P&O Ferries leaves UK register altogether

The Cypriot flag will be hoisted on P&O Ferries' entire Dover fleet © Philippe Holthof

P&O Ferries has confirmed to Shippax that its entire Dover fleet will be registered in Cyprus. The announcement comes four weeks after P&O Ferries declared to transfer its Dover-based flagships, SPIRIT OF BRITAIN and SPIRIT OF FRANCE, to the Cypriot flag.

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Norled signs agreement to build the world’s first ‘large’ hydrogen ferry

The shape of things to come in Norway © Norled

Norled has now signed the agreement to operate the Hjelmeland-Skipavik-Nesvik route for a period of nine years, starting on 15 April 2021 until 28 February 2030. The tender required that at least 50% of the total energy consumption had to be provided by fuel cell technology, and Norled will therefore build one hydrogen-powered and one ‘standard’ full-electric ferry to meet the obligations.

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Fewer departures affected Viking Line in 2018

VIKING FSTR added extra capacity in 2017 for Viking Line. Now named GOLDEN EXPRESS and owned by Golden Fast Ferries, a joint venture between Golden Star Ferries and Fast Ferries © Marko Stampehl

Viking Line released its traffic figures for 2018, revealing a drop of over 400,000 passengers compared to 2017. This drop was due to 38% fewer departures in 2018 on the Helsinki-Tallinn route, which in 2017 was strengthened with the chartered high-speed vessel EXPRESS/VIKING FSTR. A total of 6,411,537 (6,881,149) passengers travelled with the company.

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Stena Line connects to onshore power supply in Oslo

© Stena Line

On 8 January, Stena Line’s 1981-built cruise ferry STENA SAGA officially connected for the first time to a new onshore power supply system in the Port of Oslo and will henceforth be connected to the electricity grid when alongside in Oslo.

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Record-breaking 2018 for Wasaline

Wasaline, operators of the single ship Vaasa-Umeå route, had yet another record-breaking year, showing an increase of passengers with 6.2% compared to 2017, ending at 212,112.

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Oceania Cruises orders two 67,000gt Allura Class vessels from Fincantieri

The new Allura Class vessels will be similar in size to MARINA and RIVIERA but will carry fewer guests © George Giannakis

Upper premium cruise line Oceania Cruises, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH), has ordered two 67,000gt Allura Class vessels from Fincantieri at a cost of approximately USD 575 million per vessel. Oceania has obtained export credit financing with favourable terms to fund 80% of the contract price of each ship, subject to certain Italian Government approvals. The new 1,200-passenger capacity vessels are due for delivery in 2022 and 2025.

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A record 2018 for Eckerö Line

FINLANDIA © Shippax

Single-ship operator Eckerö Line reached a record of 1.8 million passengers in 2018 on its Helsinki-Tallinn route, serviced by the 2001-built, 36,365gt FINLANDIA. This number represented a 24% increase compared to 2017.

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Viking Line adds additional departures on the Helsinki-Tallinn route

VIKING XPRS will offer a third departure on Fridays and Sundays © Jukka Huotari

In response to customer demand, Viking Line is altering the timetables of VIKING XPRS to offer additional departures on its Helsinki-Tallinn route. Starting on 5 April, VIKING XPRS will make three trips per day on Fridays and Sundays.

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Baleària Caribbean to introduce JAUME II

JAUME II arrived in Port Everglades on 27 December 2018 © Marc Ottini

Spanish ferry operator Baleària’s subsidiary Baleària Caribbean is to introduce the fast high-speed ro-pax catamaran JAUME II on its service linking Fort Lauderdale, Florida with Freeport of Grand Bahama Island from mid-January.

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Color Line’s freight ro-ro COLOR CARRIER to enter service on 10 January

The scrubber-equipped COLOR CARRIER was purchased last summer © Color Line

The first freight-only ro-ro to be owned by Norway’s Color Line, COLOR CARRIER, enters service on the company’s Oslo-Kiel service on 10 January. Bought from Finnlines for EUR 15 million, the former FINNCARRIER – which is equipped with an exhaust gas scrubber system – will offer freight customers six weekly evening departures, three in each direction, with a transit time of 21 hours.

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Equity firm acquires 30% of Caronte & Tourist Group

Caronte & Tourist Group latest addition: ELIO © Caronte & Tourist Group

London-based equity firm Basalt Infrastructure Partners (BIP) has just taken a 30% stake in Italian ferry operator Caronte & Tourist Group.

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Growth for Tirrenia on Sicily trade

Tirrenia carried more trailers to and from Sicily in 2018 © Frank Heine

Tirrenia closed 2018 with a satisfactory commercial and operational result showing a 35% growth or 500,000 extra lanemetres on the trade to Sicily.

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TS Laevad set new record in 2018

Record traffic figures for the ferries connecting the Estonian mainland with the isles of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa © Port of Tallinn

TS Laevad, the Port of Tallinn-controlled ferry company that operates lifeline services to the isles of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa under the Praamid banner, has set a new record in both passenger and freight carryings.

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Press Releases

Please send your relevant industry press releases to news@shippax.se to have them published in this section!

Evac expansion continues with acquisition of UK service company Transvac Systems

Evac, one of the fastest growing cleantech solution companies in the world, has acquired Transvac Systems, the UK business specializing in the distribution and servicing of wastewater treatment systems, sanitary systems and ballast water treatment systems for ships and offshore platforms.

Damen Shiprepair Brest completes refit of Cunard’s QUEEN ELIZABETH

Cunard’s QUEEN ELIZABETH has left Damen Shiprepair Brest (DSBr) following a 12-day repair and refit programme. She is the most recent addition to the Cunard fleet, having been delivered in 2010.

Mergers: Commission to assess acquisition of Chantiers de l'Atlantique by Fincantieri

The European Commission has agreed to the request submitted by France and Germany asking it to look at Fincantieri's proposed acquisition of Chantiers de l'Atlantique in the light of the EU Merger Regulation.
The Commission considers that the transaction could harm competition at European and global level.

IMS to join forces with Redwise

Redwise, the Dutch global deliverer of seagoing vessels, maritime recruitment and deep-sea pilotage, has acquired a minority share in Australian IMS (International Maritime Services Pty, Ltd). This in concurrently with a management buy-out transaction of the current management.

Speedcast and Carnival Renew Contract for Fully-Managed Communications Across Global Fleet

Multi-Technology and Multi-Band Network with Innovative Network Automation and Optimization will Deliver Industry-Leading Communications Solutions Onboard the World’s Largest Global Cruise Fleet.

Naval Dome introduces new dashboard for optimum cyber monitoring

Maritime security specialist Naval Dome has come up with an innovative approach to managing the cyber security status of all protected systems onboard ships, allowing shipboard and shoreside staff to monitor and evaluate fleet-wide system data, even when they are offline. Until now, only crew members have been able to access a ship’s offline data sets.

Danfoss Editron powers Stockholm’s first hybrid ice-class passenger ferry

Stockholm shipping company Waxholmsbolaget has launched its first hybrid ice-going passenger ferry, powered by innovative hybrid electric propulsion by Danfoss Editron Oy. The 27.5m vessel, designed and built by Baltic Workboats, is serving the Stockholm archipelago (Sweden) and is built to transport up to 150 passengers at a time.