short-term solutions were considered but ultimately deemed unsuitable.
  • Worst-case scenario: the infrastructure may not be completed until February 2027, but efforts are being made to accelerate the timeline to October 2026, in time for the peak summer period.
  • Without government intervention, the project might have faced even further delays.
  • The first of the new Spirits is due to leave Finland shortly and head to Hobart for final fit-out.
  • Two world-leading infrastructure experts will now lead the project to ensure timely delivery.
  • During this time, the new Spirits will travel to Tasmania for final fit-out. TT-Line will seek leasing or chartering options for the vessels.
  • If no leasing options are found, the government will ensure TT-Line is not charged by TasPorts for storing the vessels in Tasmania.
  • The goal is to financially benefit Tasmania while avoiding further maintenance and storage costs.
  • The Premier expressed disappointment at the situation but emphasised the need for unity and resilience to move forward.
Oct 18
2

Nine New Ferries for the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea Soon to Be Ordered by Grimaldi

By | 2024 Newsletter week 42 | No Comments

At the XXVI Euromed Convention held in Athens, Greece, Grimaldi Group’s CEO, Emanuele Grimaldi, confirmed that by the end of 2024, an order is likely to be signed with a Chinese shipyard for nine new RoPax ships. This move aligns with the company’s strategy to modernise its fleet and support its sustainability goals by enhancing efficiency and reducing emissions.

Grimaldi specified that six ships will be for Grimaldi Euromed (four) and for Minoan Lines (two), ‘methanol ready’, with 3,300 lane metres, capacity for 2,500 passengers and 300 cars, along with 300 cabins.

The remaining three will be for Finnlines, biofuels/methanol ready, with 5,400 lane metres of garage space, capacity for 1,000 passengers, and 300 cabins.

As for their future deployments, the seasoned shipowner stated that the newbuildings for Finnlines (an evolution of the last two units delivered) will be introduced on the Travemünde-Helsinki route, while those for Minoan are expected to operate on the Piraeus-Heraklion link. The other four RoPax newbuildings for Grimaldi Euromed are likely to cover the Brindisi (or Ancona)-Igoumenitsa route in the Adriatic Sea, and the Livorno-Palermo or Naples-Palermo routes in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

It’s possible that two of these new ships will also serve routes to and from the Sardinia region.

The delivery date for the first units is expected in 2027.

Oct 18
2

Stena Line and Associated British Ports to progress new £200M ferry terminal in Immingham

By | 2024 Newsletter week 42 | No Comments

Stena Line and Associated British Ports (ABP), have announced their intention to proceed with a £200+ million joint investment in a new freight ferry terminal at the Port of Immingham following the granting of the Development Consent Order (DCO) planning application by the UK Government.

In a major step forward for the project, this approval means that construction can officially begin on the new RoRo ferry terminal. Following the approval, the project was featured this week at the UK Government’s showcase International Investment Summit.

In 2022, Stena Line and ABP signed an agreement which will see the ferry company operate the new terminal for the next 50 years. This long-term commitment will provide a boost to the North-East of England, where the unaccompanied freight market has been steadily growing.

Immingham is becoming a strategic hub for Stena Line, which currently runs two daily services from the Humber region to The Netherlands.

Stena, the group which owns Stena Line, also recently became the sole owner of transport and logistics business, NTEX, which has its UK headquarters in the port.

With customer demand continuing to grow for the company in the region, Stena Line requires additional capacity to expand its operations at Immingham. The new RoRo terminal is a long-term solution in a new location which provides access to the main Humber Estuary, allowing for quicker sailing times and the option to use larger vessels to cater for increased freight demand from exporters and importers from across the region and the rest of the UK

Oct 18
2

Royal Inauguration of the New Lock at Terneuzen

By | 2024 Newsletter week 42 | No Comments

On 11 October 2024, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and King Philippe of Belgium jointly inaugurated the New Lock in Terneuzen, marking a significant milestone for cross-border cooperation between the Netherlands and Belgium. This new sea lock, one of the largest in the world, will enhance maritime access between the North Sea and the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal, reducing waiting times for vessels and boosting economic activity in the Zeeland Flanders and Flanders regions.

The lock is expected to handle increasing traffic, with ship passages projected to grow from 56,000 in 2023 to 96,000 by 2040. The opening ceremony, held aboard the electric ship Z9, included interactions with representatives of companies using the lock, as well as a tour of the control centre where local residents and lock employees shared insights into its operations.

Photo: North Sea Port

Oct 18
2

Golden Star Ferries’ ANDROS KING Arrived in Greece

By | 2024 Newsletter week 42 | No Comments

On the afternoon of 11 October 2024, the latest acquisition of Golden Star Ferries, ANDROS KING (ex-VOLCAN DE TABURIENTE), arrived in Greece from Las Palmas. The ship was led to Neos Molos (Drapetsona) for further refit and conversion to meet the Hellenic Coastal Shipping Standards. She will enhance Golden Star Ferries’ presence within the Greek ferry scene.

Up to now, the Andros-based ferry company operates two conventional ferries (SUPERFERRY, ANDROS QUEEN) plus one high-speed craft (SUPER EXPRESS) on the classic Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos route. It is also the owner of the high-speed craft GOLDEN PRINCESS (ex-GOTLANDIA II), purchased from Gotland Rederi in 2023 but still inactive. ANDROS KING will be their third conventional vessel and one of the newest ferries within the Hellenic Coastal fleet. She was built in Spain in 2006. Her capacity is for 1,500 passengers and 310 cars (1,200 lane metres), and she can operate at 22.5 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Oct 18
2

HSC THUNDER Renamed HIGHSPEED 3

By | 2024 Newsletter week 42 | No Comments

The Australian-built HSC THUNDER is changing her livery at Spanopoulos Shipyards following her recent sale to Attica Group. The ship was sold by Fast Ferries for EUR 17.75 million on 25 September 2024 and renamed HIGHSPEED 3. She is expected to enhance Attica Group’s presence in Crete. Her capacity is for 1,068 passengers and 210 cars, and she can operate at 36 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Oct 18
2

Also, the Aged MOBY BABY TWO Has Been Sold by Onorato

By | 2024 Newsletter week 42 | No Comments

After the recent sales of the ferries MOBY ALE and MOBY VINCENT (55 and 50 years old respectively), another ferry is expected to soon leave the Onorato-controlled fleet. Sources familiar with the matter revealed to FSN that the 1974-built MOBY BABY TWO has just been sold (an MoA was signed) to an undisclosed buyer, and it’s likely to be scrapped after the delivery scheduled for November.

Built by Schichau Seebeckwerft AG shipyard in Bremerhaven half a century ago, MOBY BABY TWO has been part of the Italian ferry company’s fleet since 2000 and was recently deployed on the Piombino-Portoferraio regular link.

Photo MOBY BABY 2: Moby Lines

MOBY ALE and MOBY VINCENT have already reached a dismantling yard in Aliaga, Turkey.

Photo: Saviero Casamento

Oct 18
2

DP World Acquires 47,000 TEUs to Boost Capacity

By | 2024 Newsletter week 42 | No Comments

Not ferry related (yet), but DP World has acquired 47,000 TEUs, marking a major boost in its cargo capacity. The containers, branded and registered to DP World, will enhance availability and flexibility for customers, particularly during peak periods. This acquisition supports the company’s fleet renewal strategy, aimed at improving efficiency and reducing operational costs.

The new containers will integrate into DP World’s global logistics network across 78 countries and be transported using fuel-efficient methods, aligning with the company’s sustainability goals. This move strengthens DP World’s ability to provide reliable, resilient supply chain solutions.

Oct 18
2

Italy – Egypt RoRo Service Imminent

By | 2024 Newsletter week 42 | No Comments

DFDS is set to launch its previously announced freight service between Damietta, Egypt, and Trieste, Italy. This weekly service will operate with one of the smaller RoRo vessels, such as the OLYMPOS SEAWAYS, which has a capacity of 200 trailers and 3,214 lane metres.

Northbound shipments will primarily consist of perishables, while the southbound route will accommodate a variety of cargo. There is no direct competition from other ferry services, and although container lines operate in the region, their slower speeds make them less competitive.

The service is expected to commence before the end of the year.