Feb 24
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Stena Line commits to Birkenhead

By | 2023 Newsletter week 8 | No Comments

Stena Line and Peel Ports have signed a significant deal to continue operating to the port of 12 Quays, Birkenhead (Liverpool) until the year 2100.

Stena Line has operated from the Mersey port since acquiring the Belfast – Birkenhead service from DFDS in 2011.

The 77-year deal follows recent major investments in the route;

  • The brand-new E-Flexer ferries STENA EDDA and STENA EMBLA were introduced to the route in 2020 and 2021
  • Linked to the arrival of the new vessels, the South berth at Birkenhead was converted to two tier loading
  • Stena Line has recently purchased two sites adjacent to the 12 Quays Terminal, to provide additional freight storage for its freight customers as they continue to expand their businesses there

Niclas Martensson, CEO of Stena Line, says: “After 12 successful years in 12 Quays our business in Birkenhead continues to flourish year-after-year. This deal is a sign of our long-term commitment to Birkenhead and Peel Ports, with whom we have a very strong partnership. We will continue to make significant investments to increase our services to our customers across the Irish Sea.”

The value of the deal has not been disclosed.

Carl-Johan Hellner of Stena Line (L) and David Huck, Peel Ports.  Photo: Stena Line

Feb 24
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Sheerness – Calais hits a milestone

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DFDS’ unaccompanied freight service from Sheerness to Calais recently carried its 50,000th trailer since the route began in July 2021. Average loads have increased by 65% since traffic started.

The route was introduced in response to growing demand from cargo owners and hauliers, who view it as a solution to ongoing congestion issues and delays in Dover.

Richard Goffin, Port Director at London Medway, said:

“The rise in daily unit volumes over that time has also proven what we have long argued – that there is a real need for a viable alternative route for the UK’s supply chain given ongoing congestion around Dover and the shift in demand for increased unaccompanied services. At Peel Ports, we believe companies should look to move non-perishable cargo on unaccompanied services such as ours because they are more reliable, rather than have it travel on as accompanied freight, which has multiple points of failure.”

The route is currently operated by the BOTNIA SEAWAYS.

Photo: Peel Ports

Feb 24
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Gotlandsbolaget to dispose of fast ferry

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Gotlandsbolaget has announced that they will sell or charter the high-speed monohull GOTLANDIA II.

Gotlandsbolaget subsidiary Destination Gotland has returned the vessel to the parent company following a decision not to offer a seasonal service to Västervik.  The company’s Visby services will be maintained by the modern fast ro-paxes VISBY, GOTLAND and DROTTEN.

GOTLANDIA II was built by Fincantieri in 2006 and can carry 900 passengers and 160 cars.

The company also owns the ro-pax VISBORG, currently on charter to DFDS, and another high-speed monohull, GOTLANDIA.  It is understood that the company is also in the process of disposing of the latter fast craft, dating from 1999.

Gotlandsbolaget has an ongoing research project, named Horizon, to introduce climate neutral vessels, including a hydrogen powered catamaran.

Image: Gotlandsbolaget

Feb 24
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Polferries update on new tonnage

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In an interview with Radio Gdańsk, Andrzej Madejski of Polskiej Żeglugi Bałtyckiej (Polferries) has provided an update on the three ro-pax ferries being built at Remontowa for his company and Unity Line.

  • The Polferries vessel is due to enter service in 2027. The first of the two Unity Line ferries should be delivered in 2025
  • Sheet metal cutting is continuing on the first vessel and the hull should be launched at the end of the year
  • All three units will serve the Świnoujście-Ystad line

Meanwhile, Polferries has said that their Visentini ro-pax newbuild will be launched in the Spring, with the vessel entering service in the second half of 2024.  The vessel will be chartered from a subsidiary of the shipbuilder for a period of 10 years, with a purchase option after 6 years.

Photos: Polferries

Feb 24
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Alslinjen’s electric ferry put into production

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Steel cutting for Alslinjen’s new electric ferry recently took place at the Cemre Shipyard Tukey.

Molslinjen’s construction project manager, Ole Berg-Hansen, pressed the button to start the CNC plasma cutting machine, which cut through the very first plate for the new ferry.

To be completed in September 2024, the vessel’s key characteristics are;

  • 8 meters in length
  • 600 passengers
  • 188 cars
  • The ferry will have batteries of 3.1 MWh which can be fully charged in approx. 20 minutes

A similar vessel will be built for Samsø line, with production beginning 1 April 2023.

Video of steel cutting 

Feb 24
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MSC Aurelia arrived at Iskenderun in Türkiye

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After its departure from the port of Naples, the ro-pax ship MSC AURELIA arrived in the Turkish port of Iskendrun on 20 February.

60 pallets of basic necessities and first relief items carried on board will be distributed to those in need.  MSC AURELIA will be used as emergency accommodation, providing the local authorities and emergency services with over 1,000 beds and equipped spaces.

Photos: MSC Foundation

Feb 24
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Creta Cargo Lines’ ro-ro Orion joined the Hellenic Coastal Shipping

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On 20 February Creta Cargo Lines’ ro-ro ORION (the former ORCADIA and SATURN) made her debut on the Lavrion – Naxos line.

The handy size vessel is expected to support the other vessels of the Cretan Company’s fleet (TALOS and IOSIF K.) on domestic ferry services.  The company mainly transports trucks and dangerous freight to the smaller and difficult ports of Cyclades Islands.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Feb 24
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Sea Speed Lines ro-pax Olympus eventually sold

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After numerous tenders that were cancelled due to a lack of bidders, Sea Speed Lines’ ro-pax OLYMPUS has been sold to an anonymous buyer for USD 1.755.100.

The sale follows a lengthy period out of service. She previously served the Piraeus – Rethymnon line.  In the summer 2022 she was to be introduced on the Piraeus or Lavrion – Santorini – Anafi line.  However, this failed to materialise.

According to unconfirmed information, her buyer is Creta Cargo Lines.  With her new owner concentrating on cargo, it seems possible that OLYMPUS will be converted to a ro-ro vessel.

Photo: Dimitris Mentakis

Feb 24
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Corsica Victoria sold to start-up

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The 50-year-old CORSICA VICTORIA has been sold by Corsica Ferries to a new-start company, Flipper Lines.  She has been renamed CAMOMILLA.

The buyer is 55% owned by Saimja Shpk, 30% by Maria Grazia La Sorte and 15% by Hitaj Esmeralda.
CORSICA VICTORIA has been moored in the port of Leghorn since last summer but is expected to sail for Brindisi in the coming days.  She will be deployed on the Brindisi (Italy) – Vlora (Albania) service.

Tribute to CORSICA VICTORIA on YouTube

Feb 24
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Interest in Straitsman

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Québec’s CTMA has confirmed an interest in acquiring the STRAITSMAN from New Zealand operator Bluebridge.  The 2005 ro-pax will soon leave the service, after being replaced in the fleet by the CONNEMARA, acquired from Stena RoRo.

CTMA would purchase the STRAITSMAN to replace the back-up vessel C.T.M.A. VACANCIER, originally the AURELLA of 1973.

Meanwhile, appearing in front of a Scottish Government committee, Stuart Garrett, Managing Director of Northlink Ferries indicated that industry reports of CMAL visiting the vessel were also correct.  If CMAL was to purchase the vessel for use by Northlink, it would operate on services to Orkney and Shetland to boost passenger and freight capacity.

Photo Bluebridge