It’s official: Moby has signed the contract with GSI for two large ro-pax ferries

William Zhou of builders GSI congratulating Achille Onorato on the double order © Philippe Holthof

(Article free to read) As Shippax earlier reported, Onorato Armotori recently officialised its double order for two ro-pax ferries to be built by Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in Nansha, China. This was done by means of an email on 10 June, yet the official signing ceremony with great fanfare was held in Beijing today, 27 June, in the presence of Shippax.

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Wight Shipyard completes two catamarans for Ultramar

© Wight Shipyard

Two identical 37-metre, 459-passenger catamarans have been completed by Wight Shipyard Co (WSC). The Incat Crowther-designed vessels will be transported to Cancun, Mexico, for Ultramar early next month.

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Armas-Trasmediterránea Group takes delivery of VILLA DE TEROR

VILLA DE TEROR has been delivered at last © Naviera Armas-Trasmediterránea Group

The Naviera Armas-Trasmediterránea Group has announced that it has taken delivery of the newbuild ferry VILLA DE TEROR at Factorías Vulcano.

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Incat Crowther contracted for a 65m catamaran for Korean operator

© Incat Crowther

Incat Crowther has been contracted to design a 65m, 710-passenger catamaran to be built for South Korean operator Dolphin Shipping.

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Meyer Werft hands over SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY

© Saga Cruises

Meyer Werft has delivered SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY, Saga Cruises first-ever newbuilding.

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STENA EUROPE’s mid-life extension takes longer than originally planned

STENA EUROPE will be back in service between Fishguard and Rosslare later than first expected © Frank Lose

The three-month mid-life extension of Stena Lines’ 38-year-old STENA EUROPE is taking longer than originally expected at Turkish shiprepairer Gemak Shipyard Tuzla.

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DFDS adds Sète to its Mediterranean network

DFDS's/U.N. Ro-Ro's Pendik terminal © DFDS

On 5 July, DFDS/U.N. Ro-Ro will further expand its Mediterranean network with a twice weekly connection between Istanbul (Pendik) and Sète, France.

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Aegean Seaways ready for 1 July start

Ukrferry has confirmed the charter of KAUNAS to Aegean Seaways © Ukrferry

Newly created East Med ro-pax operator Aegean Seaways is ready to start its four times weekly seven-hour connection between Lavrion and Cesme in time for the summer season with the 1,570-lanemetre and 289-passenger capacity KAUNAS to be taken on time charter at the end of this month. This has been confirmed to Shippax by Roman Morgenstern, Marketing & Project Director at Black Sea ferry operator Ukrferry, the ship’s current manager.

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Brittany Ferries to time charter a third Visentini ro-pax from Stena RoRo

STENA EGERIA is currently on charter to Adria Ferries as AF MICHELA and will join Brittany Ferries in October/November © George Giannakis

Ahead of what risks to become a no-deal Brexit and longer-than-normal overhaul and repair works to its flagship PONT-AVEN next winter, Brittany Ferries has announced a one-year time charter of a third Visentini ro-pax ferry, starting in October/November this year.

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Financials

Fjord Line 2018 annual report

Fjord Line released its 2018 annual report, showing an increase of turnover with 13% compared to 2017, ending at NOK 1,529 million (NOK 1,359 million), and EBITDA of NOK 335.5 million (NOK 307.4 million).

BC Ferries released its year-end results

The year-end results for BC Ferries’ fiscal 2019 showed an increase of the company’s total revenues to CAD 926 million, compared to CAD 900 million for the same period last year. Consolidated net earnings reached CAD 52 million, compared to CAD 60 million last year.

Carnival Corporation second quarter earnings

Carnival Corporation announced its second quarter earnings showing a revenue increase for the period to USD 4.8 billion, compared to USD 4.4 billion for the same quarter last year. US GAAP net income reached USD 451 million, compared to USD 561 million last year.

Press Releases

RCL, Wärtsilä, and DNV GL announce NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS to feature industry first fire prevention notation

Even though great strides have been taken in detecting, containing and extinguishing fires, the best time to fight a fire is before it starts. The desire to work towards a zero-fire engine room led cruise operator RCL, technology group Wärtsilä, and classification society DNV GL to initiate a joint industry project to improve engine room fire prevention.

The Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG hereby comments on the media coverage of the last days :

As both Mr. Lars Windhorst, Shareholder and CEO of Tennor Holding B.V. and Mr. Alex Gregg-Smith, CEO of the shipyard announced at the last works meeting on 20.6.19, FSG is in close contact with the customers of the RoPax ferries to be built in order to discuss the next steps for the construction of these existing orders. These discussions have been very promising so far.

Evac Evolution Ballast Water Management System gains USCG Type Approval

The Evac Evolution Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) has received Type Approval from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

PortX and Helm Operations team up to bring AI Assistance to Harbor Towing

PortX (Rotterdam, Netherlands) and Helm Operations (Victoria, BC, Canada) announced that they have signed a new strategic partnership agreement to combine PortX’s cutting-edge AI-based port dispatching system, OptiPort, with Helm CONNECT, the harbor dispatching and operations software.

Update on the regulatory process: Closing of MacGregor’s TTS acquisition postponed to Q3 2019

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, announced on 8 February, 2018 that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the marine and offshore businesses of TTS Group ASA. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals from the competition authorities in Germany, South Korea and China. MacGregor announced the approval from the German regulator on 6 November 2018 and the approval from the South Korean regulator on 27 December 2018.

Tillberg Design of Sweden launches a new visual identity

Tillberg Design of Sweden launched a new visual identity for the group. The new design is built around the logotyp made up of thin intersecting lines, creating a timeless brand mark that combines our heritage from 1964 with contemporary design. The light Nordic design also stands for simplicity and transparency, two of TDoS core values.

Carnival selects KONGSBERG integrated bridge with dynamic positioning functionality for new expedition cruise ships

KONGSBERG has signed an agreement with the shipbuilding firm T.Mariotti to provide its K-Bridge Integrated Bridge System (IBS) with K-Pos Dynamic Positioning (DP) functionality for two ultra-luxury, purpose-built expedition cruise newbuilds to Carnival Corporation. The ships are under construction at the T.Mariotti yard in Genova, Italy for the ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn, a brand of Carnival Corporation. The first, SEABOURN VENTURE, is due to enter service in June 2021, while her yet-to-be-named sister ship is scheduled for launch in May 2022.

Interferry Regulatory Report – June 2019

Interferry Outcome of MSC101 • The IMO to Formally Address Domestic Ferry Safety

NAPA helps BC Ferries join the e-log revolution

NAPA, the leading maritime software, services and data analysis provider, announced that its industry-benchmark electronic logbook, NAPA Logbook, has been chosen by BC Ferries as a fleet-wide standard solution.

Shipbreaking: Updated list of European ship recycling facilities to include eight new yards

In the 5th version of European List of ship recycling facilities published today, the European Commission has added eight new yards to the List. These include 7 European yards – (2 in Denmark5 in Norway), and 1 yard in Turkey. With the addition of these new yards, ship owners of EU-flagged vessels will now have a wider range of choices to get their vessels dismantled in the future. 

Automooring enhances speed, efficiency and safety in the Port of Turku

Port of Turku Ltd is investing in the speed and efficiency of the stay of ships in the port, the management of environmental impacts of vessel traffic, and occupational safety of personnel by acquiring an automooring system from Cavotec Finland Oy.

New Roska-Roope collects surface waste from the sea

The Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association is celebrating its 50 years of operations by introducing a completely new kind of waste collection vessel to Finnish waters. Named Roska-Roope, the vessel is fully electricity-powered and also uses solar power, which makes it very much environmentally sound.