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2023 Newsletter week 9

Mar 03
0

Honfleur to Baleària

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It has been widely reported that Baleària has agreed to charter the so far unused ro-pax HONFLEUR.  This was the ferry built by Flensburger Shipyard, refused by Brittany Ferries due to excessive delays, and then completed by Fosen Yard.

The vessel has been idle at Gdynia for almost a year, since work on her was completed.  It is reported that the ship will be in Spain by the end of March and is to be chartered for six months with an option to buy afterwards.

With an LNG compatibility, it seems a natural match for Baleària, one of the leading LNG ferry operators.

The ship has started displaying the name RUSADIR on AIS.  Rusadir was an ancient Punic and Roman town at what is now Melilla, Spain, suggesting that the ship is likely to be used on Baleària’s services to North Africa.

Mar 03
1

P&O Pioneer delivered

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On 28 February, Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) of China handed over P&O Ferries’ first “double-ended” ro-pax.

P&O PIONEER will depart China for Europe shortly, arriving at Dover in the first days of April.  She is expected in service on the Dover – Calais route at the start of May.  P&O PIONEER will be joined by sistership P&O LIBERTE later in the year.

The EUR 260 million investment by P&O Ferries is expected to see the PRIDE OF CANTERBURY, PRIDE OF KENT and already idle PRIDE OF BURGUNDY exit the fleet.

Photos: P&O Ferries

Mar 03
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Baleària expresses an interest in Naviera Armas

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The President of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, has publicly stated the company’s interest “in a future acquisition of Naviera Armas in the event that the current owners put it up for sale”.

The company would be particularly interested in Armas’ Canaries inter-island traffic, where Baleària currently isn’t present.

However, the acquisition is said to be third place in Baleària’s priorities, below the expansion of the company’s Caribbean operation and the fleet renewal strategy.

Naviera Armas is expected to be offered for sale at some stage following recent restructures which have largely placed control of the company with banks.

Photo: Naviera Armas

Mar 03
0

Stena Danish routes back to pre-pandemic levels

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Stena Line has reported that bookings on their Danish ferry routes are back to the same level as before the pandemic.

The Frederikshavn – Gøteborg and Grenå – Halmstad ferry services are reporting;

  • Summer bookings 20% ahead of the same time last year
  • The number of bookings in January is at the same level as before the pandemic
  • Day trips are up 350% compared to 2022

Danish travellers make up the majority of passengers on these routes. With the exchange route compared to the Swedish krone unusually low, it makes Sweden a very attractive holiday option for Danes.

The news comes in the same week as the popular STENA DANICA celebrated her 40th anniversary of entering service on the Frederikshavn – Gøteborg route.

Photo: Stena Line

Mar 03
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Non-profit foundation in memory of Seajets Founder

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Marios Iliopoulos, owner of Seajets, has announced the launch of the “Iliopoulos Foundation” to honour the memory of his late father, Takis Iliopoulos.  The shipping magnate passed away last year.

The non-profit foundation will support the needs of the islands that Seajets serves in the areas of health, education, sports-culture and the environment.

The Iliopoulos Foundation, which is expected to open within the year, will operate under the initial capital of EUR 2 million and will firstly focus on the health sector.  Needs have already been identified such as the lack of an ambulance on Andros and reinforcing the artificial kidney unit on Naxos.

Waste management, promoting green energy and supporting the winter economy on islands are amongst the initiatives the fund will tackle in due course.

Photo: Seajets

Mar 03
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Seajets purchase HSC Gotlandia

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According to latest information, Seajets is the buyer of the Gotlandsbolaget (Destination Gotland) monohull high speed craft GOTLANDIA.

The ship served on the Vastervik /  Nynäshamn – Visby service until June 2018 and since then has been laid up. The ship was sold due to Destination Gotland’s decision to focus mainly on using their newbuild LNG vessels.  As reported by FSN last week, GOTLANDIA II is also on the market for a buyer.

Crew will reportedly fly to Sweden this week in order to take over the vessel.

With the purchase of GOTLANDIA, Seajets own 16 High-Speed Craft vessels plus 5 conventional ferries. The company’s fleet connects 33 Aegean islands and Crete, while its fleet transport capacity is 3,500 cars and 20,000 passengers.

Photo: Gotlandsbolaget

Mar 03
0

Additional Western Cyclades ships approved

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On 24 February, the Coastal Shipping Council of the Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy approved the itineraries of two additional ferries on the Piraeus – Western Cyclades route.

Aegean Sea Lines’ request was granted for their ship ANEMOS (ex-ROSELLA), which will be introduced on the Piraeus – Serifos – Sifnos – Milos and Piraeus – Sifnos – Thira – Ios lines.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Also approved was the reassignment of Seajets’ SUPERSTAR from the Rafina – Andros – Mykonos – Paros line to the Piraeus – Serifos – Sifnos – Ios – Thira line.

Both requests will be in force from 1 April to 31 October 2023.

Photo: Seajets