May 31
2

Brittany Ferries, Wärtsilä and Incat partner on zero-emissions ferry project

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Brittany Ferries, Wärtsilä, and Incat have partnered to develop a 137m zero-emissions ferry, leveraging their combined expertise. This project aims to explore design and technical requirements for electric ferries, focusing on short routes as a potential path to net-zero emissions by 2050. The collaboration follows Brittany Ferries’ investment in LNG-powered and hybrid vessels. This initiative underscores the companies’ commitment to sustainable maritime transport and decarbonization, with Brittany Ferries’ CEO highlighting the importance of trusted partners in achieving these goals.

For more details, you can visit the full article on Brittany Ferries’ newsroom.

May 31
2

Fjord1 awards Norwegian Electric Systems autonomous navigation scope

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Fjord1 has contracted Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) to develop systems for automation of vessel functions and autonomous navigation for the four autonomous, zero-emission ferries that will operate the Lavik-Oppedal crossing on the northwest coast of Norway.

The ferry crossing takes 20 minutes, and the route is 5.6 kilometres long.

In close collaboration with Fjord1, NES will develop and deliver the systems for automation of vessel functions and autonomous navigation, including autocrossing and autodocking, that will replace some manual operations on board.

The four newbuild zero emission ferries will operate the route from 1 September 2026 onwards. Complete implementation of automation functions and autonomous systems, including autocrossing and autodocking, will happen from January 2027, while autonomous navigation will be implemented in 2028.

Read more: Norwegian Electric Systems

May 31
2

No use of batteries allowed on ferries in Italy

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

With the exception of Grimaldi’s ro-ro GG5G ships, which are testing the technology, all the other ferries equipped with battery systems onboard are not allowed to use them. Local branches of the Coast Guard in several Italian ports are not giving the green light due to a lack of dedicated rules and laws.”

This complaint was expressed by Lorenzo Matacena, CEO of Caronte & Tourist, during the Business Meeting for ferries and RoRo operators organised by Shipping Italy in Naples.

The owner highlighted the fact that today there are several companies investing in batteries (not only Caronte & Tourist but also RFI, Liberty Lines, Actv, etc.), but all the ships and HSC equipped with new technologies aimed at decarbonising maritime transport cannot reach the goal.

All the involved shipping companies asked local maritime authorities to address and resolve the matter as urgently as possible.

May 31
2

Port of Oostende fights to preserve crucial maritime route amid wind farm plans

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Port of Oostende is actively opposing the planned wind turbine park near Dunkirk, as it threatens the Dyckroute, a crucial maritime route linking Oostende with the UK. Despite diplomatic efforts, France persists with the project, jeopardising Oostende’s economic interests. The port demands an immediate halt or relocation of the project to protect navigation rights and regional economy. If unresolved, they urge the Belgian government to pursue international legal action against France.

Port of Oostende, once a busy ferry port, has new RoRo traffic linked to Toyota.

May 31
2

Green light for Ignazio Messina to purchase Terminal San Giorgio in Genoa

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Terminal San Giorgio, a terminal operator of the Port of Genoa controlled by the Gavio Group and the home port for Grimaldi Group’s motorways of the seas to and from Northern Italy, is to be purchased by Ignazio Messina & C. The green light to close the deal has just been given by the Italian Antitrust Authority, which expressed its positive vote but set some specific conditions.

Among them, Ignazio Messina & C., a company jointly controlled by MSC (with a 49% stake), will be obliged to maintain, for the next two years, the same berths, same calls, and some pricing applied up to date to Grimaldi Deep Sea and Grimaldi Euromed’s RoRo traffic.

Last year, Terminal San Giorgio handled 2,350,000 lane metres of RoRo traffic, an increase of 4% compared to 2022.

May 31
2

Scotland: Clyde and Hebrides ferry contract extension

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

The Scottish Government has extended the current contract for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) by one year. This extension allows more time to complete the due diligence process necessary for the proposed direct award to CalMac. The final decision on the contract award is pending further complex considerations. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, emphasized the need for thoroughness and assured that a further update will be provided to Parliament later in the year.

For more details, you can visit the official announcement.

May 31
1

IMAGE CARDS

By | 2024 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Mjølner is ready for the Trondheim Fjord. The vessel that will operate the 810 Trondheim – Vanvikan connection has been handed over from shipbuilders Oma Baatbyggeri AS.

Mjølner is the first of four new hybrid high-speed ferries that will sail electrically in the Trondheim Fjord.

Source: Norled Linkedin > Photo: Transport Photo

Mjølner is ready for the Trondheim Fjord. The vessel that will operate the 810 Trondheim – Vanvikan connection has been handed over from shipbuilders Oma Baatbyggeri AS.

Mjølner is the first of four new hybrid high-speed ferries that will sail electrically in the Trondheim Fjord.

Source: Norled Linkedin > Photo: Transport Photo

On May 22, 2024 Ro Pax Med Star (ex-Västervik) arrived at the port of Piraeus under tow. The ship left Gibraltar on May 9. She was purchased at a tender from the collapsed Moroccan Intershipping. Her new owner is reported to be Starlines, which operating on the Italy-Albania service. The ship is currently at Neos Molos (Drapetsona) waiting for a refit.

Photo: Anastasios Anastasiou

On May 24, 2024 the fully renovated Superfast III (ex-Olympic Champion) arrived at the port of Patras and joined her fleet mates on the Patras – Igoumenitsa – Ancona route.

The ship underwent a serious refit at Perama Repair Zone. She will serve along with her fleet mates Superfast IX and Hellenic Spirit.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

On May 24, 2024 AML’s HSC Morocco Express 1 (ex-Highspeed 3, Boraq) left Greece in order to meet her fleet mate HSC Caldera Vista in Spain. The ship underwent a serious refit and upgrades at Perama repair zone since October 2023.

On May 28, 2024, she arrived at the port of Palma del Mallorca and then went to Algeciras for certification. She is expected to enter service on the Tarifa – Tanger Ville line on May 31.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

As part of Stena Line’s sustainable journey, the company is now starting a project to retrofit Superfast VII and VIII vessels so that they are ready to run on alternative energy sources such as e-methanol and take shore power electricity.

The engines of the Superfast VII and VIII are of a similar type to those of Stena Germanica which was converted in 2015. By using the knowledge and experience from the Stena Germanica retrofitting, Stena Line can modify the Superfast vessels effectively and efficiently. The retrofitting will take place during late 2025 and early 2026 and replacement ships will be provided for the route as per normal refit procedure.

Source and photo: Stena Line >

Katy Taylor will become Wightlink CEO from Monday 19 August 2024. This follows Keith Greenfield’s retirement from the Isle of Wight ferry company after nine years at the helm.

Katy joins from Southern Water, where she has been Chief Customer Officer since 2021. Previously, she was Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at international bus and train operator Go-Ahead Group, which includes Isle of Wight bus company Southern Vectis.

Source: Wightlink >

In April this year, Malmö got another connection to the Continent when Finnlines’ Finnfellow entered service between Sweden and Poland. On May 28, the shipping company’s new line was celebrated with an official inauguration on board the ship. The inauguration ribbon in Swedish-Polish colours was cut by Finnlines’ management and the Mayor of Malmö Municipality Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh (S).

Source: Finnlines >

CalMac is recruiting. CalMac Ferries Ltd is seeking a CEO. Find out more here >.

May 24
2

Sea Lines to launch a two-ferry operation in Black Sea

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Black Sea ferry operator Sea Lines has struck a landmark agreement with DP World.

This partnership will see Sea Lines launching operations from Constanta Port to Turkey’s strategic Karasu Port.

The Aland Island-based ferry company plans to run a daily RoPax service along this route, establishing a crucial trade corridor that links Turkey with Central Europe. This deal promises to enhance connectivity and boost economic ties between the two regions.

This year, Sea Lines is making a multi-million-euro investment in the Constanta-Karasu route with two RoPax ferries.

The first of these vessels, Urd, is set to embark on its maiden journey in July 2024. [URD fact sheet]

DP World, working collaboratively with Sea Lines, has invested in the new RoRo terminal in Constanta, Romania.

Photo: Wikipedia

May 24
2

Echandia: converting ferries from fossil fuel to electric propulsion

By | 2024 Newsletter week 21 | No Comments

Echandia has secured an order for the delivery of battery systems to a Northern European ferry operator. The order involves converting two RoPax ferries to pure electric propulsion and is Echandia’s largest to date, both in terms of value and system size. Delivery is planned for the second half of 2025.

Earlier this month, Echandia was contracted by Öresundslinjen to provide a battery system for the conversion of Hamlet from fossil fuel to full electrical operation.

Read the news release

May 24
2

Scandlines selects supplier for electrification of Fehmarn Belt link

By | 2024 Newsletter week 21 | No Comments

Scandlines has taken a significant step towards electrifying its Puttgarden-Rødby ferry route by signing a contract with Wärtsilä on April 25, 2024. Wärtsilä will supply the electrical systems that will allow electricity to cover about 80% of the energy needed for each crossing.

This project is part of Scandlines’ larger plan, announced in late 2023, to convert two of its four ferries on this route to plug-in hybrid models. The goal is to operate the route without direct emissions by 2030 and to achieve zero direct emissions by 2040.

After a competitive tender, Scandlines selected Wärtsilä due to its extensive experience with hybrid ship retrofits, having completed numerous projects since 2012. Wärtsilä will not only supply the systems but also supervise their installation and commissioning.

The ferry conversions, set to begin in the second half of 2025, will involve replacing a diesel generator with a 5 MWh energy storage system.

Photo Matthias Tasler/Scandlines