Permanent sixth ferry needed for Saaremaa
According to an article (in Estonian) on www.err.ee the Port of Tallinn would like to have a permanent solution for the summer ferry service to the island of Saaremaa. Five ferries are in service. Now REGULA acts as backup vessel, but the company would like to have a permanent additional, sixth ferry.
A charter is actually being negotiated.
The solution of building a new ship depends on how much the Port of Tallinn receives from the State.
Kent Online reports about the discussion whether a congestion charge for lorries using the Port of Dover has to be implemented.
Richards says lorries added significantly to air pollution in the town.
An online readers’ vote shows that 60% don’t think that trucks should be charged.
Isle of Man News reports that Steam Packet’s ferry BEN-MY-CHREE completed 2017 with a reliability record of more than 99%. Only seven sailings were cancelled for technical reasons.
Naviera Armas’ VOLCAN DEL TAUCE had a cargo shift that resulted in damage to two cars. A lorry with steel elements capsized during manoeuvring in bad weather on February 3. Although the cargo had been correctly secured the combination of the waves and the ship’s swing made the cargo overturn. One of the crushed cars belonged to the captain. Report by Canarias 7 (in Spanish).
French media Le Courier / Le Progrès (in French) reports about the Brittany Ferries plan to open the route Cork – Santander with the chartered ro-pax CONNEMARA, and more particularly about the concerns from the different unions. Not flying the French flag is an issue in France. It is a European flag (Cyprus), but some see it as a flag of convenience.
Brittany Ferries promised to have the CONNEMARA flying the French flag in three years.
The Time Colonist brings a story about a safety exercise onboard BC Ferries’ ro-pax ferry SPIRIT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. The scenario was based on a mock collision between the ferry and the SALISH EAGLE at Swartz Bay.
Fedpress (in Russian) explained the dreams of some locals to develop the cruise ferry industry from S Petersburg. Some are talking of having up to five vessels.
Before the official visit of two governors to the passenger port of St Petersburg, the commercial director of the Marine Facade Passenger Terminal told the press that the company intends to launch a ferry line that will connect the main ports of the Baltic Sea. “The line will be launched in the first half of 2019,” he said.
It is planned to purchase a less-than-five-year-old ice-class ferry. Which ship this could be is unclear. Also, investors are still being searched for.
The former CEO of St Peter Line Sergey Kotenev (now director of Moby SPL) says PRINCESS ANASTASSIA will start to operate on March 25. He added, “not be afraid of competition.”
Photo: Moby SPL
Minoan Lines has reportedly submitted at least six applications to commence routes connecting the Greek mainland with the Cyclades islands and the port city of Chania on Crete, according to Tornos News.
The “FinEst Link” project states that a fast connection between Helsinki and Tallinn could bring major regional, national benefits and growth potential for Europe.
According to a feasibility study, the railway tunnel would help create a metropolitan twin-city region of three million inhabitants where people, goods and services could move around easily. The expanding labour market would create economic growth, open new possibilities for businesses and improve the quality of life.
A travel time of only 30 minutes would enable daily commuting across the Gulf of Finland.
The investment cost of the railway tunnel has been estimated at €13–20 billion and it should require 15 years to build.
A conference was held on February 7.
STENA FORERUNNER has been fully painted in Stena Line colours after her “white” charter with Transfennica. She is now serving the Rotterdam-Harwich route together with STENA SCOTIA.
Photo: Glen Lammas
