November 9 saw the start of a new, twice-a-week freight service between Livorno and Trapani.
This service will be integrated into the five current GNV routes to Sicily, which operate between, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo and Termini Imerese.
This new route targets the Sicilian paper and wine industry, amongst others.
Photo © Mike Louagie
Finnlines can look back with great satisfaction on the first three quarters of the year.
The January–September 2017 result improved by almost 12%, and was the best nine-month result in Finnlines’ history.
Finnlines sees the recovery of Finland’s economy as one of the explanations for its success, apart from the different actions to strengthen its competitive position. The growth of 10% is reflected in the export and import volumes.
In response to growing demand, Finnlines will be expanding its fleet.
Infographic © Finnlines
The Government of Ontario and Damen Shipyards Group have signed a contract for the two ferries to operate in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes.
The ferries will be a 68-metre Damen Road Ferry 6819 and a 98-metre Damen Road Ferry 9819.
The ferries will be based in Kingston and Loyalist Township, at the northeastern end of Lake Ontario. The larger of the two new ferries will serve the nearby Wolfe Island while the smaller will serve Amherst Island, just a few kilometres to the west.
Ferries transport approximately 850,000 passengers and 420,000 vehicles between Wolfe Island and Kingston each year, and approximately 290,000 passengers and 136,000 vehicles to and from Amherst Island annually.
The ferries are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2019 (Amherst) and at the end of 2020 (Wolfe).
Both will be hybrid-ready, enabling them to be fitted with batteries when required.
On the photo © Damen, from left to right: Mark Gerretsen (MP for Kingston and the Islands), Leo Postma, (Sales Manager, Damen Shipyards Gorinchem), Sophie Kiwala (Member of Provincial Parliament), Mike Bossio (MP of Hastings-Lennox and Addington).
Gondan is building four GRP ‘Eco Fast Ferries’ with a capacity for 350 passengers for Baleària. On November 3, the first one was launched and it is scheduled that this unit will be delivered at the end of the year.
The 28m-long 28-knot wave-piercing vessels have been designed focusing on eco-efficiency, comfort and speed. Solar panels supply the necessary energy for onboard services.
The ferries will have two cutting-edge technology 1,450 hp diesel engines.
These catamarans, which will be finished between the end of this year and the middle of 2018, are designed to be able to operate on the different routes between the Balearic Islands.
Photo © Gondan
Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei Föhr-Amrum GmbH (W.D.R.) and Dutch shipyard Talsma have signed the contract for the construction of a 34m passenger-only catamaran.
She will enter service in spring 2019 and expand the existing WDR conventional ferry offer to passengers without cars.
The aluminium vessel has been designed by Conoship from Groningen, and can accommodate around 150 passengers in winter and 250 in summer.
The challenge was to find a suitable vessel that has the best performance within the speed regulation parameters in the protected Wadden Sea. Her maximum speed will be 20 knots, which against the current will still allow her to reach 16 knots.
Photo © WDR
David MacBrayne Ltd (DML) announced that its Chief Executive Martin Dorchester, who is also Managing Director of CalMac Ferries Ltd, will be leaving the company to take up a new role as Chief Executive of Includem, – a specialist Scottish charity supporting some of the most vulnerable young people and their families across Scotland.
Greek online media Ekathimerini writes that, when comparing Greece with other EU countries, the VAT rate on ferry tickets is one of the highest. The article is based on a study titled “The Contribution of Passenger Shipping to the Greek Economy” which has been published by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE). The authors believe that the reduction of VAT on ferry tickets would give the Greek islands an economic boost without provoking a negative fiscal impact.
Photo © Mike Louagie
According to Skipsrevyen, Color Line has declared its interest to enter the Norwegian coastal operations actually operated by Hurtigruten. The Norwegian State has decided that the license to operate “the world’s most beautiful sea voyage” is open for tenders. Norled, Toghatten and now Color Line are showing interest, together with a couple of other companies. Deadline for the submission of the bids is January 3.
After having leased the two ships, Hurtigruten AS has reacquired the vessels through a bond loan with a term of three years. Purchaser is Coastal Holding, a subsidiary of Silk Topco, a UK pension fund which also owns Hurtigruten.
Both vessels were built at the Volkswerft in Stralsund, in 1993 and 1994.
Source: Maritimt Magasin – Photo © Robert Cranna / Hurtigruten
Stena Line has placed a camera in one of the access routes to its ferries in Hoek van Holland, says Dutch News. The reason is to stop stowaways hiding underneath lorries.
