The City of Turku, the Port of Turku Oy, Tallink Silja and Viking Line have begun to consider three alternatives for the location of the Turku passenger terminal. The original joint terminal project planned for Linnanauko is proving to be too expensive.
Condor Ferries has maintained essential freight links only since March, but has not run any fast ferry passenger services.
Currently, anyone arriving in the Channel Islands has to self-isolate for 14 days with penalties for those caught breaching the law.
Condor is working with the authorities to establish a date to start services.
Eckerö Reopens Buffet
Until 25 June Eckerö serves a summer menu and breakfast that have been modified for safety and hygienic reasons.
As of 26 June, the company returns to normal buffet dining, with a reduced number of customer seats.
Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea will reactivate the Ceuta – Algeciras – Ceuta line starting June 22
After the virus-forced suspension, Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea will restart the route to the Spanish Autonomous City of Ceuta with high-speed ropax catamaran CIUDAD DE CEUTA.
Godby Shipping: Newbuilding Project Delayed
In a message on its social media, Godby Shipping says that, “global lockdown has made the demand for roro vessels almost disappear.”
“At present only MIMER and LINK STAR are trading and it remains uncertain when and how all vessels will be back in traffic.”
“Before the downturn the office was manned to handle at least seven vessels and the first stage of a newbuilding project. The newbuilding project is now at least 2-3 years into the future and the focus is to survive.”
As from July 10, several of the office staff will leave the company.
The newly built ro-pax unit CIUDAD DE VALENCIA (hull n° 229) left the Cantiere Navale Visentini shipyard in Porto Viro (Rovigo) and is currently in the port of Trieste for some final works before sea trials start.
The vessel will join Trasmediterranea’s fleet in long time charter and is expected to be deployed on the routes linking Spain mainland to Canary or Balearic Islands.
The delivery will take place before the end of July.
Designed by Naos Design, this ro-pax unit is 203m long, 25m wide and will be able to accommodate 1,000 passengers and 2,600 linear metres of ro-ro cargo.
Cantiere Navale Visentini is already working on the next two ro-pax new buildings with delivery scheduled before summer 2021 (the first one) and in 2022 (the second one ordered by Corsica Linea).
Grimaldi Doubled Ro-Ro Capacity With A Second Ship On The Livorno – Cagliari Service
On June 15, Grimaldi Group doubled the cargo capacity of its Livorno – Cagliari maritime link.
In a statement to its freight customers Grimaldi made public that a second vessel (EUROCARGO VALENCIA – 170 trailers) will be active on the route together with the EUROCARGO ISTANBUL already deployed on the same route.
Frequency of the regular services thus became daily and competition with Grendi Trasporti Marittimi operating the similar Marina di Carrara – Cagliari route is expected to increase.
After a temporary stop due to Covid-19, Grendi also recently announced to have restored the new line started last February and linking Porto Torres (in north of Sardinia) with Italy mainland (Marina di Carrara).
Italy’s transport ministry announced to have launched a public consultation on passenger and freight transport services to and from the main islands (Sardinia, Sicily and Tremiti) for the definition of public service requirements. The notice is addressed to consumer, cargo user, business associations and stakeholders in general.
“This Ministry is in the process of investigating the conditions necessary to ensure the territorial continuity service relating to the service of transport of passengers and goods with the major and minor islands and to define any measures to be taken” is written in statement from the ministry.
“It’s necessary to proceed to consult the main associations and representative bodies of companies operating in the logistics and freight transport sectors, in order to directly acquire indications, observations and proposals in the context of the investigation aimed at ensuring the best possible organization of the services in question, taking into account all the interests involved” it’s also reported. The deadline for submitting comments is June 25.
Public subsidies granted to Tirrenia – Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione (Onorato Armatori group) should expire on next July 18, but the Italian government recently decided to extend them for a maximum of 12 months.
Viking Line will place GABRIELLA in service for cruises from Helsinki to the Åland Islands three days a week beginning July 1.
Day trips to the popular summer town of Mariehamn will give passengers the chance to get to know Åland’s sights and attractions. Viking Line, which has its roots in the Åland archipelago, has daily service to Åland with six vessels. The range of routes available is now being expanded by offering Finnish residents an attractive and safe travel option to become familiar with the beautiful archipelago and this summer paradise in the middle of the Baltic Sea.
Viking Line became the first shipping company in the world to be verified by DNV GL in accordance with its My Care methodology. This verification, which covers all seven Viking Line vessels and operations in six terminals, affirms the company’s capability to manage and prevent infection risks, including Covid-19.
Tallink is giving travellers the unique opportunity to sail directly to Saaremaa from Helsinki this summer with one special return voyage to the island on the Helsinki-Saaremaa-Helsinki route on 27-29 July 2020.
Ship: VICTORIA I
A-Ships Management decided to introduce its GOLDEN BRIDGE on the Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Brindisi line from July 3, 2020.
Having no other charter proposal for her due to Covid-19, A-Ship Management made this smart move. Last summer, the impressive ship was chartered to FRS Iberia and served the Motril-Melilla line.
The launch of the former Japanese ferry seems to be the Greek response to the Grimaldi Lines ferries CORFU and FLORENCIA.
At the same time, A-Ship Management‘s move seems to be a new attempt from the Greek side to return on the route, even seasonally, after the exit of Agoudimos Lines and Endeavor Lines.
