Apr 16
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TECHNOLOGY

By 2020 Newsletter week 16

Industry Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary of World’s First Methanol-Powered Commercial Vessel

Stena, Wärtsilä, and Methanex Corporation are proud to mark five years of successful operation of the methanol-fuelled ferry STENA GERMANICA.

She was converted to be capable of running on methanol fuel in early 2015 at Remontowa Shipyard. The ferry, with a capacity for 1500 passengers and 300 cars, was retrofitted with a first-of-its-kind fuel-flexible Wärtsilä 4-stroke engine that can run on methanol or traditional marine fuels.

“The use of methanol as a marine fuel is likely to increase in the future,” says Toni Stojcevski, General Manager, Sales & Development, Wärtsilä Marine.

(press release)

Apr 16
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IN THE MEDIA

By 2020 Newsletter week 16

All Aegean Ferry Services to be Subsidized

All ferry routes in the Aegean will turn into subsidized services as of April 21 for a period of at least one month in order to safeguard the connectivity of the country’s islands with the mainland as well as the sustainability of coastal shipping companies to the utmost degree.

Apr 16
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SHORT NEWS

By 2020 Newsletter week 16

SILJA SERENADE to go to Naantali Shipyard for Essential Maintenance

Tallink Grupp’s vessel SILJA SERENADE, which is currently suspended from traffic in Helsinki due to the ongoing travel restrictions, will be sent to Naantali, Turku Shiprepair Yard for essential maintenance works. The technical works required for the ship’s class renewal were originally scheduled to take place this autumn, but have been brought forward. (press release)

Apr 16
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VIDEO

By 2020 Newsletter week 16

VITSENTZOS KORNAROS (ex- Viking Viscount) to the Scrapyard

11 March 2020, Lane Sea Lines’ VITSENTZOS KORNAROS, the last of the legendary Townsend Thoresen ferry quartet, sailed to the Aliaga scrapyard (Turkey) escorted by the tugs CHRISTOS XL & CHRISTOS XVII.

She was built in Denmark in 1976 (Aalborg Værft) as the VIKING VISCOUNT. In 1989 she was renamed PRIDE OF WINCHESTER and served on behalf of P&O European Ferries, while in 1994 she was sold to the Greek-based LANE SEA LINES for the Piraeus – Milos – Agios Nikolaos – Sitia line. Then she served consistently Dodekanissa, northeast Aegean as well as the Cyclades.

After a serious engine room fire in September 2017 she was laid up at the Kynosoura shipyard.

Farewell “poet” (*) of the Aegean Sea!

(*Vitsentzos Kornaros is considered to be the greatest of all the Cretan poets and one of the most significant and influential figures in the entire course of Greek poetry. Source: Wikipedia)

Apr 09
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FERRY SHIPPING

By 2020 Newsletter week 15

Moby in Talks with Rimorchiatori Riuniti Panfido for Selling Tugboat Division

Moby said in a statement to be in talks “with an experienced third-party operator for a potential divestment regarding the tugboat business unit within the approval of the Group’s restructuring plan”.

Ferry Shipping News can exclusively reveal that the third party involved in the negotiation is the Rimorchiatori Riuniti Panfido group which is also involved in the tug business in the ports of Venice, Chioggia and, in joint venture with Smit, in assistance to the Rovigo offshore regasification plant.

The statement from Moby added that “the company has been monitoring the situation closely for potential opportunities in respect of its own tugboat division since there has been a market wide consolidation for tugboat services in the Mediterranean Sea. In case of a potential deal the Company will primarily use the proceeds of any divestment to repay its existing creditors”.

Moby’s tugs are active in all the major ports in Sardinia and the related concession, due to expire in 2024, generates EUR 20 million annual revenues.

Apr 09
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CMAL Publishes Ambitious Three-Year Corporate Plan

By 2020 Newsletter week 15

CMAL has published an updated three-year corporate plan.

The plan highlights the key projects CMAL intends to undertake and outlines aspirations during the next decade to address the lack of investment in ferries and harbour infrastructure since the turn of the century.  Major investment is needed to ensure lifeline services match expectations.

Funding is a key component of the delivery of the many projects outlined in the three-year plan, and in future years.  CMAL will work closely with its sponsoring body, Transport Scotland, and Scottish Ministers to secure the necessary funding.  CMAL receives its capital funding from the Scottish Government in the form of voted loans for vessels and grant-in-aid for port infrastructure.

Of particular interest is the three-year plan for the fleet, on page 26 of the three-year corporate plan.

  • GLEN SANNOX and hull 802
  • New Islay ferry
  • New ferries for Gourock – Dunoon
  • New loch-class vessels (4 minimum)
  • Hydrogen ferry Hyseas III
Apr 09
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Delayed Scottish RoPax Ferries: What’s Next?

By 2020 Newsletter week 15

Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited, whose Clyde shipyard came under Scottish Government ownership last year, has awarded ICE Marine Design a contract to correct and complete the design of its Hull No 801, the dual-fuel RoPax ferry GLEN SANNOX for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. (CMAL)

Following a detailed investigation of status of the partly-constructed vessel – including performing a laser scanning survey of technical spaces – ICE, in close cooperation with Ferguson’s new management team, carefully mapped out the design work and deliverables to be revised, updated and completed.

On 2 April 2020, CMAL has awarded a contract to KC LNG, Kosan Crisplant’s division under MAKEEN Energy, to design and install Scotland’s first LNG bunkering facilities at Uig and Ardrossan. When completed, the facilities will provide a source of LNG fuelling for the two dual fuel ferries, GLEN SANNOX and Hull 802.