A third attempt to award a tender for a €115 million ferry service between Malta and Gozo was killed in its tracks on Tuesday after the Public Contracts Review Board ordered its cancellation.
Second Rail-RoPax Ferry for Russian Far East Launched
On October 30, United Shipbuilding Corporation’s Amursky Shipyard (Russian press release) launched the second of two Rail RoPax ferries.
The two ferries will be used on the Vahini-Kholmsk line (Russian Far East, between mainland and Sakhalin Island).
ALEKSANDR DEYEV and VASILY OSHCHEPKOV have been designed by MEB (Marine Enginering Bureau) for the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK).
The Port Authority of Elefsina announced that on December 10, 2020 will take place one more scheduled public open tender –following a Greek law about potential shipwrecks- for the removal of the old THEOFILOS of Anen Lines. The former NILS HOLGERSSON is rusting away at Karavostasi B’ (Elefsis bay) since 2018 and considered dangerous for the navigation and safety in the area. The starting price for the tender was set to around EUR 1.5 million.
November 4, 2020. Blue Star Ferries’ ropax BLUE STAR DELOS was transferred to the Perama repair zone (Dock 1) in order to undergo her scheduled scrubber conversion. The popular “blue” ship is expected to return in service in February 2021, while she will be replaced by her fleetmate BLUE STAR CHIOS.
The sisters BLUE STAR CHIOS and BLUE STAR MYCONOS will follow, undergoing a similar conversion.
On October 28, Damen Shipyards Galati successfully launched the third Island Class Vessel for BC Ferries. The vessel is part of an order of six such vessels for the ferry operator and will perform an environmentally efficient inter-island ferry service between Vancouver and Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
A New Life for Ex Baltic Ferry
Unity Line’s former KOPERNIK is getting a serious makeover in Greece.
The ship has been acquired by Levante Ferries, and renamed SMYRNA.
Photo courtesy Christos Armenistis Chatzaras
POVL ANKER Looks Like Reborn
Orskov Yard has just completed a major upgrade of POVL ANKER. After a six weeks yards stay the ferry headed home to Bornholm looking like the vessel did in 1978 when it was first delivered.
Moby’s Rescue Plan Postponed until the End of the Year
According to some sources familiar with the matter, Moby Group asked the Court of Milan an ex extra-time of 60 days for presenting its financial restructuring plan to be submitted to the creditors (banks and bondholders). Among the reasons behind the request there is also the Covid-19 emergency. If approved by the Court, the new deadline will be postponed until the end of the current year.
Earlier this month the financial news provider Reorg Research revealed that the Onorato-controlled ferry group is in talks with come investment funds about a possible new money provision amid the group’s restructuring.
Moby closed the first half of 2020 in red for EUR 50 million and the overall financial exposure increased to EUR 643 million, of which 160 million with banks, 295 million with bond holders and 140 million with subsidiaries.
105 ferries
26 years average age
4.5 billion euro needed
The Hellenic Coastal Shipping needs urgently funding for the renewal of the ageing ferry fleet that within the next decade will be over 40 years old.
The new ferries will be the first to benefit fully from Havyard LAB’s new three-step tool to become safer and more environmentally friendly.
The three-step Havyard LAB tool gives shipowners an opportunity to test the hull, technology and operations before the ship has even been built.
