The Governments of Greece and Cyprus decided to give another chance to the sea connection between the ports of Piraeus and Limassol, after the fruitless tender that took place in January 2021.

• tender will be announced within the year
• EUR 5m/y during 5 years, paid by Cyprus
• Passenger traffic only (no freight)
• Seasonal (with OK from European Commission)
• Possibly extra call in Israel

On July 8, Fast Ferries’ HSC THUNDER will be introduced on the new Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos line.

The ship will depart every noon at 12.00 from the port of Piraeus and will return from Naxos calling at the same ports at 17.00.

A new package of measures has been announced for all passengers that wish to travel by ferry. More specifically they should have one of the following (as from July 5):

• A vaccination certificate (14 days must have passed from the second vaccination before the scheduled travel time)
• A negative result of PCR test within 72 hours or rapid test within 48 hours from the scheduled travel time as well as a relevant certificate.
• A disease certificate issued 30 days after the first positive test. This certificate is valid for 180 days.

<12 years old kids are exempted from the above obligation

12-18 years old: a negative self-test certificate is required

For the return from the islands, everyone over 12 years old should have done a self-test.

June statistics 

-21.9% passengers 218,950

-22.6% cars 58,390

+4.6% cargo units 31,440 units

Q2 statistics

+10.2% passengers 427,767

+22.7% cars 125,713

+6% cargo units 91,990 units

CEO of Tallink Grupp Paavo Nõgene said: 

“The statistics of 2020 and 2021 have to be carefully considered in each of the years’ context as the pandemic situation and people’s travel habits and confidence were very different in the two years in question. In 2020, April was the toughest month with May seeing some level of easing of restrictions. For example, commuter traffic between Estonia and Finland recommenced earlier last year already in mid-May and tourism traffic recommenced in mid-June. This year, we only saw some level of re-opening of borders with Finland after 21 June, so the vast majority of the quarter has seen heavy restrictions on all routes and traffic.

“Also, consumer confidence in terms of travel was slightly higher in 2020 as most people were optimistic that the spring lock-downs had managed to put a stop to the pandemic spread and life was slowly returning to normal after the first wave. What we are seeing in 2021, however, is this confidence taking a slight knock due to the new waves of the pandemic we have experienced since autumn 2020 and also the significant confusion around travel rules as the restrictions rapidly and continuously change.

“This, thankfully, is balanced by the EU reaching at least some agreements on making travel rules more uniform across the union and also the progress made with vaccination programmes in all our home markets. I sincerely hope that the simplification of rules and greater immunity achieved in our countries as a result of vaccination roll-out, will boost traveler confidence and more people are happy to take some respite from the restrictions at least with trips to their neighbouring countries this summer.“

Freight ferry booking agency Motis gives more information about the earlier announced United Seaways service from Tangiers to Poole. (see Ferry Shipping News week 9)

ECO CATANIA, the new ro-ro vessel delivered to the Grimaldi Group in early June, was christened on July 7, at the port of Catania.

This is the fifth of 12 hybrid ships belonging to the innovative GG5G (Grimaldi Green 5th Generation) class and ordered from the Chinese Jinling shipyard. (design Knud E. Hansen and Grimaldi)

The event was attended, among others, by representatives of local authorities and the port community of Catania and a large representation of the main Sicilian customers of the Neapolitan shipping company. The ceremony began with greetings from Catania Mayor Salvo Pogliese, Eastern Sicily Sea Port System Authority Commissioner Alberto Chiovelli, Eastern Sicily Maritime Director Giancarlo Russo, and Grimaldi Group Executive Manager Eugenio Grimaldi (photo below).

Catania Metropolitan Archbishop Mons. Salvatore Gristina then proceeded to the bless the Eco Catania. The ceremony ended with the cutting of the ribbon by the Godmother Letizia Santonocito, Mayor Pogliese’s wife, and the traditional breaking of the bottle.

ForSea Ferries has appointed SaaS ticketing platform Ticknovate, to manage its online booking and ticketing process, including sales made through its self-service kiosks.

Ticknovate will enable ForSea to generate a QR code for each purchase, enabling customers to redeem their tickets and receive a boarding lane by simply scanning the information.  The service will ensure a seamless enhanced experience throughout as ForSea continue their digital transformation.

P&O Ferries now takes drivers on its Tilbury – Zeebrugge route. (24 sailings per week)

Godby Shipping AB is the proud owner of BALTIC BRIGHT since Monday 5 July 2021.

The delivery took place in Landskrona, Sweden after installation of Ballast Water Treatment System and other maintenance works.

Since 2020, it has been possible for Destination Gotland to bunker LNG / Biogas in the port of Nynäshamn (Stockholm). Now Destination Gotland’s vessels can also connect to the electricity grid.

Balearia’s fast ferry ELEANOR ROOSEVELT has been equipped with 40 free charging points for electric cars, in cooperation with two Asturian companies: Procinsa Energias Renovables SL and Efibat España.

After an extensive two-month overhaul at Remontowa, Gdansk, ARK FUTURA has rejoined the DFDS fleet. She operates the Fredericia/Copenhagen-Klaipeda route. She has been at the yard since 18 May.