CMA CGM has reduced its ro-ro service to North Africa, and concentrates on a single service Marseille-Casablanca-Marseille. This single service was started on January 20 with ro-ro AKNOUL, reports l’Antenne (in French).
The original “Morroco Express” service was launched on October 2017, with the first loop linking Casablanca, Tanger and Marseille, and a second loop linking Tanger, Marseille and Genoa.
- Detroit World Logistic Maritime (DWLM) expect to have their veteran ferry LE RIF ready in April. The ship is being refurbished in Naples since a long time. Some websites already reported the company had abandoned her, something which was proven wrong by issuing a message on DWLM’s social media. “She will be ready to sail between Tanger Med and Algeciras by April.”
- The ro-pax ferries AMSICORA and BONARIA, previously chartered by Tirrenia and returned to their owner Grimaldi have been renamed into MYKONOS PALACE and CRUISE BONARIA respectively.
- CLdN’s second mega- 7,800 lane meter ro-ro is on her delivery voyage, and is expected in Rotterdam/Zeebrugge mid February.
- Trasmediterránea has moved the SUPERFAST LEVANTE and ALMUDAINA DOS from the Cypriot flag back again to the Spanish registry, with fully Spanish crew. Other ships may follow.
- After a lay-up period, ro-pax AL ANDALUS EXPRESS (former SEAFRANCE NORD PAS-DE-CALAIS) will again be used by FRS until 7 March. The ship is still for sale.
- Trasmediterranéa’s ferry ALMARIYA is back in service again, after months of repair work.
The president of Balearia, Adolfo Utor, was at the International Tourism Fair of Madrid (FITUR) to present the two LNG ro-pax ferries currently being built by Visentini.
The first vessel, the HYPATIA DE ALEJANDRÍA is expected to enter service in early 2019. The second will be named MARIE CURIE. The names are a tribute to two scientific women which are important in the history of humanity.
Both vessels are earmarked for the Balearic Islands.
Capacity: 810 passengers + 2,180 lane meters of cargo + 150 cars
Baleària’s has already done some pioneering work by converting one auxiliary engine on ABEL MATUTES into an LNG engine. The company has the intention to re-motorize other ships in the fleet.
Watch the video presentation (2:31)
Irish Ferries new cruise ferry reached a key milestone on Friday 19 January, when the ship was formally named in traditional style, and the completed hull launched into the water in Flensburg.
Watch the video of the launch (2:58)