Mixed feelings about VIKING GRACE’s rotor sail

Independent test results show that the rotor sail technology has great potential to deliver savings on VIKING GRACE, manufacturer Norsepower says. © Marko Stampehl

According to reports in Finnish local daily paper ‘Turun Sanomat’, Viking Line is not yet convinced about the fuel savings generated by the Flettner rotor which was installed on the upper deck of its cruise ferry VIKING GRACE in April last year.

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Scylla charters BREMEN to US-based Polar Latitudes

Scylla's river cruise business model will also apply for its new deep sea activities as the ship will be taken on charter by a third party © Marc Ottini

Swiss-based river cruise operator Scylla AG, which moved into blue water cruising in January this year when it bought Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ expedition vessel BREMEN, has chartered the vessel to Vermont-based US polar cruise specialist Polar Latitudes for the 2021-2022 Antarctic season.

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Coral Expeditions orders sister to recently delivered CORAL ADVENTURER

© Vard

As expected, Coral Expeditions has ordered a sister to the recently delivered CORAL ADVENTURER from Vard’s Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam.

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HONDIUS delivered – sister ship ordered

Croatian shipbuilder Brodosplit handed over HONDIUS to Oceanwide Expeditions earlier this week - week 20 © Oceanwide Expeditions

Dutch Arctic and Antarctica expedition vessel operator Oceanwide Expeditions has taken delivery this week (week 20) of its latest fleet addition, the 174-passenger capacity HONDIUS from Croatian shipbuilder Brodosplit and ordered a sister ship, to be named JANSSONIUS for delivery in October 2021.

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P&O Ferries hands over EUROPEAN ENDEAVOUR to its new owners

FINBO CARGO will likely by drydocked at Turku Repair Yard prior to be introduced for Eckerö Line this June © Eckerö Line

Rederi AB Eckerö took delivery of EUROPEAN ENDEAVOUR today, 15 May. The 1,950-lanemetre ro-pax ferry was handed over in Liverpool’s Royal Seaforth Dock. To be registered in Finland, EUROPEAN ENDEAVOUR will be renamed FINBO CARGO for her new role on the freight-orientated Vuosaari (Helsinki)-Tallinn run.

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DFDS’s ANGLIA SEAWAYS to join Attica Group

ANGLIA SEAWAYS - still displaying the old livery - has become too small for DFDS's requirements © Stefan Verberckmoes

DFDS has entered into an agreement with Attica Group to sell its 1,680-lanemetre freighter ANGLIA SEAWAYS. Currently serving the Vlaardingen (Rotterdam)-Felixstowe route, the 2000-built vessel has become surplus to requirements and is expected to be handed over to her new Greek owners no later than 5 July 2019.

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OSCAR WILDE renamed GNV ALLEGRA – to be introduced between Genoa and Olbia

OSCAR WILDE has been renamed GNV ALLEGRA and is obtaining an all-white livery with oversized GNV lettering on the sides © Marc Ottini

Irish Ferries’ former OSCAR WILDE has been renamed GNV ALLEGRA and will enter service for GNV on its Genoa-Olbia (Sardinia) service on 25 May. The 31,914gt vessel is currently in drydock in Genoa being adapted for GNV service.

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Shipyard De Hoop hands over expedition cruise vessel CELEBRITY FLORA

CELEBRITY FLORA was handed over to Celebrity Cruises in Schiedam (Rotterdam) © Shipyard De Hoop

On 13 May, Shipyard De Hoop handed over the small expedition cruise vessel CELEBRITY FLORA to Celebrity Cruises. This is the first cruise vessel designed specifically for cruising the environmentally sensitive Galapagos Islands. The 101.5m long vessel will make her maiden cruise from Baltra on 30 June.

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CroisiEurope confirms acquisition of SILVER DISCOVERER

SILVER DISCOVERER will be renamed LA BELLE DES OCEANS and will likely fly the Belgian flag © Silversea Cruises

Exactly one month ago, Shippax reported that CroisiEurope had signed an MoA for the acquisition of the 1989-built, 5,218gt expedition cruise ship SILVER DISCOVERER. The news has now been confirmed by CroisiEurope and SILVER DISCOVERER is set to leave the Silversea fleet this summer.

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Albatros Expeditions to charter a second SunStone expedition vessel

© Albatros Expeditions

The Danish boutique expedition cruise operator Albatros Expeditions has announced that it will charter a second Infinity Class expedition vessel from SunStone. The vessel, named OCEAN ALBATROS, will be delivered in October 2022.

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Baleària to start new summer fast ferry service to Menorca and Mallorca

Baleària didn't specify a ship's name for the summer-only high-speed service, yet Spanish sources say it's likely Incat 81m JAUME III © Frank Lose

Baleària is to start a new high-speed ferry service linking Barcelona with the islands of Menorca and Mallorca. The new service starts on 4 July and runs until 11 September and will serve the port of Ciutadella on Menorca and Alcúdia on Mallorca.

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Pentland Ferries launches an appeal over huge North Isles ferry subsidy increase

Pentland Ferries competes with NorthLink's Scrabster-Stromness service © Frank Lose

Pentland Ferries has launched an appeal against a recent court decision which ruled in favour of the Scottish Government’s plans to dramatically increase state subsidies for the forthcoming Northern Isles Ferry Services contract.

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EL. VENIZELOS returns to Chania-Piraeus route

EL. VENIZELOS seen fresh from repairs and overhaul in Piraeus on 13 May © George Giannakis

After an absence of more than eight months following a serious vehicle deck fire during a routine night crossing between Souda (Chania) and Piraeus, EL. VENIZELOS has returned to regular service and made her first crossing back to her Cretan homeport in the late evening of 13 May.

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BC Ferries’ NORTHERN SEA WOLF to enter service on 18 May

NORTHERN SEA WOLF is set to debut on 18 May © BC Ferries

BC Ferries’ latest fleet addition, the compact ro-pax ferry NORTHERN SEA WOLF, will enter service on 18 May, much later than originally expected after serious delays to her refit and upgrade programme after the vessel was bought from Greek owners in 2017.

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SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY leaves building dock

SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY seen leaving Meyer Werft's building dock I on 12 May © Christian Eckardt

SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY, Saga Cruises’ first ever newbuilding, was successfully docked out from Meyer Werft’s fully-covered Number One building dock on Sunday 12 May.

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FRS pulls out of running for Scotland’s next Northern Isles ferry contract

Only two bidders are left for the Northern Isles ferry contract © Maritime Photographic

The only non-Scottish ferry operator to bid for Scotland’s next Northern Isles ferry contract – Germany’s international ferry operator Förde Reederei Seetouristik (FRS) – has pulled out of the bidding leaving the way clear for the GBP 370 million contract to be awarded to current operator Serco NorthLink Ferries or Government-owned CalMac Ferries. The contract is to operate ferry services linking the Scottish mainland; from Aberdeen and Scrabster, with the Orkney and Shetland islands.

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Financials

Fjord1 1Q 2019 financial results plunge

Fjord1 has released its financial results for the first quarter of the year showing a drop in revenue of 11% due to the loss of major concessions. Revenue went from NOK 720 million in 1Q 2018 to NOK 640 million. Operating profit (EBIT) decreased from NOK 147 million to NOK 57 million.

Press Releases

SCHOTTEL expands range of high-performance nozzles

With the launch of the newly developed SDC40 nozzle, SCHOTTEL expands its range of high-performance nozzles. The SDC40 sets new standards in terms of compact design and free running efficiency – and thus even leads to reduced operating costs compared to the nozzles of other market participants.

UN agency launches new global project to tackle maritime GHG emissions

A major international project to support the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s initial strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping has been launched.

New EZpay Allows Holland America Line Guests to Make Monthly Interest-Free Cruise Payments

Holland America Line's new EZpay makes it a breeze to budget for a dream cruise vacation and pay it off over time. EZpay spreads out the cruise balance into equal, interest-free monthly payments leading up to final payment. The plan gives guests the flexibility to pay for their cruise at their own pace, with the ability to opt out at any time without penalty.

AIDAcara provides first cruiseship reference for Aquaterras biocide-free antifouling

Nippon Paint Marine has successfully applied its novel Aquaterras hull coating to AIDA Cruises’ 38,531gt cruise vessel AIDAcara. It is the first-ever full application of the revolutionary biocide free, self-polishing (SPC) antifouling to a cruiseship.

Damen Shipyards Group opens new engineering centre in Helsinki

Damen has established a presence in Finland for the first time. The Helsinki office has been set up to take advantage of the depth of engineering expertise that exists in the country following the group’s entry last year into building large vessels for the RoPax, Cruise and Offshore markets via its new Romanian yard, Damen Shipyards Mangalia. The new office will augment and extend Damen’s engineering capability in this market segment.

DFDS is testing intelligent drones

DFDS is developing and testing drones that can help keep track of the trailers in the terminals in cooperation with Lorenz Technology, a Danish company developing drones based on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Roch PR invited aboard by world-leading ferry operator DFDS

Roch PR will deliver public relations programmes and support crisis operations for DFDS on its routes from Dover, Newhaven and Newcastle, in liaison with the ferry operator’s own PR and marketing teams in Dover and Newcastle.

TT-Line presents a new Freight product!

The new freight check-in solution allows truck driver to check-in conveniently via their mobile device before arriving in the departure harbour. The driver can directly pick up his tickets from his cab in the parking areas at the marked stations by simply scanning the QR-Code or using the provided PIN after finishing the Check-In process.

Stena Line sails towards a leadership in sustainable shipping

AI assisted vessels to save fuel, Battery power propulsion, huge reduction of single use plastic on board, continued low level of crew and passenger accidents and an increased rate of female leaders. That are some of the highlights in leading ferry company Stena Lines sustainability review for 2018.

FLAGSHIPS project to deploy two hydrogen vessels

The European innovation project FLAGSHIPS has been awarded 5 Million Euros from the EU to support deploying two commercially operated zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell vessels in France and Norway.

Evac Evolution ballast water management systems gains IMO approval

The Evac Evolution Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) has been granted IMO Type Approval. The system has been designed and manufactured by Cathelco, which has been part of Evac Group since May 2018.

Norwegenkai shore-based ship power plant inaugurated

The PORT OF KIEL’s first shore-based power supply plant for shipping was officially inaugurated at the Norwegenkai on May 9th.

Echandia Marine LTO Batteries to power the world’s first fleet of all-electric commuter ferries

Echandia Marine announces that Damen Shipyards has chosen Echandia’s LTO Battery system for the world’s first acquisition of a fleet of electric commuter ferries by leading multinational public transport company Arriva Denmark. The order is for 7 vessels to upgrade Copenhagen’s ferry service to one that is efficient, environmentally-friendly and economically viable. Echandia Marine, with primary operations in Stockholm, Sweden has previously engineered both the world’s first supercharged electric ferry Movitz and the world’s fastest electric ferry BB Green.

FINCANTIERI The BoD approves Q1 2019 results

The BOD approves Q1 2019 results: revenues up 13%, order intake at euro 6.5 billion with 11 cruise ships. Total backlog at new record level of euro 34.3 billion.

Actemium OPS reduces emissions in Swedish ports corresponding to 100,000 cars

At SVT Nyheter, this week (v.19 2019), you can read about the high ship emissions between Swedish ports. Actemium OPS (Onshore Power Supply) has built dozens of electricity-based land connections, both in Sweden and abroad that contribute to reducing emissions. Among other facilities are facilities in Visby, Gothenburg, Trelleborg, Kristiansand and Oslo harbor in Norway, Nynäshamn and Dunkerque.

New LNG-powered RoRo Vessels for Wallenius-SOL Designed by KNUD E. HANSEN

KNUD E HANSEN has designed the first generation of LNG-powered ultra-large RoRo vessels for the newly-established Swedish company Wallenius-SOL. Up to four vessels have been ordered at Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd., China, for whom KNUD E. HANSEN will provide the engineering package for the construction and approval by classification and flag state authorities.