Nevsky Shipyard to build two LNG-powered train/ro-ro ships

The two newbuilds are of the CNF19M type designed by Marine Engineering Bureau © Marine Engineering Bureau

The order for two LNG-powered train and ro-ro ferries for the Ust-Luga - Baltiysk (Kaliningrad) - Sassnitz route has finally been confirmed. As earlier reported, the 199.9m long and 27m wide ferries will be built by Nevsky Shipyard in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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All five Halhjem-Sandvikvåg ferries delayed

Multi Maritime MM 125 FD © Multi Maritime

In 2016, Torghatten Nord won the concession for the Halhjem-Sandvikvåg route with a bid that was NOK 1 billion lower than the one from the current operator, Fjord 1. Five new LNG-electric hybrid ferries were ordered to take on the 8+1+1+1+1+1-year concession that started on 1 January, all of which are now delayed, forcing Torghatten Nord to charter in two Bastø Fosen and the two Fjord1 ferries currently serving the route to meet its obligations.

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Trasmediterranea New Year moves – two ships leave the fleet

CIUDAD DE IBIZA has reportedly been sold to the Spanish Navy © Kai Ortel

With the drydocking season fast approaching, Trasmediterranea has announced a few fleet moves.

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Fehmarnbelt Tunnel gets German approval

© Femern AS

The Ministry of Transport of Schleswig-Holstein has announced that the plan approval of the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel is ready to be signed. Femern A/S – the Danish company charged with preparing the 18km Fehmarnbelt Tunnel – now has 14 days to review the approval before signing, and during the process, only minor editorial changes can be made.

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Tallink Grupp 2018 statistics

The total number of passengers transported by the Group in 2018 increased compared to 2017, ending at 9,760,469 (9,755,720). The total number of cargo units transported by the Group in 2018 also increased compared to the previous year, ending at 384,958 units (364,296). The number of passenger vehicles transported by the Group in 2018, however, decreased slightly compared to the previous year, ending at 1,124,897 vehicles (1,134,323).

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Karaneh Lines to start Kuwait-Qatar-Oman ro-pax service in 2019

GRAND FERRY is the former CORSE of SNCM © Frank Heine

Iranian ferry operator Karaneh Lines is to start what is believed to be the Arabian Gulf’s first ro-pax service linking Kuwait, Qatar and Oman in 2019 using the former SNCM-owned 1983-built CORSE.

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UK Government spends GBP 107.7 million on no-deal Brexit plan with three ferry companies

The UK Government fears long queues at Dover in case of a no-deal Brexit © Philippe Holthof

In a somewhat farcical situation, the UK government has announced that it has spent GBP 107.7 million to charter extra ferry freight space capacity to ease “severe congestion” at Dover in the case of a no-deal Brexit at the end of March 2019.

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Moby-CIN Tirrenia merger on hold by Milan Tribunal

© Marc Ottini

Moby’s reverse merger in CIN (Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione) will not be sealed for the time being. The group controlled by Vincenzo Onorato confirmed that Tirrenia’s commissioners lodged an appeal to court standing up against the reverse merger, pursuant to the Civil Code.

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Adria Ferries confirms purchase of CALIFORNIA STAR

CALIFORNIA STAR has been purchased by Adria Ferries for USD 45 million © Baja Ferries

Adria Ferries’ owner Alberto Rossi has confirmed the purchase of CALIFORNIA STAR to possibly replace the AF MICHELA – chartered from Stena RoRo – between Ancona, Italy and Durres, Albania.

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The new ALF POLLAK joins the U.N. Ro-Ro fleet

ALF POLLAK will operate for U.N. Ro-Ro/DFDS in the coming months © Peter Therkildsen

The new 4,076-lanemetre ALF POLLAK has been chartered by DFDS joining its own FIONIA SEAWAYS to add extra capacity to U.N. Ro-Ro’s/DFDS’s Istanbul-Trieste route.

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Incat launches Virtu Ferries’ 110m SAINT JOHN PAUL II

SAINT JOHN PAUL II took to the water © Incat

Virtu Ferries’ 110m wave-piercing catamaran SAINT JOHN PAUL II was launched by Australian fast ferry specialist Incat at its Derwent Park shipyard in Hobart, Tasmania on 22 December. When delivered in 2019, the 38-knot high-speed ro-pax will operate for Malta’s Virtu Ferries between Valletta and Sicily.

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DFDS to boost ro-ro capacity in the Med – first two Jinling newbuilds to be introduced between Istanbul and Italy

DFDS's first two newbuilds from Jinling will be introduced in the East Med © DFDS

Due to a further expansion of the cooperation between DFDS and Ekol Logistics on DFDS’s Turkey-Italy ro-ro routes, DFDS requires extra capacity and has confirmed that the first two ships in a series of six ordered at Jinling, will be introduced in the DFDS/U.N. Ro-Ro network between Istanbul and Italy.

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Financials

David MacBrayne 2018 full year financial result

Revenues reached GBP 210 million, a GBP 15 million increase. Profit fell from GBP 5.3 million to GBP 4 million, much related to increased costs for planned and unplanned vessel maintenance. The group carried 5.5 million passengers in the year, up from 5.3 million the year before. Of this 5.5 million, CalMac Ferries carried 5.3 million, an increase of more than 200,000 passengers compared to the year before. Argyll Ferries carried almost 300,000 passengers on its Gourock to Dunoon route.

Press Releases

MacGregor receives clearance from the South Korean competition regulator for the acquisition of the marine and offshore businesses of TTS

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has received a clearance decision from the South Korean Fair Trade Commission on the company's acquisition of the marine and offshore businesses of TTS Group ASA, which was announced on 8 February, 2018.

CEO of Danish Transport and Logistics, Mr. Erik Østergaard has been knighted by the Queen in his native country, Denmark

Erik Østergaard has been bestowed the Knight’s Cross 1st class of the Order of Dannebrog by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, adding to his royal honours; in 2004 when COO with Scandlines, he was awarded a Knight’s Cross. The Knight’s Cross is awarded for meritorious civil or military service, contribution to the arts, sciences or business life, or to those working for Danish interests.

The Grimaldi Group awarded by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The Grimaldi Group has recently received two new important awards from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Last 29th November, during the Logistics Carrier Conference organized in Detroit by FCA US, the Neapolitan group was awarded as the best Ocean Carrier of the year for its extraordinary performance in the logistics sector.

ClassNK releases amendments to class rules

Classification society ClassNK has announced that it released amendments to its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships on 25 December 2018.