Wallenius Wilhelmsen facing cartel charges in Australia

WWO's PARSIFAL inbound Melbourne © Dale Crisp

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has today, 23 August, become the third deep-sea vehicle carrier operator to be charged with criminal cartel conduct in Australia.

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Grimaldi’s first GG5G taking shape in Jingling’s building dock

Keel laying ceremony for Grimaldi Group's first 7,800-lanemetre behemoth © Jingling Shipyard

Construction of Grimaldi Group’s next-generation 7,800-lanemetre hybrid ro-ro ships is proceeding on schedule with the keel of the first Grimaldi Green 5th Generation (GG5G) laid on 21 August in the presence of representatives from the shipyard, Grimaldi Group’s on-site team, and RINA, the ship’s class society.

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P&O Cruises’ ORIANA heads to a new life in China

ORIANA in Southampton without any P&O Cruises branding and her new name on the bow © Mike Hood

After a 24-year career with P&O Cruises, ORIANA sailed from Southampton on 16 August bound for a new career carrying Chinese passengers, after a short makeover in Piraeus.

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Baleària’s problems continue

PINAR DEL RIO had to be evacuated after hitting the breakwater in Denia © Frank Lose

Baleària's problems are beginning to stack up with the height of the season upon them. Having only recently recovered the NAPOLES following its collision with a container ship, now the unfortunate Incat 74m wave piercing catamaran PINAR DEL RIO has struck the breakwater at the entrance to the port of Denia.

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Hurtigruten to convert up to three coastal express ships to hybrid-powered expedition cruise vessels

FINNMARKEN will become OTTO SVERDRUP following its hybridisation and complete makeover © Kai Ortel

Hurtigruten is to convert three of its coastal express ferries – TROLLFJORD, FINNMARKEN and MIDNATSOL – into hybrid-powered expedition cruise ships for operation of year-round expedition cruises on the Norwegian coast from 2021 on yet to be disclosed routes. The project is believed to be costing in the region of USD 100 million.

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Barreras runs into problems with Havila Kystruten’s two newbuildings

HAVILA POLLUX and HAVILA POLARIS were ordered at Barreras in spring 2018 © Havila

Spanish media report that Hijos de J. Barreras has run into problems with the construction of two coastal express ships that it is building for Havila Kystruten for operation on the Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen service.

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New electric-hybrid ferry for Åland islands Föglö line

An LMG Marin-designed newbuild will be ordered for the Föglö line © Ålands Landskapsregering

The regional Government of Åland has accepted an offer from a joint venture company comprising Ansgar Ab and Finferries (who owns 50% of Ansgar Ab) to operate the Föglö line ferry operation from 2022 through to 2037.

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Holland Shipyards to build electric double-ender ferry for Brevik Fergeselskap

The 42m long by 11m beam newbuild will replace OKSØY © Brevik Fergeselskap

Norwegian ferry operator Brevik Fergeselskap has ordered a small electric passenger/vehicle double-ender ferry from Holland Shipyards in Hardingxveld-Giessendam. When delivered in late 2020/early 2021, it will replace the diminutive 1964-built OKSØY.

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FMEL nationalised by the Scottish Government – saving CMAL’s ferries

The unfinished hull of the yet to be named sister of GLEN SANNOX © Mike Hood

The Scottish Government has stepped in to rescue the last commercial shipbuilder on the lower Clyde, Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL), 350 jobs and two LNG-powered ferries building for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), by nationalising the shipyard.

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First steel cut for second LNG-powered AIDA cruise ship

AIDAnova was the lead ship in the series and was delivered in December 2018 © Meyer Werft

Following the first steel cut, Meyer Werft has officially started with the production of its yard number S709, the second in a series of three LNG-powered ships built by the German yard for AIDA Cruises.

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Meyer Werft floats out NORWEGIAN ENCORE

© Meyer Werft

NORWEGIAN ENCORE, the last unit in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway Plus Cass, was floated out from Meyer Werft’s fully-covered Baudock II on Saturday 17 August.

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Finance

Dockings and major investments affected 1H results for Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö

During January all three of the company’s passenger vessels were docked, which was not the case the previous year. Together with EUR 40-million-plus investments, including the purchase of the two ro-ro vessels TRANSPORTER and FINBO CARGO, Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö’s revenue decreased to EUR 102 million (EUR 105.2 million) with the operating profit ending at EUR -7.6 million (EUR 2.4 million).

Weaker 1H 2019 results for Fjord1

2019 is a transition year for Fjord1, characterized by lower volumes and high investments. During the first half of 2019, revenues plummeted to NOK 1,329 million (NOK 1,505 million) whilst EBITDA ended at NOK 383 million (NOK 476.9 million).

Somewhat improved 1H result for Viking Line

Viking Line has released its financial report for the 1.1.2019 - 30.6.2019 period, showing a slight improvement compared to last year. Consolidated sales ended at EUR 227 million (EUR 225.7 million), with operating income totalling at EUR -8.8 million (EUR -13.5 million). According to Viking Line, competition and the week Swedish krona have affected its results. Fixed-price agreements on the bunker have limited the fluctuations. 

Record first quarter passenger and vehicle number for BC Ferries

First quarter results for the first three months ended 30 June 2019 for Canadian west coast ferry operator BC Ferries have returned the highest passenger and vehicle traffic levels the company has ever experienced in the first quarter of a fiscal year. The ferry operator carried 5.8 million passengers and 2.4 million vehicles, an increase of 2.2% and 2.5%, respectively, compared to the same quarter in the previous year.  Net earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 were CAD 12.2 million, compared to net earnings of CAD 6 million for the same quarter of the previous year.

Press Releases

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Smart technology from ScanReach to transform ship safety

Tucked away in a quiet office in Bergen, Norway’s second city, there’s a revolution underway. Here a small group of sensor-technology experts and software developers are putting the final touches to the first phase of a breakthrough set to transform the world of shipboard connectivi-ty and maritime safety. This is the office of ScanReach, the first company bringing full wireless IoT-connectivity to vessels.

Joint Industry Guidance on the supply and use of 0.50% – sulphur marine fuel

A number of shipping, refining, fuel supply and standards organisations have worked together to produce Joint Industry Guidance on the supply and use of 0.50% – sulphur marine fuel.

MAN ES Further Expands its Digital Cooperation Network

MAN Energy Solutions and Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. have signed a strategic cooperation agreement for the digitization of marine engines. Together the companies want to define a framework for a long term strategic cooperation in order to develop technologies and systems for the digitization of marine engines.

BC Ferries Supports Whale Detection Research at Galiano Island

Scientists are getting a better look at whales as they transit near Galiano Island
thanks to thermal imaging cameras installed at BC Ferries’ Sturdies Bay terminal on Galiano
Island. The cameras are active around-the-clock for a year-long pilot project that aims to improve the overall detection of whales in the Salish Sea, even at night.

SCHOTTEL propulsion systems part of Norled’s path towards green future

SCHOTTEL is proud to be part of Norled’s path towards a green future: the German propulsion expert has recently secured a contract to provide propulsion units for three newly built hybrid ferries under construction at Sembcorp Marine, Singapore. Each of the double ended Ro-Pax ferries will be equipped with two SCHOTTEL EcoPellers® type SRE 340 FP. The vessels will be driven by an innovative battery/diesel electric hybrid system and will be operated during their transits by green battery power. Once again, SCHOTTEL provided a customized solution and further expanded its strong position in the Norwegian ferry market.

Trelleborg relocates its marine and infrastructure headquarters and Dubai office to accommodate growth

Trelleborg’s marine and infrastructure operation has relocated its headquarters and Dubai marine fender sales operation to Jafza One, a new, premium commercial complex in the heart of Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai in the UAE.

Financing package structured for implementation of the MV WERFTEN building programme

An international consortium led by KfW IPEX-Bank has structured a €2.6 billion financing package for two Global Class cruise ships following guarantees issued by the German Federal Government and the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This will strengthen the long-term development of MV WERFTEN Group in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Germany’s status as a shipbuilding nation.

AIDA Cruises and battery supplier Corvus Energy announce cooperation and ring in electrification of the cruise industry

AIDA Cruises, as part of the Costa Group, Europe's leading cruise company, starts cooperation with the world's leading marine battery supplier Corvus Energy from Norway. On Tuesday, 20 August 2019, a corresponding agreement was signed. The aim of the cooperation is the installation of lithium-ion battery storage systems on board the AIDA fleet and the start of operations on the first AIDA ship in 2020.

Samsung Heavy to advance smart ship technology in cooperation with equipment producers

On August 16, SHI has signed an MOU with MAN-ES of Germany for collaboration on smart ship technology development.

The Port of Helsinki to be one of the first Finnish companies to adopt the 5G network with the aim of developing services and business operations

Port of Helsinki and Elisa signed a letter of intent this month for making 5G technology available to ship passengers in Helsinki’s West Harbour.

AS Tallinna Sadam financial results for 2019 Q2 and 6 months

In the second quarter of 2019, revenue, adjusted EBITDA and net profit of AS Tallinna Sadam (hereinafter “the Group”) increased. Revenue amounted to EUR 32.8 million, growing by 0.2% compared to the same period last year. The Group's adjusted EBITDA was EUR 18.8 million in Q2, growing by 4.1% year on year. Net profit amounted to EUR 7.2 million.

Completion of the European research project SHIPLYS to advance ship design and production process

SHIPLYS (Ship life cycle software solutions) is a three-year project that started in September 2016. The project is in response to needs of SME naval architects, shipbuilders and ship-owners, who, in order to survive in the world market, need to improve their capability to reduce the time and costs of design and production. SHIPLYS provides these improvements by developing functionality that includes rapid virtual prototyping and the ability to factor in LCCA (Life Cycle Cost Analysis), environmental assessments, risk assessments and end-of-life considerations at the very early design stages when only limited data is available.

PDMS to upgrade ferry ticketing and reservation platform with support from Scottish Enterprise

Technology company PDMS is delighted to announce the award of a substantial Scottish Enterprise grant which will allow PDMS to undertake an extensive upgrade to their Compass ferry ticketing and reservation platform. The new platform will be based on industry standard technology and will add significant new features including: multi-lingual interface, API interfaces to support timetable enquires, online booking and reservations and a much richer user interface.

COSCO Shipping strengthen the mutual cooperation with MacGregor

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has signed a framework purchasing agreement with COSCO Shipping to support MacGregor spare parts and service of equipment installed on their fleet of more than 1000 ships operating worldwide.

Change of company name to Nekkar ASA

TTS Group ASA ("TTS") announced on 8 February 2018 that the company had entered into an asset sale agreement with MacGregor, a subsidiary of Cargotec Oyj listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange in Finland. In accordance with the transaction agreement, completion of the transaction took place today.

Hyundai Global Service and Intellian sign strategic partnership in satellite communications

Intellian, supplier of mobile satellite communication antenna systems, signed a strategic partnership in satellite communications with Hyundai Global Service (HGS), a marine engineering & service provider and subsidiary of world’s No.1 shipbuilding company Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) group, at Centum Science Park in Busan, Korea.

Hydro launches greener brands

New greener brands CIRCAL and REDUXA set a new standard for low-carbon and recycled aluminium and make it easier for customers to promote more sustainable aluminium products.

ACO Marine commissions a series of Clarimar wastewater treatment plants for Jadrolinija

ACO Marine has successfully completed the commissioning of wastewater treatment units aboard the ropax sisters SVETI KRSEVAN, SUPERTAR and CRES operated by Croatian owner Jadrolinija.

BazePort has been selected as IPTV system for Stena Line's new build series, E-Flexer

Stena Line's modern LNG powered new builds will be equipped with BazePort IPTV in all cabins for guest and crew, as well as public areas. Providing entertainment and designated information to the different users. Live TV, Video on Demand and Radio will be part of the offering. The vessels are to be part of the Irish Sea fleet of Stena Line.