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sandra

Apr 25
3

Irish Ferries Leads the Way with HVO Transition on Dublin–Holyhead Route

By | 2025 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

Since 16 April 2025, the DUBLIN SWIFT—the fastest ferry across the Irish Sea—has operated on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a fossil-free fuel from waste by-products. This move makes Irish Ferries the first international ferry company in the UK & Ireland to power one of its vessels with HVO.

Supplied by Circle K and their certified low-emission diesel alternative, milesBIO HVO100, the transition could reduce carbon emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional diesel as the season progresses towards 100% HVO usage across all four engines.

Apr 25
3

HSC EXPRESS JET to Serve the Sporades Islands in Summer 2025

By | 2025 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

On 18 April 2025, Seajets’ HSC EXPRESS JET (formerly SIFNOS JET) was introduced on the Volos–Skiathos–Skopelos–Alonissos route. The ship will operate daily on this line alongside her fleetmate SUPERSTAR (formerly SUPERFERRY), offering fast ferry service to travellers.

This marks the return of fast ferry service on the route after a three-year absence.

HSC EXPRESS JET was built in Australia in 1999. She has a capacity of 500 passengers and can reach speeds of up to 38 knots.

Photo: Seajets

Apr 25
3

Magic Sea Ferries’ HSC MAGIC 3 Arrives in Greece

By | 2025 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

On 22 April 2025, Magic Sea Ferries’ latest acquisition, HSC MAGIC 3, arrived at the port of Lavrion, transported by the general cargo ship ARALIA. She was purchased in January 2025 and is the third high-speed craft to join the Magic Sea Ferries fleet. Alongside her fleetmates HSC MAGIC 1 and HSC MAGIC 2, she is among the newest vessels in the Hellenic ferry fleet.

Magic Sea Ferries plans to offer two daily departures from the Port of Piraeus to the Saronic Islands (Aegina, Poros) with two fast ferries. The addition of this third vessel further strengthens the company’s position in the Saronic Gulf.

HSC MAGIC 3 was built in 2024, has a capacity of 343 passengers, and operates at a service speed of 36 knots, with a maximum speed of 39 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Apr 25
3

PORTS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

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

Apr 25
3

From Venice to Libya with the RoRo ship MIMER – A New Line

By | 2025 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

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.

Apr 25
3

ORGANISATIONS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

ESPO Welcomes EP’s Budget Committee’s Plea for Greater Funding for Transport, Energy and Dual-Use Infrastructure Within the Next MFF

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomes the report of the European Parliament’s Budget Committee voted on 23 April, titled “On a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world,” by co-rapporteurs Siegfried Mureşan (EPP) and Carla Tavares (S&D). The compromise amendments and the full report can be found here.

The report stresses the need for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to allocate significantly greater funding to energy and transport, in line with the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This requires the decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies and the enhancement of energy and transport infrastructure.

The Budget MEPS are also asking support for military mobility in the future EU budget, to enhance infrastructure for dual-use—both military and civilian— to strengthen the Union’s defence capabilities.

The Budget Committee finally underlines the importance of ensuring that the MFF is adequately resourced and sustainably financed and recognises that budgetary needs post-2027 will be significantly higher than the amounts allocated in the 2021–2027 MFF.

Apr 25
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

In April, Mann Lines’ ML FREYJA has been integrated in the Wallenius SOL network. She is seen here in Zeebrugge.

Baleària has successfully completed the first docking trials of the high-speed ferry AVEMAR DOS in the port of Tarifa. The 82-metre catamaran, capable of carrying up to 900 passengers and reaching speeds of 34 knots, is set to begin operations on the Tarifa–Tangier Ville route in early May.

The initial schedule includes four daily crossings in each direction, with frequency expected to increase over the summer season—offering departures from early morning until late evening.

Last week, the company also carried out operational trials in the port of Tangier Ville in preparation for the launch.

Apr 18
3

New Wallenius SOL RoRo on Sea Trials

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

SOUTH ENABLER, the new RoRo vessel for Mann Lines / Wallenius SOL, reached the sea for the first time on Saturday, 12 April.

The ship has been built by Cantieri Navale Visentini, based on a concept by NAOS Ship and Boat Design.

She will join the Wallenius SOL fleet in May. The vessel was originally ordered by Mann Lines, a company acquired by Wallenius SOL in February 2025 [press release].

She will primarily serve the ports of Turku – Paldiski – Bremerhaven – Zeebrugge – Tilbury – Cuxhaven – Turku.

Newbuilding C.236, initially intended for Mann Lines, is a lengthened version of the RoRo vessel ML FREYJA, completed by the same shipyard for the same operator in 2017.

The owner of the vessel will be a company within the Visentini Group, and she will be chartered to Mann Lines / Wallenius SOL.

Main data of SOUTH ENABLER: 3,000 lane metres plus 200 cars | LOA 203m | 2 Wärtsilä engines of 7200 kw each | 22 knots speed | RINA Class | Ice Class 1A | methanol ready

Apr 18
3

Newly Built RoPax Ship GNV ORION Delivered to MSC

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

GNV, the Genoa-based ferry company owned by the MSC Group, has taken delivery of GNV ORION at Guangzhou Shipyard International in China. This is the second vessel in a series of four new RoPax units.

The ship, owned by MSC and bareboat chartered to GNV, will soon depart for the Mediterranean to complete final fittings before entering service by the end of June on the regular Genoa–Palermo route.

With a gross tonnage of approximately 52,000 tons, a length of 218 metres, a beam of 29.60 metres, and a maximum speed of 25 knots, GNV ORION can accommodate 1,700 passengers in 433 cabins and transport up to 3,080 lane metres of cargo.

The vessel is equipped for cold ironing. It also features advanced emission reduction systems, including exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR), complying with IMO Tier III requirements.

Apr 18
3

PREVELIS Laid Up at Elefsis Bay

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

On 15 April 2025, ANEK Lines’ night ferry PREVELIS was transferred to Elefsis Bay to be laid up until further notice.

The ship was purchased in 1994 and initially served on the Piraeus–Rethymnon route until 2007. In 2008, she was transferred to the Piraeus–Cyclades line, and from 2009 to 2023 she operated on the so-called “barren line” Piraeus–Milos–Santorini–Anafi–Heraklion–Sitia–Kassos–Karpathos–Chalki–Rhodes. This route established her as one of the most important ferries in the Greek ferry scene.

From December 2023 to May 2024, she was reassigned to the Piraeus–Chios–Mytilene route. Since then, she has remained laid up at the ONEX Elefsis yards.

PREVELIS was built in Japan in 1980. She has a capacity of 1,300 passengers and 652 lane metres, and can sail at a speed of 19 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos