JUST RELEASED - Shippax Guide 20 - STENA EDDA

Shippax Guide is our annual extensive ship register publication including all existing ro-pax ferries, ro-ro and cruise vessels.

Theme vessel in this issue: STENA EDDA

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Grimaldi to start weekly Sardinia-Sicily inter-island service

VENEZIA will make a weekly inter-island Cagliari-Palermo rotation, starting on 15 January. © Frank Lose

Grimaldi Lines is further increasing its presence in the Italian domestic ferry market and will start a weekly Cagliari, Sardinia-Palermo, Sicily ro-pax service on 15 January, using the Visentini Class VENEZIA.

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Jinling delivers last DFDS mega ro-ro

SCANDIA SEAWAYS is the last ship in the six-ship Jinling series designed by Knud E. Hansen and built by Nanjing Jinling. © Jinling Shipyard

Nanjing Jinling Yizheng’s shipyard delivered the last of the six-ship 6,695-lanemetre series, SCANDIA SEAWAYS, to DFDS on 6 January. The 237.4m long and 33m beam vessel is expected to leave its building place by the end of this week (week one), with an early February arrival in Northern Europe.

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Sixth Stena E-Flexer floated

The LNG-powered SALAMANCA is one of three Stena E-Flexers adapted for Brittany Ferries service. © CMI Jinling Weihai Shipyard

On 5 January, the sixth Stena E-Flexer, SALAMANCA, was floated in the Number One building dock of China Merchants’ Jinling Weihai Shipyard. Weather permitting, the ro-pax will be floated out and shifted to the outfitting quay later this week.

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Jumbo Ferry orders at Naikai Zosen

Jumbo Ferry's KONPIRA 2 and RITSURIN 2 (illustrated) were built in 1989 and 1990, respectively. It is expected that the newbuild will replace one of the existing ships. © Frank Lose

Japanese ferry line Jumbo Ferry has ordered a single ro-pax at Naikai Zosen for delivery in September 2022.

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Color Line lays up second Oslo-Kiel ro-pax cruise ferry

COLOR MAGIC has been taken out of service until further notice, leaving Color Line’s Oslo-Kiel route in the hands of the freight-only COLOR CARRIER. © Kai Ortel

The new strict COVID-19 measures implemented in Norway has forced Color Line to further reduce its services by putting COLOR MAGIC in layup. Back in November sister ship COLOR FANTASY was already laid up.

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Successful start of DFDS’s new direct France-Ireland service

OPTIMA SEAWAYS is one of three ro-paxes operating DFDS's new Dunkerque-Rosslare route. © Julien Carpentier

DFDS’s new direct Dunkerque-Rosslare freight service, bypassing a Great Britain land bridge, successfully started on 2 January when the Visentini Class ro-pax OPTIMA SEAWAYS left the Irish port for France with a load of over 120(*) lorries and unaccompanied trailers, the company said in a press statement on 4 January.

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FSG lays keel for IVP Ship Invest’s first ro-ro

Keel laying ceremony for FSG's yard number 782. © Frank Behling

Controlled by Lars Windhorst’s Tennor Holding, Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellscheft (FSG) on 30 December held the keel laying ceremony for the first ro-ro ship the yard is building under its new ownership.

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STENA EMBLA arrives in UK waters

STENA EMBLA seen alongside the Belfast Victoria Terminal 2 (VT2). © Stena Line

Following her delivery voyage from China, Stena Line’s third E-Flexer for Irish Sea service, STENA EMBLA, arrived for the first time in Belfast in the morning of 2 January. Set to join sister ship STENA EDDA on the Birkenhead (Liverpool)-Belfast route, STENA EMBLA will replace the Visentini Class STENA MERSEY which will be sent to Turkey for her 36m lengthening at the Sedef Shipyard.

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Brittany Ferries re-introduces COTENTIN

As part of a post-Brexit contract secured by Brittany Ferries with the UK government’s Department for Transport (DfT), COTENTIN operates a daily Cherbourg-Poole service. © Brittany Ferries

Following an absence of more than seven years on the Western Channel, Brittany Ferries’ freight-oriented 2007-built ro-pax ferry COTENTIN is back on the Cherbourg-Poole route, the shortest France-UK route in the Brittany Ferries network.

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Jinling hands over Grimaldi Group’s second GG5G Class hybrid ro-ro

Grimaldi Group took delivery of its second of 12 GG5G Class mega ro-ros. © Grimaldi Lines

On 4 January, Nanjing Jinling Shipyard delivered ECO BARCELONA, the second of nine 7,800-lanemetre GG5G Class mega short-sea ro-ros for Grimaldi Lines service in the Mediterranean. Three modified versions will be introduced for Grimaldi Group subsidiary Finnlines and are currently in different construction stages.

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Tokyo Kyushu Ferry’s second newbuild named SOLEIL

Rendering of SOLEIL and HAMAYU. © Tokyo Kyushu Ferry

The second ferry of newly established Tokyo Kyushu Ferry – a subsidiary of SHK Line Group – was launched by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ (MHI) Nagasaki shipyard on 23 December following a naming ceremony by Shin Nihonkai Ferry President Yasuo Iritani.

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EQT Infrastructure to take full control of Torghatten

Torghatten ASA has an annual revenue of approximately NOK 10 billion and counts about 7,000 employees. © Uwe Jakob

Through HATI BidCo AS (the Offerer), EQT Infrastructure V fund (EQT Infrastructure) has launched an offer to acquire all outstanding shares in and Torghatten ASA through a voluntary cash offer (the Offer).

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UME snaps up WASA EXPRESS

Kvarken Link has entered into an agreement to sell the Finnish-built WASA EXPRESS to United Marine Egypt (UME). © Uwe Jakob

Having just acquired Rederi AB Gotland’s 895-lanemetre and 88-passenger capacity GUTE, Red Sea ferry operator United Marine Egypt (UME) will further expand its fleet with a fifth vessel – Kvarken Link’s 1981-built WASA EXPRESS.

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Fincantieri hands over COSTA FIRENZE

It is expected that COSTA FIRENZE will start cruising on 28 February 2021. © Fincantieri

Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard has handed over the 135,500gt COSTA FIRENZE to Costa Cruises. Dedicated to the Florentine renaissance, COSTA FIRENZE is a sister ship of the 2019-built COSTA VENEZIA.

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KiwiRail signs LOI with HMD to build two new rail-enabled Interislander ro-paxes

As it looks now, Interislander's newbuilds will be built in South Korea rather than in China as first expected. © OSK-ShipTech

KiwiRail has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Ulsan-based Hyundai Mipo Dockyard to build the two rail-enabled ro-pax ferries that will replace Interislander’s three existing ro-paxes on the Cook Strait. The final shipbuilding contract is expected to be signed by mid-2021 and construction of the ferries should be underway by late 2022.

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Adolfo Utor comments on the year for Baleària

Adolfo Utor, President of Baleària. © Baleària

Adolfo Utor, President of Baleària, Spain’s second largest ferry group has commented to a local newspaper, Diario de Ibiza, regarding the year in progress.

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Armas-Trasmediterránea nearing a financial solution?

© PHO

The Spanish digital newspaper El Confidencial has published details of the agreement reached by the bond holders and creditors of the Armas Trasmediterránea Group with the current owners – the Armas family.

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Meyer Turku hands over MARDI GRAS

MARDI GRAS © Meyer Turku

MARDI GRAS, Carnival Cruise Line’s LNG-powered flagship cruise ship, has been delivered by Meyer Turku.

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Press Releases

These press release news are published “as is”, i.e. this is how we get it from the senders. If you want to have your relevant news published, please send it to news@shippax.se

CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR on track to debut in summer 2021

CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR © Crystal Cruises

CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR, the German-built, PC6-designated vessel for Crystal Expedition Cruises is on track to debut in Summer 2021. Originally set to launch in August of 2020, the ship’s construction was delayed as the global health crisis forced a shutdown of MV WERFTEN where CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR is currently under construction. The shipyard has reopened fully this year and Crystal is pleased with the resumption of work on the vessel.

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Stirling Design and Piriou shipyard design a new coastal ferry vessel for public transportation towards “Yeu” island

INSULA OYA III © Stirling Design International

French Regional authority "Région des Pays de la Loire" announced on December 22nd the public tender award to Piriou Shipyard for the design and construction of the future coastal ferry vessel for servicing "Yeu" island, on the French Atlantic coast. The new ferry will replace the existing vessel, INSULA OYA II in 2022, after 40 years of continuous operation.

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Baleària will incorporate the world's first 'fast ferry' with dual gas engines in March

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT © Baleària

With the hull of the ELEANOR ROOSEVELT practically completed and the interior fitting out at a good pace, the first sea trials are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks in Gijón. Baleària plans to incorporate an internationally innovative ship in March 2021: the world's first fast ferry for passengers and cargo powered by natural gas internal combustion engines. In the coming weeks, the ELEANOR ROOSEVELT will carry out sea trials at the Armón shipyard in Gijón, where it is being built.

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Clean Shipping Alliance Appoints Poul Woodall as Executive Director

The Clean Shipping Alliance 2020 (CSA2020) has confirmed the appointment of DFDS executive Poul Woodall as its Executive Director effective from the 1st of January 2021. CSA 2020 represents ship owners and other key maritime industry stakeholders as an advocate and science research body for the environmental benefits of marine Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) along with other marine environmental issues.

MSC Cruises to resume scheduled sailings in the Mediterranean from 24 January

After the forced suspension of operation over the holidays, starting on 24 January MSC GRANDIOSA will resume her scheduled weekly cruises in the Western Mediterranean departing from Genoa, Italy.
On 14 February MSC MAGNIFICA will also return at sea to perform her scheduled itineraries of 11-nights in Italy, Greece and Malta

Challenging year for Wasaline, with many positive signs despite of Covid-19

Due to the restrictions regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, turnover decreased during the year by 46.4%. Turnover for passenger traffic decreased by 72.7% and passenger volume decreased by 72.0%. Turnover of Cargo increased by 7.5%.

Contract awarded for new Gourock ferry concept design

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has awarded a contract to international design and engineering firm BMT to provide consultancy services for the concept design of a new passenger ferry for the Gourock, Dunoon and Kilcreggan routes. The new ferry will be designed to replace the vessels currently operated on the routes by CalMac.

Viking Line concludes an exceptional year

2020 was an exceptional year for the whole world, and for Viking Line as well. Due to the pandemic, the business environment was extremely unfavourable, with the result being enormous economic consequences for the shipping company. Only four of Viking Line’s seven vessels were in regular service during the year, and passenger volume fell 70 per cent compared to 2019. But we can see light at the end of the tunnel. In 2021, Viking Line’s new, climate-smart vessel VIKING GLORY will be delivered and is already attracting great interest.

Holland America Line Extends Pause in Cruise Operations

As Holland America Line continues to prepare and develop its plans to meet the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the company is extending its pause of cruise operations for all departures through April 30, 2021. This includes Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coast, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Canada/New England departures.

Princess Cruises Extends Pause of Guest Cruise Vacations Through May 14, 2021

As Princess Cruises continues to prepare and develop its plans to meet the "Framework for Conditional Sailing Order" issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in addition to the uncertainty around travel restrictions, the company is extending its pause of guest cruise vacations on ships sailing through May 14, 2021. This includes sailings in the Caribbean, the California Coast, along with early season Alaska and Europe cruises.

New managing director at the New Havyard Ship Technology AS

Karsten Sævik is the new managing director of New Havyard Ship Technology AS (NHST) in Leirvik , Norway
The current managing director, Erlend Hatleberg, has chosen to seek new challenges outside Havyard.

Schulte Group invests in digital technology for the cruise sector by acquiring software provider Rescompany

The Schulte Group has announced the acquisition of Rescompany Systems Ltd. (Resco), a leading provider of advanced hospitality software solutions to the cruise industry.
With its integrated ship to shore software systems, Resco is a perfect match and ideal addition to the services offered by Schulte Group member and digital technology company MariApps Marine Solutions (MariApps). Together, the two companies will be able to offer a comprehensive range of maritime solutions and state-of-the-art shipboard and office-based management systems on CLOUD and data analytics to the growing cruise sector.

P&O Cruises Australia Extends its Pause in Operations in New Zealand

P&O Cruises Australia is extending its rolling pause in operations in New Zealand to departures on and before 25 April, 2021 as the cruise line and the wider industry continue to work with government and public health authorities on the appropriate time to restart sailing.
The cruise line, which has based ships in Auckland for many years, will return to New Zealand for a dedicated 150-day season in July 2022.

Costa Crociere restarts its cruise program in italy from january 31st with COSTA DELIZIOSA

In consideration of the current uncertainty with regards to Covid-19 restrictions in the coming weeks, Costa Crociere has decided to cancel the departure of its cruises originally planned from January 7 to January 31st.

Ports of Stockholm continues commitment to solar cell systems

Ports of Stockholm’s commitment to renewable energy continues with the installation of a rooftop solar cell facility at Stockholm Norvik Port that will be one the biggest of its kind in Sweden. The solar cell system went live on the darkest day of the year.

Wärtsilä to support Denmark’s fossil-free ambition with two large-scale biogas upgrading plants

The technology group Wärtsilä will supply two large-scale biogas upgrading plants to different locations in Denmark. The order was placed by Nature Energy, the world’s leading biomethane company. By injecting biomethane - the end product of upgraded biogas - to the gas grid, Denmark will be taking an important step towards its stated ambition of becoming a climate neutral and fossil-free nation. The agreement with Wärtsilä dates back to early 2019, but the project was delayed because of permit applications. Production of the upgrading unit has been initiated in the fourth quarter of 2020, when also the orders were included in Wärtsilä’s order book.

Tallink Grupp publishes 2020 fourth quarter and December statistics, revealing total impact of Covid-19 pandemic on passenger and cargo figures

Tallink Grupp published its 2020 fourth quarter and December passenger and cargo statistics, which reveal the total impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company’s annual passenger, vehicle and cargo transport statistics. Unsurprisingly, the year saw Tallink Grupp’s total passenger number decrease by 61.8%, with the company transporting a total of 3,732,102 passengers on all its different routes during the year (a total of 9,763,210 in 2019). 

CLdN Sees Modal Shifting Opportunities as a Result of the UK-EU Trade Deal and Urges Clients to Continue Their Brexit Preparations

CLdN very much welcomes the recently closed Brexit deal, bringing relief to its customers as tariff – and quota free trade of goods between the EU and the UK seems to be safeguarded. However, there should be no misunderstanding within the market that despite the trade deal customs formalities will apply as from January 1st. There appears to be a general misconception that with this recent trade deal the import and export formalities will no longer apply.

Brian Thorsted Hansen taking over as CEO of Fjord Line

The Board of Directors has appointed Brian Thorsted Hansen (53) as the new CEO of Fjord Line.
Thorsted Hansen has extensive business experience and has for the past 14 years worked at the Danish shipping and logistics company DFDS, formerly serving as Vice President and Head of Business Unit Group Passenger.