All Posts By

sandra

Jun 06
Love3

Corsican Passenger and Freight Traffic – 2024 Key Figures

By 2025 Newsletter week 23

Passenger Traffic

  • Total maritime passengers (excl. cruise): 4 million (+3.4%)
  • Peak day: 13 August – +370,900 people on the island
  • Seasonality: Maritime travel dominates in July and August

Top Ports by Passenger Traffic

  • BASTIA: 2.13 million (+4.0%) – Corsica’s main ferry port
  • AJACCIO: 910,000 (+6.8%)
  • L’ÎLE-ROUSSE: Stable at 406,000
  • BONIFACIO: Stable at 249,000 (mainly Sardinia)
  • PORTO-VECCHIO: Down 3.7%
  • PROPRIANO: Down 3.9%

Traffic by Operator

  • Corsica Ferries: 2.48 million (+0.8%) – 62.2% market share
  • Corsica Linea: 587,000 (+3.2%)
  • Moby Lines: 528,000 (+8.7%)
  • La Méridionale: 258,000 (+14.1%)
  • Ichnusa Lines: 132,000 (+18.5%)

International Traffic

  • Italy accounts for all maritime international traffic – 1.53 million (+7.3%)
  • Mainland France traffic stable at 2.45 million (+1.3%)

Vehicle Traffic

  • Total by ferry: 1.46 million vehicles (+2.4%)
    • From Italy: 526,000 (+7.6%)
    • From France: 933,000 (−0.4%)
  • Tourist vehicles peak in August: 132,000 (for comparison, 260,800 vehicles registered in Corsica)

Freight Traffic

  • Total inbound freight: 1.83 million tonnes (−0.1%)
    • BASTIA: Leading port with 1.2 million tonnes
      • 836,000 tonnes of RoRo cargo
      • 343,000 tonnes of oil products
    • AJACCIO: 575,000 tonnes (including 360,200 tonnes RoRo)
  • RoRo Freight: 1.18 million tonnes (+0.7%)
Jun 06
Love3

GulenSkyss Orders New Electric Ferry from Fjellstrand for Breistein–Valestrand Route

By 2025 Newsletter week 23

GulenSkyss has signed a contract with local shipyard Fjellstrand AS for the construction of a new electric ferry.

The vessel is designed for low energy consumption and environmentally friendly operation, tailored for the Breistein–Valestrand route.

Scheduled to enter service on 29 November 2027, the ferry will have a capacity of 50 cars.

The contract spans 15 years, with GulenSkyss aiming to provide a stable and high-quality transport service throughout the period.

Jun 06
Love3

Norway’s Coastal Route: Havila Voyages and HAV Group Aim for Growth and Greener Operations

By 2025 Newsletter week 23

HAVILA VOYAGES and HAV GROUP have formalised their collaboration to grow operations on the Bergen – Kirkenes – Bergen Coastal Route in the next contract period.

Focus: Lower emissions, higher energy efficiency, and development of next-generation ships.

Key Points:

  • Current fleet can reach carbon neutrality using biogas.
  • Future potential: green hydrogen, carbon capture, and 30% more energy efficiency.
  • New ships will build on the existing design with enhanced technology.
  • Call for stricter environmental requirements from authorities – including minimum year-round carbon neutrality.

Statements:

  • Bent Martini (Havila Voyages): “We’re ready to deliver carbon neutrality from day one with our current fleet.”
  • Gunnar Larsen (HAV Group): “We fully embrace the challenge and look forward to delivering innovative maritime solutions.”

Industry Call:

  • Both CEOs invited Norway’s maritime cluster to collaborate and make the Coastal Route a model for climate-responsible passenger shipping.
May 30
Love3

TALLINK Charters ROMANTIKA to Algeria’s Madar Maritime

By 2025 Newsletter week 22
  • AS Tallink Grupp confirms last week’s news
  • It has signed a nine-month charter agreement with Algeria’s state-owned Madar Maritime Company for the cruise ship ROMANTIKA.
  • The charter, starting Saturday 31 May, includes the vessel and technical crew.
  • The deal includes two optional six-month extensions.
  • CEO Paavo Nõgene highlighted the positive financial impact and the company’s adaptability: “Finding charter opportunities for ships not in use shows our flexibility in a changing economic environment.”
May 30
Love3

Damen Launches Fully Electric-Ready Ferry for BC Ferries

By 2025 Newsletter week 22

Damen Shipyards Galati has launched a new Island Class ferry for BC Ferries. The vessel, a Damen RoRo 8117 E3, is the first of four new battery-equipped diesel-hybrid ferries. All are designed for full electric operation once terminal charging infrastructure is in place.

This latest ferry—the seventh Damen-built ship for BC Ferries—will serve routes between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island, and Campbell River and Quadra Island. Each vessel can carry up to 47 vehicles and 390 passengers, with recharging during embarkation using renewable energy.

The launch was part of a week of major milestones at Damen. The yard also laid the keel for the ninth vessel and cut steel for the tenth. BC Ferries’ Executive Director of Shipbuilding Ed Hooper attended the events, alongside Canada’s Ambassador to Romania, Gavin Buchan.

In addition to the ships, Damen is supplying the onshore charging systems. Deliveries are scheduled for 2027, with continued support from Damen’s Canadian Service Hub in Victoria.

May 30
Love3

Anek Lines’ EL VENIZELOS Chartered to Algérie Ferries

By 2025 Newsletter week 22

On 24 May 2025, Anek Lines’ EL VENIZELOS made her final sailing on the Chania (Crete)–Piraeus route before heading to the Elefsis shipyard for preparations ahead of a long-term charter to Algérie Ferries.

She will be replaced on the route by her fleet mate KISSAMOS.

Previously, EL VENIZELOS was chartered to Tunisia Ferries from 2005 to 2011. She was the largest ferry flying the Greek flag and has served as the Anek Lines flagship for 33 years.

Photo: Dimitris Mendakis

May 30
Love3

Seatrials for SUPERFAST IV

By 2025 Newsletter week 22

On 23 May 2025, and after a long refit at Elefsis Yards (ONEX), RoPax SUPERFAST IV (ex-Hellenic Spirit) successfully completed her sea trials in the Saronic Gulf.

The vessel is expected to re-enter service in June on the Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona route, operating alongside her sister ship SUPERFAST III (ex-Olympic Champion).

During the refit, she underwent a full engine overhaul, interior upgrades, application of the new Superfast livery, dry docking, and installation of a scrubber unit.

Built in Norway in 2001, SUPERFAST IV has a capacity of 1,370 passengers and 2,045 lane metres, with a top speed of 30 knots.

Photo: Anastasios Anastasiou

May 30
Love3

SeaJets’ CHAMPION LEAGUE JET 1 Enters Service on Piraeus–Cyclades–Heraklion Route

By 2025 Newsletter week 22

On 23 May 2025, CHAMPION LEAGUE JET 1 (ex-JUMBO JET) entered service for SeaJets on the Piraeus–Syros–Tinos–Mykonos–Paros–Naxos–Santorini–Heraklion route.

Acquired from Turkish operator IDO in May 2024, she will operate alongside WORLD CHAMPION JET on the same line until October 2025.

Daily departures are scheduled from Heraklion at 08:00 and from Piraeus at 09:15.

Built in Australia in 2007, the vessel can carry 1,172 passengers and 140 cars, with a top speed of 43 knots.

Photo: Seajets

May 30
Love3

Biogas Investment for Fossil-Free Shipping – New Plant Under Construction in Eskilstuna

By 2025 Newsletter week 22

On 21 May, the first sod was turned for a new liquid biogas (LBG) production facility near Eskilstuna. The plant is a joint project by Gotlandsbolaget, Andion CH4 Renewables and Equitix, marking a key milestone in Gotlandsbolaget’s long-term ambition for fossil-free shipping.

Production is scheduled to begin in late 2026, with a capacity of approximately 5,400 tonnes of LBG per year. Gotlandsbolaget has secured most of the output through a 10-year agreement for use in Gotlandstrafiken. This will cover around 10% of Destination Gotland’s annual fuel needs and reduce CO₂ emissions by an estimated 100,000 tonnes over the decade compared to LNG.

“This shows we’re not waiting for the future – we’re investing in it,” said Mikael Razola, Head of Gotland Tech Development. The plant is being developed by Eskilstuna Biogas AB and is part of Gotlandsbolaget’s broader energy transition strategy.

May 30
Love3

Deltamarin Wins Design Contract for Finnlines’ New Hansa Superstar Class Ropax Vessels

By 2025 Newsletter week 22

Deltamarin has signed a contract with China Merchants Weihai Shipyard to design three new ‘Hansa Superstar’ class RoPax vessels for Finnlines, set to operate on the Finland-Germany route in the Baltic Sea.

Earlier, Knud E Hansen announced that its Interior Design Department has been selected to lead the Interior and Exterior design for four of Grimaldi Lines´s latest vessels.