Ro-Pax HAMMERODDE Gets Swedish Flag And New Name

Preparations for the change of the vessel on Gothenburg-Frederikshavn are in full motion on the shipyard Öresundsvarvet in Landskrona. On Tuesday 4 September the flag and name of the former Færgen ferry was changed.

The flag was changed from Danish to Swedish and the name from HAMMERODDE to STENA VINGA. She is scheduled to go into operation mid-September.

MUHUMAA, the double-ended ferry having operated as GRETE between Cuxhaven – Brunsbüttel has reportedly been sold to Labrador Marine Services, a member of the Woodward Group of Companies.

She has been re-registered in the Marshall Islands. Unconfirmed reports say she’s going to be rebuilt by the Fiskerstrand Yard, prior to going to Canada. The vessel and her two sisters were built for operation on the Estonian side of the Baltic Sea, and have  her sisters SAAREMAA and HIIUMAA are believed to have been sold to the same company, but this has not been confirmed.

 The local Government (Department of transportation) wanted to increase the number of vehicles and passengers that could be accommodated on the run from St. Barbe, Newfoundland to Blanc Sablon, Quebec, just across the boarder from southern Labrador. It was searching for a new, ice-reinforced ferry.

In August AS Tallink Grupp transported more passengers (+1.3%), more cargo units (+2.8%) but less cars (-0.6%).

Since 1 September, travellers will be able to purchase tickets to Tallink Grupp shuttle ferries Star and Megastar online and via the group’s mobile app up to 45 minutes prior to departure. Until now ticket sales online and via the mobile app for the shuttle ferries, similarly to the company’s other ships, closed an hour and a half prior to departure.

RINA has launched the Digital Ship Notation, the first additional class notation available for shipowners willing to demonstrate the added value of their ship or fleet through the efficient use of digital technology.

GNV is the first company to receive the new notation, certifying 11 ships of its fleet, all equipped with a data collection system: the synergy with RINA, launched in 2012, has led to the development of the Digital Ship project on board of the GNV vessels, thanks to which an important path of fleet performance management has been launched.

Viking Line celebrated the start of the construction work of its new ferry at the Chinese shipyard Xiamen Shipbuilding Industries Co, Ltd. On 3 September a traditional steel cutting ceremony was held.

She will start to operate on the Turku-Mariehamn-Stockholm route in early 2021.

The new cruise ferry is bigger than the STX Finland built VIKING GRACE, the world’s first major LNG-powered passenger ship, but is expected to consume 10% less fuel.

Algerie Ferries’ ro-pax TASSILI II collided with a berthed cargo ship shortly during its departure from the port of Oran, on 31 August.
The impact created a breach of four meters, above the waterline.
Repairs have been executed by the local shipyard ERENAV, under the supervision of Bureau Veritas inspectors.
The ferry was able to sail for Alicante the same evening.