On May 10, 2023, Golden Star Ferries’ new acquisition HSC GOLDEN PRINCESS (ex GOTLANDIA II) arrived in Piraeus. The ship was purchased on April 24th.
She will undergo a small-scale refit and probably enter service in the summer season of 2024. She was built in Italy in 2006.
Her carrying capacity is for 900 passengers and 160 cars.
Photo: Petros Psarras
MANXMAN has officially joined the Isle of Man Steam Packet on 11th May, 2023.
Lars Ugland, Chairman of the Board, signed the official documentation to complete the transfer of ownership on behalf of the Company. Mr HR Kim, President and CEO of Hyundai Mipo Dockyard signed on behalf of the builders.
The vessel is now in the charge of Captain Andy Atkinson and Chief Engineer Dean Ellis, for final preparations for departure on Saturday 13th May
Manxman will be docking on the South Coast of England at the end of the delivery voyage in order for some final fixtures and fittings to be added, with expected arrival in the Isle of Man towards the end of June.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has secured the ownership of ARROW for EUR 9 million.
As part of the previous longstanding charter agreement, the Company negotiated the option to purchase the vessel. The acquisition is being financed from existing Company resources.
The Isle of Man Ship Registry has been selected as the flag state to oversee construction of two rail-enabled ropax ferries that will connect New Zealand’s North and South Islands.
KiwiRail has commissioned the future-proofed vessels to modernise its fleet of ferries serving the Cook Strait. KiwiRail’s Interislander service connects New Zealand’s State Highway and national rail networks between the capital city Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island. The Interislander carries approximately 850,000 passengers, 250,000 cars and up to NZ$14 billion worth of freight annually.
The search to find a preferred shipyard began last year when KiwiRail issued an Expression of Interest to international shipyards. The selection of a successful shipyard is due to be completed in the next few months. KiwiRail has now appointed the Isle of Man Ship Registry as the newbuilding Flag. The Isle of Man Ship Registry will appoint and work in partnership with KiwiRail’s chosen classification society, overseeing the build process once a shipyard has been confirmed.
The two 220m Ropax ferries, which are being designed by OSK-ShipTech, will each be capable of carrying about 1,900 passengers. They will also have a capacity of approximately 3,600 lane metres, allowing them to transport a combination of vehicles including up to 40 sixty-foot rail wagons.
The new ferries will trigger significant changes to the Wellington and Waitohi Picton waterfronts, including new ferry berths, terminals and both rail and road connections to ensure the benefits of the new ferries are fully realised. The ships are targeted to enter service in the mid-2020s, replacing the existing three-vessel Interislander fleet.
The vessels will be diesel electric hybrid power, with diesel generators and batteries providing electrical power for azimuth thruster propulsion.
A public survey revealed high levels of satisfaction with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and created valuable input for the new vessel, to be designed and built over the next few years, to replace the services currently provided by conventional ferry, BEN-MY-CHREE.
Passengers would like to see a selection of lounges, a dedicated cafe area and more tables alongside standard seating, a wider choice of food and drink, more charging/plug-in points and improved toilets.
A historic new strategic sea services agreement between the Manx government and the Steam Packet has been signed;
In return for almost exclusive use of the island’s linkspans at Douglas harbour, the state-owned Steam Packet is required to invest in new vessels and provide regular services throughout the year.
The Steam Packet is drawing up its outline specifications for replacement vessels for the BEN-MY-CHREE and MANANNAN, writes IOM Today.
In a parliamentarian answer, Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer’s gave the following indications:
After many months of discussions, the Isle of Man Government has reached a definitive agreement to buy the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
The company will be purchased subject to approval by the Isle of Man Parliament.
Photo: Wikipedia
Isle of Man News reports that Steam Packet’s ferry BEN-MY-CHREE completed 2017 with a reliability record of more than 99%. Only seven sailings were cancelled for technical reasons.