Shippax News Bulletin – 12
Shippax News Bulletin – 12
- In association with Interferry
Dear Subscriber,
Please find below a selection of news bits from this past week.
Enjoy the reading!
Baleària exceeded a EUR 100 million EBITDA result for the first time

Baleària owner Adolfo Utor © Baleària
On the basis of a EUR 396 million turnover and a growth of passenger traffic by 38% in 2021 compared to year before, Baleària managed to reach an EBITDA of EUR 103 million in 2021. In 2020 this instead resulted in a loss of EUR 15 million.
In terms of passenger traffic, in 2021, 2,911,000 people and 765,000 vehicles traveled with Baleària, 38% and 29% more, respectively, than in 2020, but well below pre-pandemic traffic (-34% and -28% respectively).
Freight transport in 2021 grew by 15% to a total of 6,584,000 lanemetres.

Audit Scotland reports that the cost of CalMac’s two Ferguson Marine ro-paxes has now reached almost two and a half times the original contract price

GLEN SANNOX when launched 21 November 2017 © Mark Gibson
News from Audit Scotland is that the latest cost for the construction of the much delayed two hybrid LNG ro-pax ferries at Port Glasgow shipbuilder Ferguson Marine for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) for Caledonian MacBrayne’s lifeline services to the western isles has reached a staggering GBP 240 million. The ferries were ordered originally at a fixed price of GBP 97 million.

Crowley Maritime acquires two large PCTCs from ARC for operation with MARAD’s Ready Reserve Force (RRF)

HONOR © Christian Eckardt
US-based Crowley Maritime has acquired two large PCTC sisterships from American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group (ARC) for operation with the US Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Ready Reserve Force (RRF) of sealift vessels. The two vessels are the 5,890 CEU capacity / 803 truck capacity HONOR, built in 1996 and FREEDOM, built in 1997. When the two former ARC vessels join the RRF, they will be by far the youngest roros in the fleet

CalMac’s latest fleet addition – LOCH FRISA – to enter service between Oban and Craignure in June

© CMAL
The latest fleet addition to Scotland’s largest ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne, the double-ender LOCH FRISA, will enter service on the Oban-Craignure route to the isle of Mull in June after major modifications to the 2015-built ferry are completed in early April.
LOCH FRISA is the former Norwegian ferry UTNE, which was bought by Port Glasgow’s Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) from Norled in October last year and is currently nearing the end of a major modifications project at Dales Marine Service’s Leith shipyard, near Edinburgh.

Polynesian Navigation Co (SNP) orders freight ro-ro at Royal Bodewes shipyard

HAWAIKINUI 2 © Royal Bodewes
Tahitian ferry operator The Polynesian Navigation Co (La Société de navigation Polynesienne) has ordered a new freight ro-ro from Dutch shipbuilder Royal Bodewes, based in Hoogezand.
To be named HAWAIKINUI 2, the 87m BV-class ro-ro will be delivered towards the end of 2024 and will replace the Tahitian operator’s 1980-built 70.31m HAWAIKINUI on a new service to the Leeward islands in early 2025.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection orders two 46,750 gt ultra luxury dual fuel LNG cruise vessels at Chantiers de l’Atlantique

© Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has ordered two dual fuel LNG powered 46,750 gt vessels at France’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique, with an option on a further two ships. The lead vessel, to be named ILMA, will be delivered in spring 2024 and her sister, LUMINARA, 12 months later.
Although no official price for the two newbuildings has been released, each 242m yacht-type cruise vessel is expected to cost EUR 400 million.
Malta-based International Ferry Management offers Masters and Senior Officers sacked by P&O Ferries an immediate return to employment with a GBP 20,000 cash bonus

NORBAY is the first ferry to be expected back in service again © Kai Ortel
As the fall out from P&O Ferries shock sacking of 800 British seafarers reverberates around the industry comes the news that the recently established Malta-based company International Ferry Management (IFM) has been offering sacked Masters and Senior Officers immediate re-employment and a GBP 20,000 cash bonus after completing 12 months of continuous employment.
Salem Al Makrani Cargo’s AL SALMY 6 capsizes and sinks off the Iranian coast

AL SALMY 6 capsized and sank on 17 March © Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation
The UAE-flagged and Salem Al Makrani Cargo owned ro-ro AL SALMY 6 capsized and sank 30 nautical miles off the Iranian port of Assaluyeh on 17 March, after encountering high winds and heavy seas. The 141m long vessel was on a voyage from Dubai to the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, carrying a cargo of cars and other vehicles. Iranian maritime authorities rescued 29 of the ro-ro’s crew.
The 1983-built AL SALMY 6 could carry 1,189 cars or 158 trailers and started life as Suardiaz Line’s VELAZQUEZ.
Tallink Grupp delays re-opening of Riga-Stockholm route until 3 June 2022

ISABELLE © Jukka Huotari
Tallink Grupp has announced that it will delay the reopening of the company’s Riga-Stockholm route, which has been suspended due to the COVID pandemic for two years and was due to be re-opened on 6 April this spring, until 3 June 2022.
Wärtsilä signs long-term service agreement with Brittany Ferries to support new LNG-fuelled ferry

SALAMANCA © Brittany Ferries
The technology group Wärtsilä will provide technical support via a long-term service agreement for its broad scope of solutions installed on Brittany Ferries’ latest RoPax vessel, the SALAMANCA. The 10-year agreement was signed in December 2021. The ferry will be inaugurated on March 25 and make its first commercial sailing from Portsmouth, U.K. to Bilbao, Spain on March 27.
MacGregor has received a significant order to supply comprehensive RoRo equipment to four innovative Pure Car and Truck Carriers

© Höegh Autoliners
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has been selected to supply comprehensive packages of RoRo equipment for four Aurora class Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs) to be built by China Merchant Heavy Industries (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd for the Norwegian owner, Höegh Autoliners. The order, with a value of more than US$15 million, was booked into Cargotec’s 2022 first quarter order intake. The first two vessels will be delivered during the second half of 2024 and the next two in the first half of 2025. Höegh Autoliners also has options for a further four plus four vessels.
Saga announces four new ships to join river cruise fleet

SPIRIT OF THE DANUBE © Saga Cruises
Saga has announced a significant expansion of its river cruise business with four new ships to be added on four new rivers, capitalising on the growing popularity of river cruising.
The four new ships will join Saga’s two existing river ships and be operated as part of the wider cruise business under CEO Nigel Blanks.
The announcement builds on the success of Saga’s two new river cruise ships, the SPIRIT OF THE RHINE and SPIRIT OF THE DANUBE, which were jointly named in a ceremony in Arnhem last weekend, the 19th March.
The four new ships will be called SPIRIT OF THE MOSELLE, SPIRIT OF THE MAIN, SPIRIT OF THE ELBE and SPIRIT OF THE RHONE, and will operate across each river, with the first due to come into service in May 2023 with the others following each year there after.
Conference programme announced!

Revenues up by 28.3%, to EUR 6,662 million, compared to EUR 5,191 million in 2020.
EBITDA rose by 57.4% vs 2020, to EUR 495 million with an EBITDA margin at 7.4% excluding pass through activities (vs 6.1% in 2020) notwithstanding increased commodity prices.
CEO of P&O Ferries says sorry for impact of decision to make 800 people redundant
Peter Hebblethwaite, CEO of P&O Ferries, said: “I want to say sorry to the people affected and their families for the impact it’s had on them, and also to the 2,200 people who still work for P&O and will have been asked a lot of difficult questions about this."
Carnival Corporation first quarter 2022 financial results
U.S. GAAP net loss of USD 1.9 billion and adjusted net loss of USD 1.9 billion for the first quarter of 2022.
First quarter 2022 ended with USD 7.2 billion of liquidity, including cash, short-term investments and borrowings available under the company's revolving credit facility.
For the cruise segments, revenue per passenger cruise day ("PCD") for the first quarter of 2022 increased approximately 7.5% compared to a strong 2019. This increase was driven by exceptionally strong onboard and other revenue.
As of March 22, 2022, 75% of the company's capacity had resumed guest cruise operations.
Bolidt supplies durable and sustainable decking for VIKING NEPTUNE
Resin applications specialist Bolidt has supplied approximately 7,500 m2 of hardwearing and environmentally friendly outdoor decking for the latest Viking Cruises ship VIKING NEPTUNE, building on a 25-year relationship with the award-winning cruise operator.
Election of Staff Representatives to DFDS A/S Board of Directors
Direct staff elections have been held for DFDS A/S Board of Directors. Lars Skjold-Hansen, Captain, FLANDRIA SEAWAYS, was re-elected and Marianne Henriksen, General Office Manager, CROWN SEAWAYS, was elected as staff representatives on the Board.
The Swedish company Echandia, a leading developer of battery systems for maritime electrification, expands in the Danish market through the appointment of Morten Larsen as head of business development in Denmark.
Through the award-winning Copenhagen commuter-ferries, built by Damen Shipyards, Echandia already has a foothold in the country. As the Danish market is in an expansive growth phase, Morten Larsen, with an extensive background from the maritime industry, has been recruited to lead the business development to meet the growing demand.
DAUERFLORA supplies Cruise Gate Hamburg with hand disinfection dispensers
DFI DAUERFLORA International GmbH, has added hand disinfection devices to the product portfolio of green design and X-mas decoration.
The complete hygiene equipment for hands contains disinfection dispensers, paper dispensers and waste bins of a renowned German manufacturer. It offers a comprehensive solution for all public areas, food preparation areas and sanitary rooms.
Most read
Scottish government to nationalise Ardrossan Harbour and carry out major upgrading programme to be able to dock new CalMac ferries
jan 09 2026
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jan 08 2026










