Jan 31
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Three ro-pax ships up for sale by Grimaldi and Adria Ferries

By 2019 Newsletter week 5

Three Italian-controlled ro-pax ships are being advertised by shipbroking companies as they have been put for sale by their respective owners Grimaldi Group and Adria Ferries.

As for the Naples-based shipping group the sister ships EUROFERRY MALTA and EUROCARGO NAPOLI (both built in 1995, 1,960 lane meters) are currently for sale at a price of EUR 14.5 million each.

The third vessel on the market is the AF FRANCESCA owned by the Ancona-based Adria Ferries (290 cabins, 2,000 pax, 850 lane meters). She would be available for delivery between May and September.

This ferry was built by Fincantieri at Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) in 1979.

Jan 31
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Trouble in Flensburg

By 2019 Newsletter week 5

The salaries for January are safe. This was the central message of a staff meeting for the 650 permanent employees of the

Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft is in a difficult financial situation. One of the reasons is the late delivery of W.B. YEATS, the cruise ferry from Irish Ferries. The issue is certainly not the lack of orders. The yard has several ferries and ro-ro’s on order.

A new state guarantee is required and talks with the respective ministers are on their way. The yard belongs to the Norwegian Siem Group, and has been struggling in spite of the orderbook. A plan to save the yard is on the table of all the stakeholders, such as the state of Schleswig-Holstein, customers and suppliers as well as the unions and IG Metall.

Jan 31
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Tallink’s Shuttle Vessel STAR Has Received A Facelift

By 2019 Newsletter week 5

Tallink’s vessel STAR, which operates on the Tallinn-Helsinki route, was recently renovated at the Klaipeda shipyard in Lithuania.

  • Innovative „EnergoProFin“ solution was fitted on the propellers: an additional screw with small rotors, which increases efficiency and reduces the energy loss resulting from the whirlpool by 2-5%, and which also reduce the underwater noise and vibration caused by the vessel.
  • Complete renovation of Snack Time cafe and Starbucks Café.
  • Sea Pub was updated with a brand new concept.
  • Children’s play area and shopping areas received a facelift.
  • New carpets on the stairs, in the corridors and in Business Lounge.
  • New toilets on whole ship.

During the renovation, arrangements were also made to stop using disposable plastic plates, cups and cutlery in all the restaurants.

STAR returned to the Tallinn-Helsinki route on Tuesday, 22 January.

BALTIC QUEEN and GALAXY are currently being modernised. This spring, two further vessels, VICTORIA I and ISABELLE will also be updated.

Jan 31
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Fjord Line Is Not Allowed To Offer More Sailings

By 2019 Newsletter week 5

Fjord Line is upset: the City Council of Sandefjord (Norway) has deprived the company of sailing times 07:00 and 13:30, as from next year. In practice, the decision means that Fjord Line will continue with the sailings they have today, departing Sandefjord 08:30 and 15:20.

Since the introduction of OSLOFJORD on the line between Sandefjord and Strømstad in 2014, Fjord Line says it was concerned about receiving an equal treatment (the competitor is Color Line).

Fjord Line has also requested the municipality to carry out upgrades in the port. Fjord Line guaranteed to cover all costs of the upgrade. Sandefjord declined the offer, without giving any justification, says Rickard Ternblom, CEO Fjord Line.

Jan 31
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No Ferry Service Between Moerdijk And Ipswich

By 2019 Newsletter week 5

It doesn’t come as a surprise. Last week Ferry Shipping News carefully wrote something about a potential ro-ro service between Moerdijk (Rotterdam) and Ipswich.

Now the company “apologises for any confusion,” on its website.

“The journey route planned for Moerdijk to Ipswich region was only ever a provisional option, designed to engage with industry professionals to determine the interest in a Holland/Belgium to East Anglia route during a period immediately after a ‘no deal’ Brexit.”

Jan 31
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FERRY PORTS

By 2019 Newsletter week 5

Ferry Passenger Throughput In Marseille On The Rise

The record three million passenger milestone was marked by the cruise sector’s 15% jump to 1.7m passengers, which included 244,000 in October alone.  The port expects close to 1.9m in 2019 and 2.0m next year.  Marseille is already the main cruise hub in France and now the fourth largest in the Mediterranean.  Ferry passenger carryings rose 6% to 1.3 million, including increases of 12% on Algerian services and 5% on Corsica links, which recorded a third consecutive year of growth.

Jan 31
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Marseille Prepares For Lng Bunkering

By 2019 Newsletter week 5

The port of Marseille is preparing to provide LNG bunkering and also to extend ‘cold ironing’ shore power for ferries, with the initial La Meridionale agreement set to be followed from this year on behalf of Corsica Line and in subsequent years for Tunisia’s Cotunav.

Jan 31
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New Life For Heritage Marseille Ferry Terminal

By 2019 Newsletter week 5

The historic J1 ferry terminal in the Marseille Fos eastern harbour is to be redeveloped as a business, retail and leisure centre following the outcome of an international call for projects launched in 2017.

After an 18-month process in which four candidates were shortlisted, the winning group has now been announced as real estate company ADIM Immoblier Provence, Vinci Construction France, the French public sector finance body Caisse des Depots and renowned Paris-based architects Reichen & Robert, who specialise in industrial building conversions.

The prestigious three-storey JI hall covers almost 25,00m2 and is on a site including 150m of quay and a 4,000m2 water basin.  The new amenity – due to open in 2023 – will feature offices dedicated to innovation and training, event and exhibition spaces including an esplanade garden, a world class hotel, various restaurant and fast food amenities, craft outlets, food shops and concept stores.  In addition, a multi-faceted complex will host a spa and fitness trail, a climbing wall, an aqua-playground and aqua-gym, an activity pool and potentially an outdoor swimming pool.