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sandra

Jun 28
2

New Italy – Montenegro maritime link to be operated by Adria Ferries

By | 2024 Newsletter week 26 | No Comments

The Italian shipping company Adria Ferries has just announced a new RoPax link starting from 9th July, which will operate twice per week between the two sides of the Adriatic Sea. AF MIA is the vessel to be deployed on the line linking the port of Ancona in Italy with Bar in Montenegro.

Some safety tests for the berth were conducted last week.

AF MIA, the 1997-built ex-CRUISE SMERALDA, was purchased last autumn from the Grimaldi Group and has a capacity of 1,500 passengers and 2,200 lane metres.

The other routes regularly covered by Adria Ferries link the Italian ports of Ancona and Bari with Durres in Albania.

Jun 28
2

Interview with Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line, in RoPax 13 (May 2024):

By | 2024 Newsletter week 26 | No Comments
  • Performance in 2023:
    • Stena Line had a decent year in terms of volume and customer satisfaction.
    • The company faced high costs due to increased salaries, spare parts, and interest rates.
    • Brexit did not negatively impact traffic between Ireland and the UK, which remains stable and growing.
  • Market Challenges:
    • The Baltic Sea region was significantly impacted by the Ukraine war and higher interest rates, affecting macroeconomic activities.
    • Competition is intense, with other operators reducing prices.
  • Expansion and Investment:
    • Stena Line expanded in the Mediterranean by acquiring a 49% stake in African Morocco Link (AML).
    • New logistics hubs were established in Liverpool and Dublin, enhancing operations between Ireland and the UK.
    • The company is also developing a new port in Immingham, transitioning some services from Killingholme.
  • Sustainability Efforts:
    • Stena Line continues to explore green fuel options, including methanol and hybrid solutions combining biodiesel and batteries.
    • The “Stena Electra” project remains of interest, but its future depends on infrastructure investments in electricity.
  • New Ventures:
    • Stena Line sees potential in the Morocco-Spain route, emphasizing the strategic importance of Morocco’s infrastructure investments and its role in connecting Europe and Africa.
  • Future Outlook:
    • Despite market fluctuations, Stena Line is focused on infrastructure investments rather than acquiring customers.
    • The company remains adaptable in its approach to fuel and propulsion systems, seeking to balance sustainability with economic feasibility.

Read the full interview in RoPax magazine: PDF

Jun 28
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 26 | No Comments

MSC-controlled GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci) celebrated the launching at Guangzhou Shipyard International of the newly-built GNV ORION, second of four new ro-pax ships commissioned by the Geneva-based MSC Group.

The delivery will take place during the summer 2025 while the first unit (renamed GNV POLARIS) is scheduled for delivery before the end of the current year.

GNV POLARIS and GNV ORION will be 218m long with a capacity for 1,785 passengers and 3,100 lane metres of freight.

Two more sister ships will follow and will be LNG-powered.

Liberty Lines, a company owned by the Morace family, has taken delivery of the second high-speed craft named CRISTINA M, sister ship of the VITTORIO MORACE, built by Astilleros Armon shipyard in Navia, Spain.

With a length of 39.5 meters and a capacity of 251 passengers, it is the second HSC hybrid fast unit under construction. It is equipped with two MTU-Rolls Royce hybrid engines, allowing it to operate entirely in electric mode within ports before recharging the batteries while sailing at 30 knots in open sea.

CRISTINA M is the second of the 9 innovative fast hybrid ships that will join the fleet by 2026 and 2027 and be deployed on the routes to and from Sicily.

Polferries has announced the start of ticket sales for their new ship, the Varsovia. Replacing the Cracovia on the Świnoujście-Ystad route from July 27, 2024, the Varsovia will offer daily departures.

Polferries RoPax Cracovia will leave the Świnoujście-Ystad line on July 1, 2024 and will be employed in the Mediterranean Sea for the next year. Charterer unknown.

As the construction of Spirit of Tasmania IV nears completion, the ship took to the open seas for the first time on a five-day trial run from Rauma Marine Constructions Oy in Finland.

It is reported that Africa Morocco Link chartered Virtu Ferries’ HSC Maria Dolores mid-June. The ship is operating on the Tarifa – Tanger Ville route along with Morocco Express 1, which was recently introduced following the successful agreement between Stena and Attica Group. HSC Maria Dolores was active on the above route, chartered (2022-2023) by the collapsed Moroccan Intershipping and then laid up at Valletta (Malta). She was built in Australia (2006).

Photo: Austal

Magic Sea Ferries reported that its HSC Cat 1 (1994), will be introduced on the Lavrion-Kea-Kythnos-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos route on July 4, 2024.

Last summer, she served on the Mandoudi (Evia) – Sporades line. She was built in Japan (1994). Her carrying capacity is for 1000 passengers and 200 cars.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Jun 21
2

CLdN establishes Baltic connection with Transfennica

By | 2024 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments

CLdN and Transfennica will link their shipping services in Zeebrugge to offer customers broader connections across Northern and Western Europe.

Transfennica’s Northern Baltic service between Antwerp and the ports of Hanko, Kotka, Rauma (Finland) and Paldiski (Estonia) will call at CLdN’s Albert II terminal in Zeebrugge every other Thursday, enabling the exchange of northbound and southbound cargo.

The first call is scheduled for Thursday, 25th July.

This combination will facilitate the transshipment of containers, tank containers, trailers, reefers, automotive units, self-drives, breakbulk, and other special cargo such as mobile machinery.

It will provide excellent connectivity between the furthest reaches of Northern and Western Europe – Iberia, Ireland, the UK, Scandinavia, and the Northern Baltics. Both companies will share freight loading equipment, thereby maximising the efficiency of each transshipment.

Jun 21
2

Interview with Dr. Emanuele Grimaldi, head of the Grimaldi Group and President of ICS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments

Interview with Dr. Emanuele Grimaldi, head of the Grimaldi Group and President of ICS

In collaboration with Jan-Philip Eckmann we have the pleasure to share the article published in RoPax 12 (May 2023). Key points discussed include:

  1. Fleet Expansion and Innovation: Grimaldi has introduced 12 new RoRo Eco-class vessels, ordered 15 ammonia-ready Pure Car & Truck Carriers, and plans to use innovative technologies such as the “gate rudder” to reduce carbon intensity by 50%.
  2. 2022 Performance: 2022 was the best year in Grimaldi’s history, surpassing 2021, with notable performance from Grimaldi Lines, ACL, and Finnlines.
  3. Baltic Sea Operations: Finnlines reported strong results due to new Eco-class vessels, increased passenger numbers, and the introduction of a new Irish service.
  4. New Services and Competition: New services between Sweden and Poland have started, and new Super Star RoPax vessels have been introduced between Finland and Sweden, despite reduced cargo to Russia.
  5. Environmental Initiatives: Grimaldi focuses on sustainability, with plans for ammonia-ready propulsion systems, carbon capture technologies, and solar panels on new vessels. The group also proposes a tax and reward system to incentivize the use of green fuels.
  6. Market and Route Developments: Grimaldi’s new routes include Naples to Palermo and expanded services in the Balearic Islands. They see potential in Igoumenitsa for growth in cargo traffic from Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, and Turkey.
  7. Digitalization and AI: The company has optimized routes using digitalization, achieving 3% fuel savings, and plans further advancements in AI for operational efficiency.
  8. Future Fuel and Emission Strategies: Grimaldi explores various zero-carbon fuels and carbon capture techniques, aiming to comply with global emission targets by 2050. The company advocates for a global approach to carbon taxation led by the IMO.

The interview highlights Grimaldi’s commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and strategic growth in the shipping industry.

CLICK ON COVER TO READ

Read the interview here
Jun 21
2

Port of Antwerp-Bruges joins Green Port Corridor DFDS to have two hybrid ammonia-electric RoRo vessels by 2030

By | 2024 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments
  • Port of Gothenburg, North Sea Port, and DFDS welcome Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
  • Aim to bolster green ambitions and create the world’s first green ammonia shipping corridor for freight vessels.

Route Details:

  • Corridor spans 2,500 kilometres, connecting Sweden and Belgium.
  • Potentially connects 11 European countries from Norway in the north to Spain in the south.
  • Ports of Gothenburg, North Sea Port, and Antwerp-Bruges serve as transportation hubs and zones of industrial activity.

Raised Ambitions:

  • Goal to have at least two DFDS hybrid ammonia-electric RoRo vessels in operation on the corridor by 2030.
  • Part of DFDS’s plan to operate six low- and near-zero-emission vessels by 2030.
  • Ammonia vessels to be complemented by electric trucks, rail transport, and onshore power supply.

Electrification and Renewable Energy:

  • Intensified efforts by ports to facilitate electric terminal operations and safe ammonia bunkering.
  • Partners plan to produce significant amounts of renewable electricity.

MoU and Collaboration:

  • Original partners signed an MoU in 2022 to decarbonise the shipping corridor and create a scalable solution.
  • Addition of Port of Antwerp-Bruges strengthens this commitment.

Funding and Emission Reduction:

  • DFDS has applied for funding for four ammonia-fuelled vessels.
  • If funded, the project is expected to reduce 328,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions per year, about 11% of DFDS’s scope 1 GHG emissions compared to 2023. ​
Jun 21
2

ENOVA grant for the retrofit Samskip LNG RoRo with fuel cells and hydrogen fuel

By | 2024 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments

TECO 2030, BLOM Maritime and Samskip receive ENOVA (*) grant to retrofit Samskip LNG RoRo Kvitnos with fuel cells and hydrogen fuel.

  • Project Partners: TECO 2030, BLOM Maritime, and Samskip.
  • Objective: Retrofit Samskip’s LNG vessel Kvitnos, with TECO 2030 fuel cells and hydrogen fuel.
  • Scope: Preparation for an investment decision and long-term hydrogen fuel supply contracts.
  • Engineering Support: BLOM Maritime to provide documentation and preliminary approval for the retrofit.
  • Samskip’s Commitment: Targeting net-zero emissions by 2040, with multiple hydrogen projects underway.

For more details, visit TECO 2030 news.

(*) About Enova: Is a Norwegian state-owned enterprise. Ownership is managed by the Ministry of Climate and Environment (KLD).

Photo: Wikimedia

Jun 21
2

Color Group AS acquires the remaining shares in ONS Ship Finance AS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments

Color Group AS has agreed to purchase 61.4% of ONS Ship Finance AS from its parent company, O.N. Sunde AS, for NOK 400 million, based on an independent valuation.

This acquisition will be settled by offsetting intercompany balances.

Color Group AS, through Color Line AS, already owns 38.6% of ONS Ship Finance AS, thus becoming the sole owner of RoPax SuperSpeed 2.

Source: Euronext

Jun 21
2

Q4 Traffic of Passengers, Goods, and Mobile Units in Greek Ports

By | 2024 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments
  1. Passenger Traffic:
    • Total passenger traffic increased by 11.1% in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022.
    • A previous increase of 19.1% was recorded when comparing Q4 2022 to Q4 2021.
    • Domestic passengers saw an 11.7% increase in Q4 2023, while international passengers decreased by 1.4%.
  2. Goods Movement:
    • Total goods movement decreased by 1.1% in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022.
    • This follows a previous decrease of 4.4% from Q4 2021 to Q4 2022.
    • Domestic goods movement slightly decreased by 1.0% in Q4 2023, while international goods movement saw a minor decrease of 1.2%.
  3. Mobile Units Traffic:
    • Total traffic of mobile units increased by 6.8% in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022.
    • An increase of 8.5% was noted from Q4 2021 to Q4 2022.
    • Domestic mobile units traffic rose by 7.7%, while international mobile units traffic decreased by 3.6%.

Detailed Statistics:

  • Passenger Traffic:
    • Total in Q4 2023: 6,140,886 (11.1% increase from Q4 2022).
    • Domestic: 5,897,305 passengers (11.7% increase).
    • International: 243,581 passengers (1.4% decrease).
  • Goods Movement:
    • Total in Q4 2023: 35,705,132 tonnes (1.1% decrease from Q4 2022).
    • Domestic: 6,898,200 tonnes (1.0% decrease).
    • International: 28,806,932 tonnes (1.2% decrease).
      • Unloaded: 16,507,161 tonnes (5.5% decrease).
      • Loaded: 12,299,771 tonnes (5.2% increase).
  • Mobile Units Traffic:
    • Total in Q4 2023: 2,252,067 units (6.8% increase from Q4 2022).
    • Domestic: 2,085,883 units (7.7% increase).
    • International: 166,184 units (3.6% decrease).

For further details, the full report is available on the ELSTAT website.

Jun 21
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments

Godby Shipping’s RoRo Midas has been time-chartered by CMA CGM until December 2026.

Before, Midas will undergo class renewal docking in Turkey. After the dry dock, Midas will replace Mimer (photo) in the Caribbean.

Subsequently, Mimer will go for her class renewal docking and will then be available for new opportunities.

Godby Shipping estimates that the dry docking of both vessels will extend their lifespans by approximately 10 years.

Last week, DFDS took part in the opening of Milence’s third truck charging park in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. This new facility, featuring ten powerful CCS chargers with a capacity of up to 400 kW each, supports 20 parking spaces for electric trucks. It is the largest charging park in Europe and the first in Belgium, providing significant support for DFDS’s position as Europe’s largest electric heavy-duty truck fleet operator.

Source: DFDS on Linkedin

Irish Ferries’ new Oscar Wilde started operating on Calais-Dover. The vessel is well-known on this route. She was the Spirit of Britain and operated for P&O Ferries since 2011.

Irish Ferries will have this vessel together with Isle of Inishmore and Isle of Inisheer on the English Channel.

Attica Group’s RoPax Superfast XI has been undergoing annual maintenance at the Perama repair zone since May 20, 2024. The popular red ship was also dry docked and is expected to return to her Adriatic service (Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona route) on June 30, 2024. She was built in Germany in 2002. Her carrying capacity is 1,820 passengers and 650 cars (1,920 lane meters). She can ply at 28 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Salamis Lines’ RoRo Akritas is also at the Perama repair zone for her scheduled annual repairs and dry docking. The ship left her Lavrion (Greece) – Limassol (Cyprus) service on June 6 and is expected to return to service on June 22, 2024. She was built in Finland in 1982.

Photo: Dimitris Mendakis