The new £100 million ferry terminal on the Humber which will be used by Stena Line has moved closer.
The development consent order for ABP’s Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal is now being considered by the Planning Inspectorate, with a decision expected before summer 2024.
The planning site for the development can be found here.
Photo: ABP
From 13 March, the logistics and transport company NTEX increases its intermodal service with a new collaboration with Stena Line and the Italian railway operator Hannibal.
A twice weekly rail service between Europort and Melzo (Milan) will boost the existing daily departures in both directions between Italy and the UK.
Intermodal transport by train and ferry creates a 70% CO2 saving in comparison to delivering mainly by road. In addition it delivers a quicker transit time and increased trailer capacity with loading up to 28 tons.
Photo: NTEX.
BC Ferries has made revisions to the company’s Performance Term Six Submission to the independent BC Ferries Commissioner. Although only filed in September 2022, the changes are needed due to the difficult Global economic picture.
The plan is now posted on the Commissioner’s website for public feedback.
Torghatten Nord, has ordered hydrogen fuel cells from PowerCell for two ferries, in a contract valued at EUR 19.2 million. The two companies also intend to enter into a long-term service agreement.
The Norwegian government has set as a requirement that the new ferries across the Vestfjord at Lofoten must be emission-free. The fuel cell systems will enable the two ships to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 26,500 tonnes a year, equivalent to the annual emissions of 13,000 cars running on diesel fuel.
The ships will have a capacity of 599 passengers, 120 cars and twelve trucks. Delivery is to take place during the fourth quarter of 2024.
Photo: PowerCell
At a ceremony at Skatudden, Helsinki on 6 March, the Finnish flag was raised on the VIKING XPRS.
The reflagging from the Estonian flag makes Viking Line Finland’s biggest employer in maritime transport.
The 2008-built VIKING XPRS operates on the Helsinki – Tallinn route. Staff on the vessel will be transferred to the Finnish salary system and become direct employees of Viking Line. The crew previously worked through an Estonian staffing company.
175 people work onboard with around 10% previously being crew of the ROSELLA, sold at the start of the year.
Master Stefan Dahlström said;
“We also have a number of experienced staff who were shifted over from our other vessels as well as former VIKING XPRS crew members. The reflagging will make hiring easier for us and give our staff greater opportunities to move between the vessels.”
The company has 1,200 permanent seafarers and about 500 fixed-term employees in Finland on vessels registered in Finland’s Register of Ships. Four of the company’s five vessels – VIKING XPRS, VIKING GLORY, and VIKING GRACE AND GABRIELLA – are Finnish flagged. CINDERELLA sails under the Swedish flag.
Photo: Viking Line
In March, Thanet District Council is to discuss proposals to bring ferry services back to Ramsgate port.
An option is to sub-contract the operation of the ferry port to a third party to better facilitate investment. There is a firm belief by the Council that the port can fill a niche in ferry port capacity in South Eastern England
Photo: Thanet District Council
Holland Norway Lines (HNL) is reported to be considering a move from the port of Eemshaven.
The company has had significant disruption to services in recent weeks due to their berth being required for other traffic. It is understood that HNL’s period of exclusive use of the berth at the Dutch port has ended.
HNL is said to be looking at other port options, including the German port of Emden. The company’s website states that a solution should be in place in 6 to 8 weeks.
Chartered from the Tallink Grupp, the ROMANTIKA operates the HNL cruiseferry service to Kristiansand.
Photo: Holland Norway Line
The four private equity funds JP Morgan, Barings, Bain Capital and Cheney Capital were this week preparing to become the new major shareholders of the Naviera Armas group.
After first reducing debt through a conversion of financial exposure into shares and entering capital, El Confidencial revealed that these institutional investors now intend to recapitalise the group by becoming its controlling shareholders.
Once rescued, the next action will be to proceed with the sale of Naviera Armas. In pole position among the interested parties is Balèaria but the Boluda Group and MSC are also in the running.
Photo: Naviera Armas
The 2001-built ro-ro ferry ELIANA MARINO has been sold at auction by Moby Lines for EUR 12.5 million (plus VAT).
The buyer is reported to be the MSC Group. She will be deployed on routes linking Italian ports to Tunisia and Libya. ELIANA MARINO will join JOLLY BLUE and JOLLY EXPRESS (formerly VICTORIAN RELIANCE and TASMANIAN ACHIEVER) owned by MSC subsidiary Conglomerate Maritime Ltd and used on the joint venture with Ignazio Messina & C.
The 2,500 lane metre ELIANA MARINO joined Moby in 2016 on bareboat charter, and a contractual purchase option had been recently exercised. The ship has spent most of the past two years on charter to DFDS then Hansa Destinations.
Brokers are reporting that P&O Ferries has sold their 1993 ro-pax PRIDE OF BURGUNDY to Turkish ship recyclers.
The former Dover – Calais ferry has been laid up at Dunkerque East since late 2021. The vessel was “permanently withdrawn” in 2020 during the height of the Covid pandemic only to have a short-lived return to service the following year.
The ship is expected to end her life at an EU-approved recycling facility at Aliaga in the coming months. Her sale is reported at the rate of $320 per LDT, a total price of $3.7 million based on her 28,100 GT.
The ship’s age and English Channel focussed design made a sale for further use unlikely.
It remains to be seen what fate awaits the PRIDE OF KENT and PRIDE OF CANTERBURY with the arrival of P&O PIONEER and P&O LIBERTE this year.
Meanwhile, P&O PIONEER departed China on 3 March for her delivery voyage to Europe. A visit to Singapore waters followed on 8 March and at the time of writing was due at Colombo on 11 March. P&O Ferries has confirmed that the ship is due to enter service on 1 May.
