Portugal’s West Sea shipyard in Viana do Castelo installed the 360m3 tank in December as it continues to work on retrofitting the vessel’s engines to dual-fuel propulsion.
Hostage Rescue Exercise
The Spanish Special Naval Warfare Force carried out an assault and hostage rescue exercise with the collaboration of the Baleària ferry SICILIA.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Source: Armada Defense
The head of Porto Livorno 2000, Matteo Savelli (who is also CEO of Toremar) announced to the newspaper ‘Il Tirreno’, that they will appeal against the decision from the regional administrative court in Tuscany which stated that the Grimaldi-participated Sintermar Darsena Toscana terminal can handle also passengers, in addition to ro-ro cargo. Thus rejecting the appeal promoted by Porto Livorno 2000, the passenger terminal controlled by Moby and participated by MSC.
Porto Livorno 2000 is convinced to be the only terminal operator in the port with the authorization to handle passengers from cruise vessels and ferries following a public tender won few years ago. That’s the reason why it opposed the concession released in the recent past by the local port authority for a second ro-pax terminal to Sintermar Darsena Toscana (Grimaldi).
The Florence-based administrative regional court stated that Porto Livorno 2000 cannot be the only passenger terminal of the port recalling also the competition rules introduced both by in the national and in the EU legal framework.
The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of Valencia has selected the offer presented by Baleària for the construction and management of the new public passenger terminal in the Port of València.
This infrastructure will be located between the Poniente Quay and the Espigón del Turia Quay, in the area previously occupied by the Unión Naval de Valencia shipyard.
The terminal will occupy approximately 100,000 m2 and its concession will be granted for a period of 35 years, extendable to a maximum of 50 years.
Baleària’s new fast ferry ELEANOR ROOSEVELT was launched on Friday 18 September at the Armon shipyard in Gijón.
This innovative ship is scheduled to begin operating in the first quarter of 2021.
Lots of focus goes to the use of LNG as fuel.
However, equally important is what Baleària has achieved in the digitization of services, with the “Smart ship” concept.
- Passengers will be able to access by means of a QR code that they will receive via WhatsApp, with the indication of the assigned seat number
- Internet service and WhatsApp coverage for text messages during crossing
- Free digital entertainment platform for mobile devices
- See the pets through webcams installed in the cages.
Ropax SICILIA has been refitted and re-engined at the WestSea Viana Yard in Portugal.
- An LNG tank with a 425m3 capacity has been installed, good for a range of 1,100 nautical miles.
- The MAN9L48 / 60 engines have been converted into the 9L51 / 60DF dual fuel version.
- Installation of fuel consumption and emission monitoring system (as on BAHAMA MAMA), subsidised for 50% by CEF Transport funds. this is the first phase of the project for a future fleet control tower that will allow operations and vessels to be managed more efficiently from different aspects, such as safety, preventive maintenance of equipment and commercial efficiency. In 2022, five ships in the fleet will have this monitoring.
Baleària decided already in 2012 to make LNG its main fuel.
- Newbuilt LNG fleet: HYPATIA DE ALEJANDRÍA and MARIE CURIE
- Re-engined LNG fleet: SICILIA, BAHAMA MAMA, NÁPOLES, ABEL MATUTES
- Also to be converted: HEDY LAMARR and MARTIN I SOLER
- Under construction: ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, which will be the World’s second LNG-powered fast ferry (after Buquebus’ FRANCISCO)
Soon after Morocco reopened its borders, Baleària started a ferry service from the French port of Sète to Nador.
The vessel is REGINA BALTICA, with according to the company’s website, a Moroccan crew.
GNV is already operating this route (and 5 Moroccan routes in total, from Italy, France and Spain)
Baleària has scheduled eleven crossings, in order to meet the demand from people of Moroccan origin residing in European countries. (six trips from France and five from Morocco).
The last crossing is planned for September 7, but the company is exploring the possibility of more trips.
All passengers must present a negative PCR test carried out no more than 48 hours before travel. For Moroccans living in Northern France, Belgium or Holland this is a challenge, because of the driving distance and time.
The capacity of the vessel is currently restricted to 1,300 passengers (1,675) and 300 vehicles (350).
Baleària Converts 85,000 Plastic Bottles into Furniture
In a circular economy project, Baleària has reused the plastic equivalent of more than 85,000 bottles to build the furniture for the exterior decks of the ferries BAHAMA MAMA (Dénia-Ibiza-Palma), and ABEL MATUTES (Barcelona, Alcúdia and Ciutadella).
Web Check In / E-Ticket for Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways
Attica Group introduced the e-ticket/boarding pass application on domestic routes, building the new digital age in Greek ferry services.
The goal of this new app is to improve services, make transactions more convenient for passengers, and simplify boarding and travel procedures. Visitors from all over the world, as well as island residents, who travel frequently by ferry, will now have the possibility to make their reservations much easier and receive and store their tickets and/or boarding passes.
Minoan Lines’ KYDON PALACE Introduced on the Piraeus-Chania Line
On July 24, Minoan Lines’ ‘cruise’ ferry KYDON PALACE was introduced on the Piraeus-Chania line, after an inauguration ceremony that took place in the port of Piraeus. She is the fastest, newest and most luxurious ship of the line, while she is also the first ship of the Cretan service to undergo scrubber conversion.
KYDON PALACE will depart, from the port of Piraeus, in July and August, at 16:00 and from the port of Souda at 23:59.
Every Saturday and Sunday she will depart from the port Piraeus at 11:00 and from the port of Souda at 22:30.
Her carrying capacity is for 2.500 passengers (758 beds) and 700 private cars or 113 trucks and 100 cars while she can run at a speed of maximum 31.50 knots.
Baleària Submits Tender For New Terminal At The Port Of Valencia
Baleària has submitted a tender for the construction and operation of the new passenger terminal at the Port of Valencia.
Baleària to be First Shipping Line in the World with Bureau Veritas Covid-19 Certification
Baleària is working towards being the first shipping line in the world to obtain the Global Safe Site Covid-19 badge at the highest level (Excellence) from Bureau Veritas, certifying that its ships and the ferry terminals that it manages implement specific procedures, cleaning plans, organisational and personal protective measures to prevent Covid-19.
The carrier will also periodically be testing for the possible presence of the virus on surfaces in order to obtain the certificate at Excellence level.
This certificate will guarantee that Baleària goes beyond the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation, conducting more complete, reinforced procedures beyond those indicated by said authorities in terms of safety and cleaning. Certification will cover 16 of the company’s ships (the 12 currently in operation and an additional 4 expected to enter service when the current restrictions on passenger travel are lifted), as well as the two ferry terminals that it manages directly (Dénia and Valencia). Certification is expected to be issued in early June, and will be renewed every 6 months with periodic inspections.
