Irish Ferries is boosting services between the UK and Ireland with the introduction of the upgraded, high-speed catamaran DUBLIN SWIFT, which has just entered service following a full internal refurbishment. It replaces the JONATHAN SWIFT, which has been in service since 1999.
It operates two crossings a day, in each direction between Holyhead and Dublin port. The new DUBLIN SWIFT has greater car (220 vehicles) and passenger (820 people) capacity.
Photo: Irish Ferries
Last week we announced that DFDS is going to charter one of the Stena RoRo E-Flexers under construction in China. In fact the vessel is the fifth in the series, and Stena RoRo has a further three options on vessels for delivery from 2021 and onwards.
In 2016, Stena RoRo placed an order for four large ro-pax ferries with the Chinese shipyard AVIC International with an option for a further four vessels. The vessel now ordered is the fifth in the series.
From the first batch of four vessels, three will be operated by Stena Line on the Irish Sea, and one by Brittany Ferries.
A deal has been agreed for the three passenger ferries serving the Northern Isles to be purchased outright by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) with loan funding from the Scottish Government.
The HAMNAVOE, HROSSEY and HJALTLAND, which have previously been leased from Royal Bank of Scotland, will be taken into CMAL ownership.
Serco NorthLink Ferries will continue to operate the services until 31st October 2019 under the extended contract.
Photo: Northlink Ferries
FOLGEFONN, a Norled ferry which was transformed into a hybrid ferry some years ago, is the first in the World to experiment with autodocking technology.
It has been equipped with Wärtsilä’s innovative autodocking system
Photo: Wärtsilä
Corsica Linea has confirmed the long-term charter of ro-pax ferry EUROFERRY CORFU from owner Grimaldi Lines.
She will be flying the French flag, and will sail on the routes from Marseille to Sardina and the Maghreb as from mid-June.
She will be renamed VIZZANOVA.
ProCargo Line, A New Ro-Ro Freight Company
The Grendi Group announced the birth of a new shipping company: ProCargo Line.
It is a company formed by Grendi, marine agency Vittorio Bogazzi and sons, the Port of Carrara and entrepreneur Euan Lonmon.
The route Carrara-Cagliari-Tunisia will be operated by ro-ro ALTINIA (1,150 lane meters).
The forecasts is for 200.000 tons of goods in the first 12 months.
Three categories of cargoes will be taken: rolling stock, containers and general cargo, such as large equipment, steel coils, marble pallets.
Buquebus has revealed plans to order one more LNG-powered high-speed vessel for the route Colonia (Uruguay) – Puerto Madero (Argentina). So far, InCat, the company which built the FRANCISCO, has not confirmed the order.
The investment is worth USD 130 million.
The catamaran is expected for 2020, and would have a capacity for 2,100 passengers.
Source: Cronista (in Spanish)
Photo: Robert Heazlewood
“Despite a 20% increase in bunker prices through 2017, North European operators continued to post impressive financial results.”
Quote in the ro-ro section of the Annual Review 2018 published by the BRS Group.
A PDF version can be downloaded by clicking on the cover picture (14MB).
Scandlines Generated Record Performance In 2017 Based On Expanded Capacity
Scandlines increased revenue and boosted profitability in 2017 in line with the expectations for the year as the group’s expanded capacity on the Rostock-Gedser route was leveraged and investments dampened following a substantial strengthening of fleet and infrastructure in prior years.
Total revenue grew by 4% to EUR 487 million (EUR 480 million) driven mainly by the continued positive development on the Rostock-Gedser route.
Traffic machine revenue from both routes grew by 6% to EUR 352 million (EUR 333 million) on the back of expanded capacity, intensified marketing efforts and particularly strong performance in the freight segment, which recorded 12% growth in traffic volume.
BorderShop revenue was stable at EUR 135 million (EUR 137 million).
Scandlines’ ferries completed more than 42,000 departures and transported a total of 7.6 million passengers, 1.8 million cars and more than 0.6 million freight units in 2017.
