LMG Marin to make the concept design for the new BC Ferries “Major Class”

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LMG Marin has been selected by BC Ferries as design agent for its new Major class vessels.

The first stage of the project will soon start with the overall goal to achieve a zero-emission design by use of proven technology. This concept design will be later further finetuned into a basic design and a specification package that will be used for contracting the new ships at a yard.

The new Major Class ferries are expected to be operational by 2029.

EKOL of Turkey rumoured to be selling its road transport business to DFDS

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DFDS is going to take over the international road transport division of EKOL, one of Turkey’s leading logistics companies according to the news source Dünya.

The parties already shook hands in principle. After the official signatures and competition approval, EKOL International Road Transport company, which accounts for approximately 60 percent of the group’s turnover, will join DFDS.

EKOL is among the leading logistics providers in Europe with its 52 weekly block trains and 7,500 vehicles that allow intermodal transportation.

The Turkish logistics group some years ago already sold to DFDS the maritime transport business line operating from Turkey to the port of Trieste.

Established in 1990, EKOL is an integrated logistics company operating in the fields of transportation, contract logistics, foreign trade, customs and supply chain management. It has offices in 13 countries including Turkey, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Spain, Poland, Czechia, Slovenia and Sweden.

Liberty Lines and Caronte & Tourist the only bidders for the subsidized routes in Sicily

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Regione Siciliana received two offers following the public tender launched for the ferry links to and from the smaller islands surrounding Sicily. The contract is worth EUR 360 million for five years and it’s divided in two: EUR 210 million for highspeed maritime links and EUR 152 million for services operated with ropax units.

As for the highspeed routes, Liberty Lines emerged as the only participants, while Caronte & Tourist was the only company interested in the subsidised links to the Eolie, Egadi, Lampedusa and Linosa islands.

The last concession awarded saw Ustica Lines (former Liberty Lines), Caronte & Tourist and Siremar as the companies with the highest number of lines granted.

RoPax DALEELA arrived in Greece for the Piraeus-Limassol line

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Scandro Holdings’ RoPax DALEELA (1991) arrived in Greece (Diamantis Shipyards/Kynosoura) on June 3, 2022.

The ferry will connect Piraeus with Limassol as from June 19 (after 22 years) and is expected to do 22 round trips until September 16, 2022.

The Cypriot government will subsidize that line annually with EUR 5,5 million for the next 3 years (EUR 16,5 million)

Journey: 30 hours.

Capacity: 400 passengers and 100 cars.

The owner of the ship is the Jordanian Arab Ship Management (ASM), which chartered her to Scandro Holdings for the specific service.

Golden Star Ferries’ ANDROS QUEEN is undergoing a large-scale conversion

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The latest acquisition of Golden Star Ferries from Japan, ANDROS QUEEN, is currently undergoing a conversion into a luxury RoPax ferry at the Perama repair zone.

The ship is expected to stay there for the next 8 months, and she will be reformed by 70%. The overall cost of her conversion is expected to exceed the EUR 20 million and will include a complete engine refit, interior remodeling, and external conversion (mainly aft).

The ship is expected to be ready at the beginning of 2023 and will be probably introduced on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line.

Saronic Ferries signed MOU with DNV for the development of a fully electric ferry

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On June 7, 2022, Saronic Ferries signed a memorandum of cooperation with DNV, for the approval of the initial conception of the first, fully electric, passenger car ferry in Greece, which is designed for the Saronic lines.

The specific agreement took place within the framework of the International Shipping Exhibition POSIDONIA 2022 that is held in Greece every 2 years. According to the company executives, Saronic Ferries begins its journey to zero emissions, taking the first step towards a new, more environmentally friendly, model of transportation in the Saronic Gulf.

Delivery of AERO 1 HIGHSPEED

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Attica took delivery of the AERO 1 HIGHSPEED catamaran, built at Brødrene Aa shipyard, Norway.

It is the first of the three Aero Catamarans ordered in January 2021, which will be deployed in the Saronic islands, in replacement of existing Group capacity in the market.

Total investment EUR 21million, covered by own funds and bank financing.

Saronic routes = 3 million pax/year

The vessel at full load has a maximum speed of 32,2 knots, total length 36 meters, width 9.7 meters and carrying capacity of 150 passengers.

ForSea had a record weekend

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A total of 135,000 people travelled with ForSea in the period Wednesday-Sunday 25-29 May (Ascencion)

“It is with pleasure that we can state that we are breaking the record from 2017. It becomes clear to us that the offer on board and the voyage itself is really appreciated by our passengers,” says Kristian Durhuus, CEO of ForSea.

Covid made people rediscover nearby destinations, and this ‘staycation’ trend seems to continue.

Five ports receive their PERS certificate at ESPO Conference in Valencia

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ESPO congratulates the Port of Harlingen (the Netherlands), the Port of Helsinki (Finland), the JadeWeserPort (Germany), the Port of Cork (Ireland) and the Port of Rauma (Finland) for being certified through the EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS = Port Environmental Review System).

PERS is the only port-specific environmental standard. The last five years have seen important increases in its recognition and membership, with 106 ports from 25 countries currently counting themselves as part of the EcoPorts Network, and 35 ports holding PERS certification. Compliance with the EcoPorts’ PERS standard is independently assessed by Lloyd’s Register and the certificate has a validity of two years. EcoPorts’ PERS is revised after the 2-year period to make sure that the port continues to meet the requirements.