Feb 02
1

Stena Line breaks record at Belfast

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Stena Line has achieved a record year for freight volumes at Belfast with approximately 587,000 units being transported in 2023.

Meanwhile, Belfast Harbour has unveiled a specially commissioned portrait of Stena Line owner and Chairman, Dan Sten Olsson, at their Harbour Office in Corporation Square.  The portrait celebrates the significant contribution that the Swedish ferry operator has made to the Port and Region over the last three decades.

Stena Line has seven ships operating from Belfast, serving the ports of Cairnryan, Belfast and Heysham.

Photo: Stena Line

Feb 02
1

Unity Lines’ train/car ferry JAN SNIADECKI sold to Greece

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It is reported that the buyer of Unity Lines’ train/car and passenger ferry JAN SNIADECKI is Greece’s Ainaftis. She was built in Sweden (Falkenberg-S) in 1988 for Polish Ocean Lines and served the Świnoujście – Ystad route throughout her Polish career.

In 1995, she was transferred to Unity Line.

On 30 December 2023 she made her last crossing and laid up at the port of Świnoujście. The 17-knot ship has been renamed THALASSITIS and has raised the Cypriot flag.  Her carrying capacity is for 57 passengers and 1,116 lane meters.

Photo: Bartosz Bagiński

Feb 02
1

SUNNYLVSFJORD delivered to Fjord1

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On 28 January Fjord1 took delivery of their latest newbuild from the Tersan Shipyard in Turkey, MF SUNNYLVSFJORD. The ferry can carry 248 passengers and 80 cars or 6 trucks and was designed by HavDesign. The ferry will be used on the Stranda – Liabygda, route.

Depending on the weather conditions on her delivery voyage, SUNNYLVSFJORD will arrive in Norway in three to four weeks.  A sistership from Tersan is due to follow soon, NORDDALSFJORD.  That vessel will see service on the Eidsdal – Linge route.

Photo: Fjord1

Feb 02
1

Damen to deliver newbuild just months after order

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South Korea’s KT Marine this week signed a contract for a “4212” fast ferry with Damen Shipyards.

The vessel will be delivered by mid-2024 and is the seventh Damen Fast Ferry in the Korean Market and the fifth of the FFe 4212 class.  It will operate on the route between Yeosu harbour and Geomundo Island (off the south coast of South Korea).

The speedy delivery is possible due to Damen’s speculative building strategy with the vessel already under construction at the Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam.

Length 42 metres
Capacity 423 passengers
Speed 40 knots (max)
Power 4 main engines delivering 5,760 bkW of power to four waterjets

Photo: Damen

Feb 02
1

In Brief

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  • TT-Line has taken the Stena Line vessel URD on charter to cover fleet gaps. The vessel joined the Baltic company on 29 January, operating on Klaipeda routes. The vessel previously served Stena for the two months prior to Christmas 2023.
  • The BBC reports that DFDS is considering applying for the Channel Islands ferry tender to secure long-term operating agreements for the islands of Guernsey and Jersey.
  • FRS Sylt Ferry is offering additional departures on the Havneby, Rømø to List, Sylt route 11 to 15 March due to the cancellation of passenger and car trains to Sylt during maintenance work at the island station.
  • On February 8, Wasaline launches a new restaurant concept aboard AUROA BOTNIA sailing on the Vasa to Umeå route. Bistro Botnia will serve food made from local, seasonal ingredients. The menu includes both fine dining and simpler options.
  • Martime Danmark reports that Smyril Line has decided to sell two RoRo Container vessels, EYSTNES and HVITANES. Previously focussed on the Russian fish market, the Ukraine war has put an end to this trade. Smyril Line will concentrate on RoRo freight in future.

Photo: Smyril Line

Jan 26
1

Tallink return to two-ship Tallinn – Stockholm service

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Tallink is to bring VICTORIA I back to the Tallinn – Stockholm route for summer 2024.  The cruiseferry will operate alongside BALTIC QUEEN to offer day departures in each direction from 31 May to 31 August.

This will be the first time since the pandemic that Tallink has offered a two-ship service on the Estonia – Sweden link.   VICTORIA I will also offer a number of cruises to Visby from Helsinki and Tallinn this summer.

VICTORIA I is currently operating the 22-hour cruise service on Tallink’s Tallinn – Helsinki route.  She is scheduled to return to this trade on 31 August 2024.  During her absence, the shuttle ferries MYSTAR and MEGASTAR will serve the route alone.

Commenting on the temporary route operations change, Tallink Grupp’s CEO Paavo Nõgene said:

“We saw customer demand increase on the Tallinn-Stockholm route for more frequent departures already in summer 2023, so this year we have decided to offer our customers what they have asked for during the summer peak travel season and give everyone the opportunity to travel between our two Nordic capitals more easily.”

Photo: Tallink/Marko Stampehl

Jan 26
1

Moby charters out Moby Dada, Moby Zaza and closes Livorno – Cagliari

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Moby, which has recently closed the ‘concordato preventivo’ procedure pending at the Court of Milan, has chartered the cruiseferry MOBY DADA to Algérie Ferries.

The news has not yet been confirmed by the Onorato-controlled company, but the brand “Algérie Ferries” has already been painted on the ship.  According to market sources, the charter will last until September.

Meanwhile, MOBY ZAZA is currently chartered to Jadrolinija on services to Croatia during an extended overhaul for the MARKO POLO.

Also, this week, news emerged that Moby will close the Livorno – Cagliari, Sardinia, ro-ro line.  The company will concentrate on ro-pax traffic from Livorno to Olbia with the newly built MOBY LEGACY and MOBY FANTASY

Photo: Nicola Capuzzo

Jan 26
1

Brittany Ferries improves fuel efficiency of flagship

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At her recent dry-dock at Remontowa, Gdańsk, the hull of Brittany Ferries’ PONT-AVEN was lengthened by three metres at the stern waterline.  This is often referred to as a duck-tail.

The purpose of the modification is to improve the hydrodynamic performance of the vessel.  This will reduce the drag on her hull, reducing fuel consumption by around 10% and therefore emissions.  The work follows analysis by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique design office where various ideas were looked at, followed by tests on the favoured concept using a 7-metre scale model of the PONT-AVEN

Additionally, Brittany Ferries is working with Wärtsilä to examine improving the propeller design of PONT-AVEN.  This could lead to a further reduction in fuel consumption of around 5%.

Meanwhile, Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore (BV Solutions M&O) has developed and delivered a ‘Fleet Energy and Emissions Forecast‘ tool to Brittany Ferries.  The tool enables the ferry company’s onboard teams to plan for optimised and efficient operations, thereby reducing fuel consumption, emissions, and costs.

Photo: Brittany Ferries

Jan 26
2

P&O Ferries vessel arrives for scrap

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P&O Ferries’ PRIDE OF CANTERBURY arrived for scrapping at an EU-approved facility at Aliaga Turkey on 18 January.

Built as EUROPEAN PATHWAY, the vessel was renamed when converted to a full passenger ferry in 2003.  With P&O PIONEER in service and P&O LIBERTÉ currently on her delivery voyage from China to Europe, PRIDE OF CANTERBURY had no future in the company.

P&O Ferries say that they are committed to ensuring the life cycle of all vessels is handled safely and sustainably with a responsible and EU-compliant recycling and disposal process.

Meanwhile, another former P&O Ferries vessel that formed part of the same series of newbuilds has arrived back in European waters.  BLUE WAVE HARMONY arrived at Gibraltar on 24 January.  The former EUROPEAN SEAWAY is currently owned by Blue Wave Corp.  She operated a short-lived route from Costa Rica to El Salvador which started in August 2023 but only lasted a few months.  There is no news yet on if and how the vessel will be used in European waters.

Jan 26
1

Isles of Scilly newbuild contract signed

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The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG), has signed contracts with Brittany-based shipbuilder Piriou, for two new ships that will be delivered in 2026. Financed by Lombard, construction will begin in spring 2024.

The vessels ordered for the Penzance to St Mary’s service are a 600-seat passenger vessel, SCILLONIAN IV and a freight vessel. The new passenger ship will provide improved comfort, reliability and speed, whilst the new freight vessel will significantly improve cargo capacity.

The vessels will replace the 1977-built SCILLONIAN III and freighter GRY MARITHA from 1981.

Photo: Isles of Scilly Steamship Group