A subsidiary of AS Tallink Grupp, Baltic SF IX Limited and Marine Atlantic Inc, a Canadian company with the state participation therein, have concluded to extend the current charter agreement of ro-pax ATLANTIC VISION (ex. SUPERFAST IX) for one year, until November 2020, with an option to extend the agreement for an additional two years.
The vessel has been on the long-term bareboat charter since November 14, 2008.
After a serious renovation, ro-pax SOROLLA has been renamed into CIUDAD DE GRANADA during a ceremony in the port of Motril.
Trasmediterranea is changing the names of several ships, like the CIUDAD DE PALMA (ex DIMONIOS) and the CIUDAD AUTÓNOMA MELILLA (ex FORTUNY).
The vessel will be used on the Almeria-Melilla route.
The shipping companies Baleària and Fred. Olsen Express will incorporate the first ferry powered by dual gas engines on the routes that operate between Huelva and the Canary Islands, starting next Sunday March 24, at the departure of 20h from the port of Huelva.
The ro-pax NAPOLES has returned from the shipyard in Gibraltar after having received a new dual-fuel LNG engine.
She will replace the MARTIN I SOLER.
The remotorising of the ferry has been an important piece of engineering, with a price tag of EUR 12.5 million.
On the other hand, technological innovations have been made on the ship to turn it into a ‘smart ship’. Among the main novelties are, the digitalisation of all the signage, as well as the access to the staterooms by means of a QR code that customers receive on their mobile phone (and which prevents them from having to go through reception), and digital entertainment on demand.
Port Of Esbjerg: Positive Tendencies Within Ro-Ro
The Danish Port of Esbjerg is seeing positive tendencies within the ro-ro segment. In 2018, ro-ro cargo volumes reached the highest level in five years, and trailer cargo rose by 5.2 per cent.
This reflects a clear trend of cargo being moved from road to sea. The congestion crisis on European roads is a contributing factor.
The enormous pressure on the narrow Dover-Calais corridor between Europe and the UK, which Brexit risks exacerbating, underlines the severity of the problem. There is an acute need for alternative routes and the European level of interaction between the various forms of transport must be strengthened. The Port of Esbjerg has the space, facilities and location to be part of the solution.
On Day 1 of the Ferry Shipping Summit, Irish Ferries got the award for the “Ferry of the Year 2019” (see special edition of this newsletter).
Let us have a closer look at the award winner. Ladies and gentlemen, here is W.B. YEATS!
Rederi Ab Eckerö, based in the Åland Islands province of Finland, is a company with a diverse portfolio: two ferry lines, a cruise line, a roro cargo tonnage provider and even a bus company. Ferry Shipping News’, Finland-based freelance correspondent, Kalle Id, had a question and answer session with Björn Blomqvist, the managing director Rederi Ab Eckerö, in the cargo offices of the company’s Finland-Estonia subsidiary Eckerö Line in Helsinki last week.
According to local media (Giornale di Sicilia) the UK-based investment fund Taconic Capital will make an offer to buy Liberty Lines, the ferry company owned by the Morace family and still under the administration of an external commissioner following the court case renamed “Mare monstrum” which happened in 2017.
The company founded in 1993 by Vittorio Morace operates short sea links from Sicily to the Aeolian islands, to the Egadi islands and Pelagie islands, has a fleet of 32 hydrofoils and also controls a shipyard building hi-speed crafts in Trapani.
Also, the other big player active on the ferry routes in Sicily, the Messina-based Caronte&Tourist, recently welcomed as a new minority shareholder (with a 30% stake) the investment fund Basalt Infrastructure Partners.
Förde Reederei Seetouristik will introduce a faster and higher capacity vessel to the Melilla – Motril route.
The ro-pax ferry GOLDEN BRIDGE will start operations on the line next May.
This former Japanese ferry can make the Melilla – Motril crossing in 5 hours, meaning a reduction by 2 hours on the current crossing time.
She has a capacity for 1,500 pax and 500 cars.
Until last year this ferry was used between Korea and China, until she was acquired by A-Ship Management.
She is currently being refurbished in Perama.
Incat 041 JAUME III is set to be refitted in the port of Genoa, by San Giorgio del Porto Shipyard.
The yard is part of Genova Industrie Navali group, in which Fincantieri is expected to take a minority stake in the near future.
Ettore Morace, managing director of Balearia, confirmed to Ferry Shipping News that, “the JAUME III is to undergo significant works in the engine room. The vessel will be completely repowered, and the four main Ruston engines will be replaced by MTU.”
Price tag: €8 million.
Two years ago, Balearia also repowered JAUME II, to improve its energy efficiency, reliability and service as part of the company’s fleet modernization process
