Tag: IMAGE CARDS | Ferry Shipping News

On 3 November 2024, the HSC MAX arrived at the Port of Piraeus from Denmark. The ship was sold by Molslinjen to Seajets last May and was delivered to the Greek-Cypriot ferry operator last week. She was sent to Ambelakia Salaminas for future conversion before entering service in the Hellenic Coastal Shipping. The HSC MAX was built in Australia in 1998 by Incat. She has a carrying capacity of 900 passengers and 240 cars, and can operate at speeds exceeding 40 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

On November 1st, Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania laid the keel for the first two of four fully electric ferries for BC Ferries. The keel laying ceremony marked an important milestone in the third phase of construction of the Island Class Ferries, which will bring the total number of Damen vessels in the BC Ferries fleet to ten.

During the recent second phase of the programme, Damen delivered four hybrid diesel-electric ferries. These reduced emissions vessels were intended to pave the way to the development of fully electric vessels.

Now, with availability of renewable shore power to charge the vessels, the four fully electric vessels will be able to conduct their services with zero emissions. As such, the ferries are making an important contribution to BC Ferries’ goal to reduce emissions by 10,000 tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030.

Source: Damen

Brittany Ferries’ RoPax NORMANDIE will sail on the Marseille – Tangier Med route for La Méridionale in summer 2025.

The Finnish Ambassador to Poland, Päivi Laine, visited Finnlines’ office in Świnoujście on 27 September 2024, accompanied by Finnlines’ executives. The visit follows the successful launch of a new Malmö-Świnoujście route, which has seen positive growth in its first six months. This route responds to increased market demand and strengthens connections between Sweden and Poland, contributing to the company’s presence in the region.

Source: Finnlines

On 30 September, Fred. Olsen Express’s new RoRo vessel, Bahía Cargo, arrived in the Canary Islands. It will undergo maintenance and complete necessary administrative procedures before joining the fleet in November. This vessel is the second of its kind acquired by the company, complementing the service started by the Bentayga Cargo in May. The Bahía Cargo will enhance the supply routes between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arrecife, and Puerto del Rosario.

Source: Fred. Olsen Express

China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) has successfully completed sea trials for SAINT-MALO, the new E-Flexer RoPax commissioned by Stena RoRo and set to be operated by Brittany Ferries as from February 2025 between Saint-Malo and Portsmouth. 

She will replace the BRETAGNE. 

The Spanish company Repsol has begun supplying liquefied biomethane (bioLNG) to Brittany Ferries’ SALAMANCA and SANTOÑA vessels, which are powered by LNG, with a test delivery of 60 tonnes in Santander. The use of bioLNG can reduce CO2-equivalent emissions by nearly 100% compared to conventional LNG, without requiring any engine modifications or affecting ship performance. This bioLNG, produced from waste from agro-food industries, agriculture, households, and sewage sludge, comes from Spain’s first bioLNG plant in As Somozas, Galicia. 

Source: Brittany Ferries 

The electric ferry AURORA is undergoing a complete transformation while at the Landskrona shipyard, including a repaint, the addition of the Öresundslinjen logo, and a full renovation of all passenger areas. Technical systems are also being updated, with the ferry set to resume its Helsingborg-Helsingør route on 2 October 2024.  

Kristian Durhuus, CEO of Molslinjen, anticipates welcoming guests aboard the “new” ferry, particularly to the restaurant, Opus Wine & Dine, offering à la carte dishes and a carefully curated wine list, following the success of TYCHO BRAHe’s revamped dining experience earlier this year. 

Source: Via Ritzau / Molslinjen 

As of 1 November 2024, Anders Tenfält will be Stena Line’s new Chief Investment Officer of Stena Line portfolio companies and part of the group management team. 

In his new role at Stena Line, he will lead the development of Stena Line’s portfolio companies (Stena Line Travel Group, Sembo, R&F Travel Retail, Baltreiss Agency, Best Travel, Voigt Travel, CustomsLink, Freightlink and Anglesey Freeport).   

Source: Stena Line 

RoPax GOTHICA, former STENA GOTHICA, actually in the Port of Klaipeda, is being rebranded. We were told that the vessel got the logo of UKR Ferry on its funnel.  

Polferries’ RoPax CRACOVIA is finally on its way to Algeria, where she will be used by the new company, Nouris Elbahr Ferries. 

The Armas Trasmediterránea Group is adding RoPax vessel AL ANDALUS to its Canary Islands routes.  As of October 1, AL ANDALUS will sail between Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 

 The former NORD PAS-DE-CALAIS has a capacity for 1,275 lane metres of cargo, 215 passengers and 150 vehicles. 

 Source: Armas Trasmediterránea Group 

Safety and security drills onboard ships are important as something unexpected may take place. Drills train the crew to respond to many incidents, ranging from firefighting to first aid, evacuation and oil spills.
Whenever an opportunity arises, ships’ drill with authorities, such as the Border Guard, police, and fire and rescue department.
Finnlines’ RoPax vessels FINNLADY and FINNSIRIUS trained with Finnish authorities at the end of August. 

 Source: Finnlines on Linkedin 

Corsica Linea marked the commencement of construction for its new LNG-powered vessel, CAPU ROSSU, with a ceremonial first steel cutting at the CMI Jinling shipyard in Weihai, China.  

Set to launch in 2026, this Stena RoRo E-Flexer will support the company’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030, furthering its commitment to environmental sustainability. 

Africa Morocco Link announced the launch of a new RoRo freight service, which started earlier this week. This daily service connects Tanger Med with Algeciras. 

The vessel is the 1989-built Rail RoRo Ferry KAUNAS. 

Source: AML on Linkedin 

On September 12, 2024, Anek Lines’ RoPax ASTERION II was reassigned to the Piraeus – Heraklion route after successfully serving on the Piraeus – Samos – Dodecanese and Piraeus – Chios – Mytilene routes since June 3, 2024. ASTERION II will replace RoPax ARIADNE, which will return to her previous service in the Adriatic. 

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos 

On September 10, 2024, the HSC HELLENIC HIGHSPEED returned to the Port of Piraeus after completing its summer charter in the Western Mediterranean. The vessel was chartered to Africa Morocco Link (AML) from June 29, 2024, to bolster the Moroccan company’s service on the Algeciras – Tanger Med route. 

 Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos 

Construction of CLdN’s first new G9e vessel is making great progress. The bridge and funnels are now in place so she really starts to look like a CLdN vessel. 

Source: CLdN on Linkedin  

Holmen has declared their option and extended the contract with BALTIC BRIGHT until end 2025. 

Source: Godby Shipping on Linkedin 

Thursday 12 September, the Rauma shipyard celebrated the delivery of the SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV to the Owner, TT-Line Company. 

‘I want to thank our client for their excellent co-operation, which has enabled us to bring this project to its successful completion. I would also like to thank our partners and the classification society. This vessel is a fine example of the strong shipbuilding expertise in Rauma. We have now built the world’s southernmost LNG ferry as well as the world’s northernmost LNG ferry, namely AURORA BOTNIa. We wish SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV all the best on its journeys’, says Mika Nieminen, CEO and President of Rauma Marine Constructions. 

Stena Line has announced that it will withdraw the STENA VISION from its Rosslare-Cherbourg route at the end of October 2024.  

Stena Line has confirmed that they will continue to operate a three-day week service for freight and passenger travel on board the STENA HORIZON and that they will “deploy additional support vessels to the route during periods of peak demand from freight and travel customers”. 

Destination Gotland experienced a slight increase in travel during the summer of 2024, with nearly 940,000 passengers between June and August, up by 2,000 from the previous year. June saw a 10% rise in travellers, while July, despite a 4% decline, remained the busiest month. The campaign “Sommarlov på Gotland” contributed to a surge in family visits. Gotland continues to perform well compared to other Swedish destinations, showing resilience in the travel market. 

Source: Destination Gotland Photo: Olof Segerberg 

As an important step in the green transition, Molslinjen is now investing in a new 132,000 MWh solar park on Djursland, Denmark. The renewable energy from the park will power NERTHUS, the innovative electric ferry on the Alslinjen between Bøjden and Fynshav. The vessel is under construction at Cemre Shipyard. 

Source: Via Ritzau 

Finnlines is set to celebrate the first anniversary of its FINNSIRIUS, operating on the Finland–Åland–Sweden route. The ship, along with its sister vessel, FINNCANOPUS, has significantly boosted passenger numbers and attracted new customer segments, including families and conference groups. Both ships feature cutting-edge technology aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. Special onboard events and promotions will mark the occasion. 

For more details, visit Finnlines. 

At SMM in Hamburg, Knud E. Hansen revealed a concept design for the new Grimaldi RoPax vessels.  

Grimaldi Group has just launched the tender for nine new ships: three for Finnlines (similar to the last two of the ‘Superstar’ series recently delivered), two for Minoan and three for Grimaldi Euromed. 

A signature is expected end of 2024, beginning of 2025.

Sea trials have been successfully completed on the newly built ro-pax ferry GNV POLARIS, the first of four vessels commissioned by the MSC Group to Guangzhou Shipyard International.  

The delivery is scheduled to take place before the end of the current year and then the GNV POLARIS will be deployed on the regular link between Spain mainland (Valencia and Barcelona) and the Balearic Islands.   

GNV POLARIS (as the sister ship GNV ORION, already launched earlier this year) is 218m long with a capacity for 1,785 passengers and 3,100 lane metres of freight. 

Two more sister ships will follow and will be LNG-powered. 

Hyundai Mipo Dockyard held a keel laying ceremony for the second of CLdN’s new G9e vessels at their shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. 

This new ship will feature two conventional main engines along with two large 6 MW shaft generators, which can be used for power generation or electric propulsion. The design offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing for future integration of new fuels, fuel cells, and battery technology.  

Compared to CLdN’s largest vessels currently in operation, Celine and Delphine, the new ships will reduce CO₂ emissions by 40% while maintaining the same cargo capacity. 

The delivery of both vessels is scheduled for the first half of 2025. 

The picture shows representatives from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, DNV (the classification society), and the Anglo-Eastern Technical Services Site Team, who are overseeing the process on behalf of CLdN. 

Source: CLdN on Linkedin 

P&O Ferries started running their ‘Turn-up and Go’ space charter with Irish Ferries on the Dover-Calais route, meaning ships will always be fully loaded for freight at peak, allowing freight to clear the port up to 25 per cent faster.  

The agreement is good for the customers (no waiting) and it also lowers the carbon footprint of the cross-Channel route by always fully loading the vessels. 

During the trial period, which began on 8th July, more than 12,000 freight vehicles were transferred between the two operators. 

A brand new 144,000 square meter port terminal was inaugurated at the Port of Gothenburg. The investment, amounting to approximately 60 million EUR, has been under construction for the past six years and was made to meet the increased transportation needs of Swedish industry. 

 Named “Arendal 2”, the terminal is also part of the port’s strategy to concentrate its terminal operations in the outer port area, further from the city center, and with direct connections to the port’s road and rail infrastructure as well as the local growing industrial cluster. 

Source and photo: Port of Gothenburg  

The construction of Scandlines‘ zero direct emissions ferry, the E/V Futura, has reached its final phase at the Cemre shipyard. The ferry recently underwent significant work in a floating dock, where its hull and thrusters were cleaned and painted, enhancing its energy efficiency. Precision measurements were also taken to ensure the ferry’s automatic mooring system and charging connections work seamlessly in the ports of Rødby, Denmark, and Puttgarden, Germany.

The E/V Futura is now at the fitting-out quay for the final installations and tests, including the critical Sea Acceptance Tests (SAT). Once these are completed, the ferry will be delivered to Scandlines, with plans to begin operations later in 2024, marking a significant step towards the company’s goal of achieving zero emissions on the Puttgarden-Rødby route by 2030. 

MARIA GRAZIA ONORATO will return to Zeebrugge. She was on charter to CLdN, returned to the Med, left the Moby fleet and has now been renamed LONGSTONE.  

She will be chartered by P&O Ferries (based upon port information).  

She is due in Tilbury for berthing trials on the 25th of August, followed by Zeebrugge on the 26th and Hull for berthing trials on the 27th on River Terminal 1. 

Photo: Mike Louagie 

CLdN’s PEREGRINE is currently operating between Melbourne (Victoria) and Burnie (Tasmania) for StraitLink. She has been chartered to cover refits of other vessels. She has been temporarily reflagged to Australian flag.  

Photo: Mike Louagie 

Åland’s regional government has, on August 22, signed a letter of intent with Finferries regarding the creation of a joint company, with the aim of operating traffic in the Åland archipelago. The parties intend to acquire a joint 50/50 owned company whose name would be “Ålands Skärgårdsrederi Ab” with the marketing name “Axferries”. The company shall be in Mariehamn. 

Photo: Håkan Fagerström, CEO of Finferries, Infrastructure Minister Camilla Gunell and Fredrik Pettersson, head of the Infrastructure Department during the press conference. 

Source: Åland Landskapsregeringen 

Stena Line reports a negative development for this year’s summer traffic between Sweden and Denmark, especially among Swedish, but also Danish passengers. In July, 14 percent fewer passengers travelled between Gothenburg-Fredrikshamn and Halmstad-Grenå compared to the previous year. However, the trend seems to be turning around and Stena Line expects to reach its budget targets in the coming months. 

Source: Stena Line (in Swedish)