FERRY SHIPPING

By | 2020 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

Government Of Canada To Acquire Interim Replacement For The Ferry MADELEINE

Government of Canada has issued an Advance Contract Award Notice, signalling its intention to purchase the Trasmediterranea ropax ferry VILLA DE TEROR as an interim measure to replace the MADELEINE (former LEINSTER, 1981).

MADELEINE is 39 years old and is at the end of its service life, and last year the Government of Canada announced that Chantier Davie Canada Inc. will build a replacement vessel, which is expected to be ready in 2026.

However, an interim solution is required to ensure continued reliable, predictable, and safe ferry service to the residents of Îles-de-la-Madeleine. As a result, Transport Canada intends to purchase the VILLA DE TEROR to deliver the service during the summer of 2021 until 2026.

Once the purchase has been completed, Transport Canada intends to rename her MADELEINE II. When the permanent replacement built by Chantier Davie enters into service, the Government will sell the MADELEINE II.

Partnership Between Uber And Thames Clippers

By | 2020 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

Thames Clipper will be formally announcing a partnership with Uber later this summer 2020. The vessels are currently being repainted and the new name will be Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.

This is a partnership and there is no change in ownership for Thames Clippers

The partnership between Uber and Thames Clippers encourages more people to travel by boat around the city and supports the ongoing expansion of the river network across London

Uber users can purchase tickets in advance through the Uber app and then use QR technology to board the boats. The payment will be processed using the user’s Uber account details.

Passengers will continue to be able to purchase tickets via the existing Thames Clippers sales channels, including touching in and out with contactless or Oyster to pay as you go at the piers they serve across London.

New Charters And New Routes For Godby Ships

By | 2020 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

After having to lay up several ships, Godby Shipping announced new charters and deployments:

MISIDA to P&O Ferries, for Dublin-Liverpool, July-September

MIDAS to Wagenborg, for a new liner service Riga-Oxelösund. The main cargo is prefabricated construction elements for the Swedish building sector. (read Wagenborg’s press release)

MISANA and MISIDA have been chartered to Norwegian operator Sea-Cargo for delivery in August and October 2020. The contract is valid until end 2021 with options for Sea-Cargo to extend after that. The ships will be employed in Sea-Cargo liner service between Norway and continental Europe.

MISTRAL will start a new traffic in August. The charterer has asked to remain unnamed for the moment.

DFDS: Ferry Changes In The Baltic Sea

By | 2020 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

After her charter with Brittany Ferries the newly returned SIRENA SEAWAYS embarked on her first sailing on her new route between Paldiski – Kapellskär taking over from OPTIMA SEAWAYS that was repositioned to Klaipėda-Karlshamn.

SAILOR’s charter agreement will soon expire, as she goes to Tallink.

PATRIA SEAWAYS takes over SAILOR‘s schedule for the Paldiski-Hanko and Paldiski- Kapellskär routes, starting from Week 28.

Rene Pärt, Baltic Sales & Partnership Manager, says, “We are establishing ourselves in the Northern Baltic Sea region by changing both of our vessels in Estonia with bigger and better ones to continue servicing our wide customer base on Paldiski-Kapellskär.”

“The new setup provides more flexible tonnage opportunities for our freight customers on the Klaipėda-Karlshamn route and with PATRIA and SIRENA sailing from Paldiski, they will ensure an efficient mix of passenger and freight capacity in the Northern Baltic”.

(Source: DFDS News)

Austal Delivers First Of Two 118 Metre Trimarans To Fred. Olsen Express

By | 2020 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

Austal Australia has delivered Hull 394, BAJAMAR EXPRESS, to Fred. Olsen Express at a ceremony held at the Company’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.

The 118 metre high-speed trimaran ferry is the first of two identical vessels ordered by Fred. Olsen Express in a EUR 126 million contract in October 2017.

The second vessel, Bañaderos Express (Austal Hull 395), is under construction at Austal Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu, and is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2021.

Austal Chief Operating Officer Patrick Gregg and Master Captain Cristobal Amador of Fred. Olsen Express, signing the handover documentation for BAJAMAR EXPRESS on 7 July 2020. (image: Austal)

CLdN Is Unstoppable

By | 2020 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

At a rapid pace CLdN expands its roro network and frequencies. The compagnie is also much more active in its communication, a change with the past.

CLdN announced it will now have two weekly departures from Zeebrugge to Esbjerg: one on Saturday (arrival on Sunday) and one on Wednesday (arrival on Thursday).

FRS Organised A Repatriation Campaign For German Citizens In Morocco

By | 2020 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

FRS carried out a return trip on Friday, July 3, for mainly German citizens and people of other northern European nationalities who stayed in Morocco after the border closure that the country announced last March. The crossing took place with the FRS ferry KATTEGAT. It brought about 300 passengers and 180 vehicles from Tangier Med to Algeciras.

Last May, FRS organized a return campaign for British citizens.

FRS serves all routes on the Strait of Gibraltar. In 2019, more than 1.9 million passengers, 88,000 vehicles and 114,000 freight units were carried.

CRIST Started Steel Cutting For Another Hybrid Vessel

By | 2020 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

Over 100 meters long and with the capacity to transport 90 cars and 372 pax – these are the parameters of the new hybrid ferry that CRIST will build for the Finnish ferry operator Finferries.

The steel-cutting proces has started on 1 July 2020.

The P 315 ferry will be powered by shore-charged batteries. The diesel power generators will serve as a backup power source for the unit, used in bad weather or large ice buildup along its route.

The ferry is to be operated by a crew of three. Vessel is designed by LMG Marin.

Pollution From EXPRESS SAMINA Threatens Paros

By | 2020 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

It seems that the pollution from the shipwreck of EXPRESS SAMINA threatens the island of Paros.

Three special anti-pollution vessels and a vessel of the Port Authority of Paros are trying to reduce the ecological damage in the Gulf of Parikia, but also in the wider area.

The French build EXPRESS SAMINA sank in the evening of September 26, 2000 after colliding with a rock off the coast of Paros island. The accident resulted in 81 deaths and the loss of the ship. Since then, her shipwreck lies in the sea area of Portes rusting. Now, after 20 years, her rusty hull has become a serious threat for the surrounding shores of the island.

In any case, the lifting of the shipwreck was initiated by the Public Port Authority, which had even proceeded to an open tender for its removal. However, the Minister of Shipping abolished –with law- the Public Port Authority and the tender was canceled.

In the announcement of that open tender, there was also a special reference to the dangers and risks posed by the shipwreck, both for the environment and navigation while the cost to the public budget was estimated to EUR 1,24 million.