Transport Malta Is Looking for Ferry Operator
Transport Malta has issued a request for proposals for the introduction of a ferry service in Malta and Gozo. The concession will be for 15 years and will feature ticket booths, departure points and eco-vessels.
A market research conducted by Transport Malta shows that the concession is valued at €115,500,000.
In a very interesting 10-minute radio interview, Incat Founder and Chair Robert Clifford says his company would be able to build 90% of the new ferries with local products at their shipyard in Tasmania’s south.
Hans-Dietmar Hoffmüller, an expert on the traditional ferry line ‘Königslinie’ from Sassnitz to Trelleborg, is concerned about the decision to adapt the train ferry berth for the new fast ferry connection to Sweden.
As a result, rail ferry traffic will no longer be possible in the future, he fears.
In a circular economy project, Baleària has reused the plastic equivalent of more than 85,000 bottles to build the furniture for the exterior decks of the ferries BAHAMA MAMA (Dénia-Ibiza-Palma), and ABEL MATUTES (Barcelona, Alcúdia and Ciutadella).
Attica Group introduced the e-ticket/boarding pass application on domestic routes, building the new digital age in Greek ferry services.
The goal of this new app is to improve services, make transactions more convenient for passengers, and simplify boarding and travel procedures. Visitors from all over the world, as well as island residents, who travel frequently by ferry, will now have the possibility to make their reservations much easier and receive and store their tickets and/or boarding passes.
On July 24, Minoan Lines’ ‘cruise’ ferry KYDON PALACE was introduced on the Piraeus-Chania line, after an inauguration ceremony that took place in the port of Piraeus. She is the fastest, newest and most luxurious ship of the line, while she is also the first ship of the Cretan service to undergo scrubber conversion.
KYDON PALACE will depart, from the port of Piraeus, in July and August, at 16:00 and from the port of Souda at 23:59.
Every Saturday and Sunday she will depart from the port Piraeus at 11:00 and from the port of Souda at 22:30.
Her carrying capacity is for 2.500 passengers (758 beds) and 700 private cars or 113 trucks and 100 cars while she can run at a speed of maximum 31.50 knots.
1000 Finns Visited Saaremaa with Tallink Grupp’s Vessel VICTORIA I on a One-Off Special Cruise
The company’s vessel VICTORIA I left Helsinki on Monday night, 27 July, with just slightly over 1000 Finnish passengers on board, ready to discover the Estonian island gem of Saaremaa.
This is the first time Victoria I is visiting Saaremaa and it is the largest vessel by gross tonnage to ever visit the Saaremaa deep harbour, completed in 2006 and located approximately 40 kilometres from the capital of the island, Kuressaare.
Around 30 coaches were waiting for the passengers at the port to transfer passengers to Kuressaare and to take them on various island tours to visit Saaremaa’s famous landmarks, such as Angla windmills, Kuressaare castle and much more.
Commenting on the special cruise, Tallink Grupp’s CEO Paavo Nõgene said: “If the passenger feedback is positive to this kind of trip and there is more demand for Saaremaa cruises, we will be happy to consider offering these cruises also in the future.”
First Norled Hydrogen Ferry Launched
Norse Shipyard (Turkey) launched NESVIK. Designed by LMG Marin, she is the first of two hydrogen ferries for Norled. The hull will be towed to the Westcon Shipyard for the finalisation of the building.