- AS Tallink Grupp confirms last week’s news
- It has signed a nine-month charter agreement with Algeria’s state-owned Madar Maritime Company for the cruise ship ROMANTIKA.
- The charter, starting Saturday 31 May, includes the vessel and technical crew.
- The deal includes two optional six-month extensions.
- CEO Paavo Nõgene highlighted the positive financial impact and the company’s adaptability: “Finding charter opportunities for ships not in use shows our flexibility in a changing economic environment.”
Damen Shipyards Galati has launched a new Island Class ferry for BC Ferries. The vessel, a Damen RoRo 8117 E3, is the first of four new battery-equipped diesel-hybrid ferries. All are designed for full electric operation once terminal charging infrastructure is in place.
This latest ferry—the seventh Damen-built ship for BC Ferries—will serve routes between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island, and Campbell River and Quadra Island. Each vessel can carry up to 47 vehicles and 390 passengers, with recharging during embarkation using renewable energy.
The launch was part of a week of major milestones at Damen. The yard also laid the keel for the ninth vessel and cut steel for the tenth. BC Ferries’ Executive Director of Shipbuilding Ed Hooper attended the events, alongside Canada’s Ambassador to Romania, Gavin Buchan.
In addition to the ships, Damen is supplying the onshore charging systems. Deliveries are scheduled for 2027, with continued support from Damen’s Canadian Service Hub in Victoria.
On 24 May 2025, Anek Lines’ EL VENIZELOS made her final sailing on the Chania (Crete)–Piraeus route before heading to the Elefsis shipyard for preparations ahead of a long-term charter to Algérie Ferries.
She will be replaced on the route by her fleet mate KISSAMOS.
Previously, EL VENIZELOS was chartered to Tunisia Ferries from 2005 to 2011. She was the largest ferry flying the Greek flag and has served as the Anek Lines flagship for 33 years.
Photo: Dimitris Mendakis
On 23 May 2025, and after a long refit at Elefsis Yards (ONEX), RoPax SUPERFAST IV (ex-Hellenic Spirit) successfully completed her sea trials in the Saronic Gulf.
The vessel is expected to re-enter service in June on the Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona route, operating alongside her sister ship SUPERFAST III (ex-Olympic Champion).
During the refit, she underwent a full engine overhaul, interior upgrades, application of the new Superfast livery, dry docking, and installation of a scrubber unit.
Built in Norway in 2001, SUPERFAST IV has a capacity of 1,370 passengers and 2,045 lane metres, with a top speed of 30 knots.
Photo: Anastasios Anastasiou
On 23 May 2025, CHAMPION LEAGUE JET 1 (ex-JUMBO JET) entered service for SeaJets on the Piraeus–Syros–Tinos–Mykonos–Paros–Naxos–Santorini–Heraklion route.
Acquired from Turkish operator IDO in May 2024, she will operate alongside WORLD CHAMPION JET on the same line until October 2025.
Daily departures are scheduled from Heraklion at 08:00 and from Piraeus at 09:15.
Built in Australia in 2007, the vessel can carry 1,172 passengers and 140 cars, with a top speed of 43 knots.
Photo: Seajets
On 21 May, the first sod was turned for a new liquid biogas (LBG) production facility near Eskilstuna. The plant is a joint project by Gotlandsbolaget, Andion CH4 Renewables and Equitix, marking a key milestone in Gotlandsbolaget’s long-term ambition for fossil-free shipping.
Production is scheduled to begin in late 2026, with a capacity of approximately 5,400 tonnes of LBG per year. Gotlandsbolaget has secured most of the output through a 10-year agreement for use in Gotlandstrafiken. This will cover around 10% of Destination Gotland’s annual fuel needs and reduce CO₂ emissions by an estimated 100,000 tonnes over the decade compared to LNG.
“This shows we’re not waiting for the future – we’re investing in it,” said Mikael Razola, Head of Gotland Tech Development. The plant is being developed by Eskilstuna Biogas AB and is part of Gotlandsbolaget’s broader energy transition strategy.
Deltamarin has signed a contract with China Merchants Weihai Shipyard to design three new ‘Hansa Superstar’ class RoPax vessels for Finnlines, set to operate on the Finland-Germany route in the Baltic Sea.
Earlier, Knud E Hansen announced that its Interior Design Department has been selected to lead the Interior and Exterior design for four of Grimaldi Lines´s latest vessels.
A technical issue with the LNG system on SPIRIT IV and SPIRIT V was identified by shipbuilder RMC during sea trials. As a result, SPIRIT IV’s departure to Australia is delayed until repairs are completed. TT-Line is working closely with RMC, and all repair costs will be covered under warranty.
Moeve to supply 40,000 tons of second-generation marine biofuels to Armas Trasmediterránea through the end of 2025 at the ports of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and of Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), marking the energy company’s first delivery of renewable fuels in the Canary Islands.
- DFDS has launched a new weekly short-sea freight route between the Netherlands and Spain.
- The service departs from Matrans Terminal (Rotterdam), calls at DFDS’s Vlaardingen terminal, and arrives at P&J Carrasco terminal (Vilagarcía de Arousa).
- The new corridor strengthens multimodal transport between Southern and Central Europe.
Key Facts
- First sailing: BELGIA SEAWAYS departed Rotterdam on a Saturday and arrived in Spain early Tuesday.
- Capacity: 2,660 lane metres.
- Suitable for unaccompanied trailers, containers, and out-of-gauge cargo.
- Sectors: Automotive, wind, battery, FMCG, and process industries.
Strategic Impact
- Supports emissions reduction by shifting freight from road to sea.
- Enhances connections with the UK, Scandinavia and mainland Europe.
- Integrated into DFDS’s wider European network.
New Collaboration
- DFDS has signed a new cooperation agreement with Hydro, the global aluminium and energy company.
