Gotlandsbolaget has been sold HSC Gotlandia II to Greek owners.
So far, the owners remain unknown. (we presume either Golden Star Ferries or SeaJets, but this will be confirmed soon – follow us on LinkedIn for updates).
Brokers are reporting that P&O Ferries has sold their 1993 ro-pax PRIDE OF BURGUNDY to Turkish ship recyclers.
The former Dover – Calais ferry has been laid up at Dunkerque East since late 2021. The vessel was “permanently withdrawn” in 2020 during the height of the Covid pandemic only to have a short-lived return to service the following year.
The ship is expected to end her life at an EU-approved recycling facility at Aliaga in the coming months. Her sale is reported at the rate of $320 per LDT, a total price of $3.7 million based on her 28,100 GT.
The ship’s age and English Channel focussed design made a sale for further use unlikely.
It remains to be seen what fate awaits the PRIDE OF KENT and PRIDE OF CANTERBURY with the arrival of P&O PIONEER and P&O LIBERTE this year.
Meanwhile, P&O PIONEER departed China on 3 March for her delivery voyage to Europe. A visit to Singapore waters followed on 8 March and at the time of writing was due at Colombo on 11 March. P&O Ferries has confirmed that the ship is due to enter service on 1 May.
NOTICE: Ferry Shipping News doesn’t want to bring rumours. Sometimes information is reliable, even before any official statement. This story is a good example. It has multiple sources. However, neither DFDS, nor La Méridionale confirmed the transaction.
La Méridionale, one of the two ferry companies operating between Marseille and Corsica, urgently needed an extra ferry to be able to respond to the conditions required by the “DSP” public service contract, which starts in October.
First the French company was going to charter Stena RoRo’s AF MICHELA, actually operating between Ancona and Durrës for Adria Ferries.
Since this vessel was not available (French media report that a Letter of Intent for the charter was cancelled just before the deadline), La Méridionale had quickly to find another vessel with similar characteristics, important to match the criteria described in the DSP contract.
LIVERPOOL SEAWAYS is a near sister of AF MICHELA, built by Visentini.
LIVERPOOL SEAWAYS is currently operating on Kapellskär-Paldiski.
