The annual docking of DELFT SEAWAYS, DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS AND DOVER SEAWAYS includes replacement of their nine tonnes heavy main bow door hinge arms as well as completion of main engine gearbox overhaul.
Each ‘D’ ship will spend 10 days in dock.
The ‘C’ vessels COTE DES DUNES and COTE DES FLANDRES will follow. Their main propeller blades will be changed to a new design to match the vessels’ scheduled service speed and give a significant reduction in fuel consumption.
CALAIS SEAWAYS will go as last ship, for routine work and main engine overhaul.
In the commercial passenger areas, new tills and shop display units are being fitted on all vessels and for freight customers, completely refurbished shower facilities will be fitted on four vessels.

The ro-ro volume in Zeebrugge grew 4.3% in 2017, to a total of 14,962,878 tonnes.
Scandinavian ro-ro loads experienced again a spectacular growth of 23.5% (CLdN, SOL, Finnlines..). In 2016 the growth figure on this region was already 11.7 %.
The volume of traffic to and from the United Kingdom is stable. (+0.4%)
The following routes saw a more significant rise: Teesport (+10.1%) and Hull (+16.6%). The latter has seen a growing lo-lo activity, instead of ro-ro.
P&O Ferries noted a record volume on Tilbury, with more than 185,000 freight units shipped in 2017. (+4.9%)
The ro-ro volume on Ireland grew 4.6%.

At the beginning of the year DFDS Copenhagen-Oslo route vessel CROWN SEAWAYS has been sent to Fayard, where she will be staying until January 23.
She will be repainted in the new brand colours. In addition, there are a number of major things that will be upgraded, such as the Commodore Balcony cabins, which will be completely refurbished with a contemporary interior. The conference centre will have a new lounge area, designed for a better customer flow.
The Marco Polo restaurant is also being refurbished and is getting a new interior.
On January 24 both CROWN SEAWAYS and PEARL SEAWAYS will be side by side in Copenhagen in their matching colours, a very unusual happening

Møre og Romsdal County Municipality has appointed Fjord1 ASA as the winner of the ‘Nordmørspakken’ group of ferry connections. The contract is to be signed on January 2018.
The new contract period is from 1 January 2020 until 31 December 2030.
Routes:

• Halsa–Kanestraum (E39)
• Seivika–Tømmervåg (Rv 680)(Rv= national road)
• Arasvika–Hennset (E39–Rv 682)
• Kvanne–Rykkjem (Rv 670)
• Sandvika–Edøy (Rv 680–Rv 669)

Blue Water Shipping has put into operation a new multi-terminal covering 116,000 m2 in the East Port area of the Danish Port of Esbjerg. The terminal is using the port’s two newly built ro-ro ramps, and welcomed DFDS as first customer, for its Immingham route.
According to Port Director Ole Ingrisch, improved conditions for ro-ro traffic have been one of the major focus areas in the establishment of the East Port.
Traffic will have direct access to the E20 motorway, which is also good news for the City.
The port is also important for the wind turbine industry, which has introduced ro-ro vessels to its logistics concept.

At the end of January NORDLINK will become FINNSWAN.
Operating now on Travemünde-Malmö, she is going to be transferred to the Naantali (Turku)-Långnäs-Kapellskär route.
First she will be refurbished, with a new look for the restaurant and the shop.

At the end of January NORDLINK will become FINNSWAN.
Operating now on Travemünde-Malmö, she is going to be transferred to the Naantali (Turku)-Långnäs-Kapellskär route.
First she will be refurbished, with a new look for the restaurant and the shop.

AMSICORA and BONARIA have been returned to owner Grimaldi

Ro-pax ferries AMSICORA and BONARIA are to be returned to owner Grimaldi after having been chartered by Tirrenia for the Naples-Cagliari route.
After refit, repainting and renaming (probably with the ‘cruise’ prefix) the vessels are going to be used on the Civitavecchia-Olbia route for Grimaldi Lines.
To the dissatisfaction of some local politicians, the ferries are being replaced by the 40-year-old veterans MOBY CORSE and MOBY DADA, as reported by SardiniaPost (in Italian).
Our remark: is it possibly a strategic move?

Sunnmørsposten writes (in Norwegian) that shipowner Per Sævik (Havila Holding AS) submitted a tender to build and operate four of the eleven ships needed for a service like the one operated now by Hurtigruten. The company tendered via its subsidiary Havila Kystruten AS.
Last week was the deadline for submitting tenders for the new coastal contract 2020-2030.