Shippax News Bulletin – 31
- In association with Interferry
Dear Subscriber,
Please find the headlines of the news added to the Shippax website during week 31.
Many more news are expected to be added to the website during the course of the day.
Have a nice weekend!
FSG launches MARIA GRAZIA ONORATO
Almost exactly three months after the launch of ALF POLLAK, Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) has launched the hull of sister ship MARIA GRAZIA ONORATO. Both freight ro-ros – with a 4,076-lanemetre intake each – are built for the Siem Group and will be long-term bareboat chartered by Onorato Armatori.
Trasmediterranea introduces a new logo
Following the recent takeover of 100-year old Trasmediterranea by Naviera Armas, it was only a matter of time before a new logo was introduced. Only a small detail to some, but the reaction has been that Trasmediterranea appears to once again breathe in the air of a maritime company.
STENA FORERUNNER will temporarily move to the Irish Sea
Stena’s 2003-built 3,000-lanemetre freight ro-ro STENA FORERUNNER is moving from the North Sea to the Irish Sea at the end of August to take over from the 2,166-lanemetre STENA PRECISION on the Birkenhead (Liverpool)-Belfast service.
AIDA prepares for battery operation
AIDA Cruises is preparing for zero emission navigation in certain sensitive areas. In the summer of 2022 the German cruise operator will introduce the first hybrid solution on a large (mass market) cruise ship.
ULTRAMAR II delivered from Midship Marine
Midship Marine in Harvey, Louisiana, has delivered ULTRAMAR II, the second unit in a series of 48-metre high capacity catamaran passenger ferries built for Mexican operator Ultramar.
Silversea Cruises officially becomes a member of the Royal Caribbean Cruises family
Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has completed the acquisition of a 66.7% equity stake in ultra-luxury and expedition cruise operator Silversea Cruises after having received the green light from regulators.
CARNIVAL TRIUMPH to undergo a USD 200 million makeover – to be renamed CARNIVAL SUNRISE
A USD 200 million makeover will be carried out in the spring of 2019 by Carnival Cruise Line of its 101,509gt and 272-metre long CARNIVAL TRIUMPH. To be renamed CARNIVAL SUNRISE, the 1999-built cruise ship will become a member of the Sunshine Class following her two-month refurbishment.
Wightlink to change hands once again?
According to The Times, the British daily, Basalt Infrastructure Partners – the owners of Wightlink – are poised to cash in on the booming demand for infrastructure assets and would reportedly dispose of the cross-Solent ferry operator for an estimated GBP 300 million.
Baleària acquires the VISEMAR ONE
True to its word, Baleària continues to acquire tonnage when it sees fit. This time, it has taken over ownership of the VISEMAR ONE, which was already on time charter to Baleària.
TS Laevad carried 942,918 passengers and 419,735 vehicles during H1 2018
TS Laevad, the Port of Tallinn subsidiary that operates the ferry services from the Estonian mainland to the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, has released its passenger and vehicle carryings for the first half of 2018. Saaremaa Island proved to be more popular than ever before with 75% of overall passenger traffic or 709,949 passengers, a 1.5% increase versus 2017. Vehicle traffic to Saaremaa was even more dynamic with a 2.5% growth to 313,092 units.
Unity Line’s new fleet addition COPERNICUS due in service mid-August
Slightly later than originally scheduled, Unity Line’s latest fleet addition, the 1995-built ro-pax COPERNICUS, will enter service on the Swinoujscie-Trelleborg route in mid-August after undergoing upgrade work in Szczecin. The ferry was expected to enter service in May this year.
Finnlines' financial review January-June 2018 (unaudited)
Performance for the first half of 2018 has continued very strong as revenue grew 11.5% to EUR 289.1 million. The January-June 2018 result for the period increased by approximately 20% to EUR 42.3 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, EBITDA, came to EUR 78.3 million.
Baleària fleet reshuffle
Baleària continues to shuffle its fleet, to cover unforeseen crisis. Having only just settled into the Almeria-Melilla route, the POETA LOPEZ ANGLADA has been recalled to serve the Algeciras-Tangier Med route once again.
(UPDATED) VARD and Viking Ocean Cruise sign firm agreement for new cruise ship series
The signing of the LoI on 4 April, between VARD and Viking Ocean for the design and construction of two new cruise vessels, with an option for two more has now become a firm agreement. The vessels will belong to a new series of cruise vessels for Viking, the company that already has 16 ocean cruise ships and 24 river cruise ships delivered and/or on order.
Baleària invests EUR 60 million in LNG for its fleet
Baleària has released a press statement announcing that it will invest some EUR 60 million in re-engining five ro-paxes of its current fleet to be LNG-powered.
Unclear Public Ferry Service status does not stop a dynamic market in Corsica
On 26 July the Corsican Parliament has voted to cancel the acquisition of the freight-orientated ro-pax ferries PAGLIA ORBA and MONTE D’ORO – a plan first approved in September 2016.
(UPDATED) Louis sells MAJESTY to Mano Cruise
Cyprus-based Louis plc, owner of Celestyal Cruises, has sold the 40,876gt, 1992-built cruise ship MAJESTY to Mano Cruise. The 1,460 passenger capacity vessel started life as Majesty Cruise Lines ROYAL MAJESTY and until last year was on charter to UK operator Marella Cruises (previously known as Thomson Cruises).
STENA SCOTIA to return to Irish Sea service between Belfast and Heysham
Stena Line’s 1,692-lanemetre freight ro-ro STENA SCOTIA is to return to service on the Irish Sea from 4 August, operating on the company’s Belfast-Heysham route, replacing near sister STENA HIBERNIA, which is drydocking for her scheduled refit at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyard.
Manche Iles Express’ high-speed passenger service to Sark suspended until mid-August
French fast ferry operator Manche Iles Express’ service from Normandy to the Channel Island of Sark, via Jersey, has been suspended until mid-August at the earliest due to overrunning main engine problems with the company’s 2006-built 41m monohull GRANVILLE. The 245-passenger capacity, Singapore-built vessel is currently in the French port of Cherbourg awaiting spare parts for one of its three Caterpillar C32 main engines.
Stena Line’s move to Halmstad – now a signed deal
The official signing of the contract between Stena Line and Halmstad (HallandsHamnar) was made on Friday 13 July, making the move from Varberg to Halmstad a firm deal.
BC Ferries preparing to order four new Island Class vessels and another Salish Class ferry
BC Ferries’ fleet modernisation programme continues apace as the Victoria-headquartered operator has issued Requests for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) for the procurement of five new vessels to replace the 1965-built trio BOWEN QUEEN, MAYNE QUEEN and POWELL RIVER QUEEN, with deliveries scheduled from 2020 through to 2021.
WSF takes delivery of SUQUAMISH
Washington State Ferries (WSF) has taken delivery of the Vigor-built SUQUAMISH, the fourth and last Olympic Class double-ender that will enter service this fall.
Press releases
ALMACO Group’s longtime partner, Genting Group, responsible for the Crystal Cruises, Dream Cruises and Star Cruises brands, has awarded the company an order worth a high double-digit million euro amount overall to outfit the cabins and public areas for the Global Class ships at the German MV WERFTEN Wismar shipyard to be completed by 2020 and 2021.
Damen and Skoon Energy sign agreement for advancement of sustainable shipping solutions
Damen Shipyards Group and Skoon Energy have signed a cooperation agreement of understanding for the advancement of energy transition in the shipping industry. The agreement combines Damen’s 90 years of experience with the dynamism of a new start-up, founded in 2017, by Daan Geldermans and Peter Paul van Voorst, two students of the Delft University of Technology.
C-Job Naval Architects announces partnership with The Ocean Cleanup
C-Job Naval Architects is proud to announce its partnership with The Ocean Cleanup. The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organisation that has designed the first feasible method to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. C-Job will assist The Ocean Cleanup’s activities with engineering capacity and knowledge sharing.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Announces Efforts to Reduce Single-Use Plastics
Plastic straws eliminated across all 26 ships in the Company’s fleet. Company’s island destinations, Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye, to eliminate plastic straws by August 2018. Over 50 million plastic straws expected to be eliminated each year across fleet.
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic eliminates single-use plastic fleetwide
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic announced that they have successfully completed a comprehensive single-use plastics elimination program across their fleet. Lindblad’s ships are now 100% free of all single-use plastic bottles, cups, straws and stirrers. The effort supports National Geographic’s Planet or Plastic? campaign, a multiyear initiative aimed at raising awareness about the global plastic crisis and reducing the amount of plastic in the world’s oceans.
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