Shippax News Bulletin – 42
S.B.S Shipping (Cyprus) Ltd starts new two-ship weekly ro-ro service between Greece with Cyprus
CENK T is Sea Lines' former SEA PARTNER, sold to Cenk in April last year © George Koutsoukis
Limassol-based S.B.S. Shipping (Cyprus) Ltd, a division of Thessaloniki-based S.B.S. Shipping Ltd started a new weekly, two-vessel ro-ro service linking the Greek ports of Thessaloniki and Lavrio with Limassol.
The company is using the two chartered ro-ro's – the 1995-built 1.960 lanemetre capacity CENK G and the 1978-built 2,500 lanemetre capacity CENK T. Both ro-ro's are owned by Istanbul-based Cenk RoRo and were previously operating on the company's regular services from Turkey to Ukraine.
Jumbo Ferry's AOI was delivered and set to enter service 22 October
© Naikai Zosen
Kobe-based Jumbo Ferry's new ro-pax, AOI has been delivered from Naikai Zosen Setoda shipyard in Onomichi, Hiroshima prefecture. She is set to enter service on the Kobe-Shodoshima-Takamatsu route on 22 October and will replace the 1989-built KONPIRA 2.
AOI and its sister are about 5,200 gt (Japanese), 131.76m in LOA, 21.00m in width, 13.05m in depth, and 5.60m in draft. They can carry up to 620 passengers, 84 trucks (12m), 4 trucks (8m) and 20 cars at the service speed of 18.6 knots. The main engine is a MAN B&W 8S35ME-C9.7 (6,610kW). Also, a SOX scrubber will be equipped.
Sefine Shipyard launches ro-pax NEREA for Sicily’s Siremar (Caronte & Tourist)
Sicilian ferry operator Siremar’s fleet upgrade programme took a major step forward when its newbuilding ro-pax ferry NEREA was launched at the Yalova yard of Turkey’s Sefine Shipyard.
The new EUR 40 million, 8,234 gt ferry, financed entirely by Siremar’s parent Caronte & Tourist, will be delivered before the summer 2023 season starts, operating between Milazzo and the Aeolian Island, and continuing onto Naples on certain days of the week.
Levante Ferries rebuilt SMYRNA DI LEVANTE enters service on the operator’s new Thessaloniki-Izmir service
SMYRNA DI LEVANTE seen here departing from Piraeus © George Giannakis
A former 1977-built Baltic ferry which was deemed destined for the scrap yard has re-emerged from a major reconstruction project in Greece as the ro-pax SMYRNA DI LEVANTE and entered service for Greek operator Levante Ferries on its new service linking the northern Greek port of Thessaloniki with Izmir in Turkey. The ferry’s first sailing took place on 7 October.
SMYRNA DI LEVANTE started life in 1977 as the ROSTOCK, built by Norway’s Bergen Med Verksted for the then East German Deutsche Reichsbahn.
South Korea’s H-Line orders three LNG-powered, 8,500 CEU capacity PCTC’s at GSI
South Korea’s H-Line has returned to China’s Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) for more newbuildings, this time for three LNG-powered, 8,500 CEU capacity PCTC’s, contracted at a cost of US $100 million each. When delivered from late 2024 through 2025, the trio will start charters to Hyundai Glovis.
Norled won new contracts-newbuilds to follow
The battery exchange solution SHIFTR will be used
Norled AS won the contract and will offer transport by fast ferries for the routes Trondheim – Kristiansund, Trondheim – Brekstad and Trondheim - Vanvikan. The contract between AtB and Norled AS lasts until 24 April 2030 and with a four-year conditional option given the achievement of environmental targets and unilateral 1 year for AtB.
On the route Trondheim - Kristiansund (route 800), two completely new electric vessels are being introduced. Compared to today, the aim is to reduce Co2 emissions on the connection by up to 70 per cent. For the connection Trondheim - Brekstad (route 805) there will also be a new, electric vessel.
Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel signs another contract with Holland Shipyards Group for two additional vessels
© Frank Behling
After delivering the first newbuild ferry in 2020, followed by four other deliveries after that, Holland Shipyards Group has signed a new contract to build two additional ferries for Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel (SFK).
The contract includes a hybrid cycle- and footferry with a capacity of 300 persons and a smaller all electric cycle- and footferry with a capacity of 140 pedestrians and 60 bicycles. The designs of the vessels are in line with the deliveries made earlier this year.
Introducing the icon of vacations: Royal Caribbean reveals ICON OF THE SEAS
Royal Caribbean International has revealed the first look at the highly anticipated ICON OF THE SEAS, defined as the Icon of Vacations. Arriving in late 2023 ahead of its January 2024 debut, the first Icon Class ship will be the travel industry’s first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation. From the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure, with Icon, every kind of family and adventurer can experience their version of the ultimate family vacation.
ForSea’s TYCHO BRAHE is now upgraded with the world's largest battery pack
In 2018, the first conversion to battery operation was carried out of the ferries TYCHO BRAHE and AURORA to the world's largest battery-powered ro-pax ferries. A pioneering project that has been fringed by both progress and setbacks; just as pioneering efforts are usually done. To this day, ForSea has the world's largest battery pack on a high-frequency ferry. AURORA has sailed to 93% on electricity during the past year and contributed with major environmental gains in the region for both air and sea. During the year, TYCHO BRAHE has undergone a major upgrade process where all battery packs have now been replaced in order to be able to store more energy and double the lifespan of the battery pack from 5 to 10 years.
Höegh Autoliners exercises option to purchase HÖEGH ST PETERSBURG
Höegh Autoliners, through its subsidiary, Höegh Autoliners Shipping AS, declared an option pursuant to a certain bareboat charterparty to purchase the vessel HÖEGH ST PETERSBURG for a purchase price of USD 29.3 million from Pioneer Leasing, a company controlled by Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank.
Danish Molslinjen Ferries are at Cemre Shipyard!
Cemre Shipyard has entered into a contract with Molslinjen A/S for NB1098 & NB1099 passenger vessels Als and Samsø for Bøjden-Fynshav and Ballen-Kalundborg routes.
The double-ended ferries are designed by OSK-ShipTech A/S for zero-emission by 100% operation on batteries, optimized for each route. The vessels are 116,8 meters long, and 18,2 meters wide and will be built according to the BV classification rules and compliant with Danish National Flag regulations.
Finnlines invests heavily in passenger traffic with two new ro-pax vessels for the route between Sweden and Finland
FINNSIRIUS during launch © Finnlines
Finnlines announced the arrival of two new Superstar ro-pax vessels in Stockholm. The first will start operating on the Kapellskär–Långnäs–Naantali route in autumn 2023. The newbuilds are part of the shipping company’s EUR 500 million investment programme, which focuses on state-of-the-art ro-pax and ro-ro vessels.
Vuyk Engineering release green ferry design
Ferry lines are indispensable in daily travels over waterways and form a vital link between islands and the mainland. Commuting by water is a convenient way of public transport. Ferries connect remote places and are also effective in densely populated city areas, providing fast, reliable and direct connections.
Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam has recently taken the challenge and designed two green ferries. The routes of both vessels required non-standard solutions to match the operational requirements, meaning long distance and severe weather conditions.
Sweden electrifies and automates ferry service with KONGSBERG technology
Kongsberg Maritime has signed a contract with Holland Shipyards Group to provide electrification and control systems with automated functionalities for up to four new all-electric ferries for the Swedish Transport Administration, with two firm for delivery and an option for two more.
AMORELLA is handed over to Corsica Ferries
AMORELLA © Marc Ottini
AMORELLA was handed over on the evening of 13 October 2022, to Corsica Ferries.
The name of the vessel will be MEGA VICTORIA after reflagging.
Ports of Stockholm has double the number of cruise ship calls and passengers
Stockholm remains a very popular cruise destination, despite the current turbulent times. When this cruise season ends, 205 cruise ships will have called at Ports of Stockholm, carrying twice as many passengers as the previous year. This year’s cruise season ends on 22 October, when the AIDADIVA cruise ship departs from its city centre quay. In total 205 cruise ships, carrying 247,000 passengers, called at Ports of Stockholm during the 2022 season. This is twice as many as the previous year, both in terms of the number of cruise ship calls and passenger numbers.
FuelEU vote: European shipowners recognise progress but more is needed for clean fuel uptake
The European Parliament adopted today its position on the FuelEU Maritime Regulation ahead of the negotiations with the Council. European shipowners welcome the progress made on the proposal, but stress that more needs to be done to facilitate the energy transition and the decarbonisation of the industry.
The reports, prepared to support the European Commission in the ongoing work on the “Fit for 55” package, in particular on the FuelEU Maritime proposal, analyse both alternatives across a number of indicators, including availability, sustainability, cost implications, and safety.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges: slight growth despite ongoing challenges
After nine months, the total throughput of Port of Antwerp-Bruges was 217.4 million tonnes, a slight increase of 0.8% compared to the same period last year. Despite the negative impact of the geopolitical and macroeconomic context, all cargo flows are recording growth, with the exception of the container segment, which remains under pressure. Together with a series of announcements of new investments in the port platforms of Antwerp and Zeebrugge, this confirms the attractiveness and resilience of the unified port.
The technology group Wärtsilä will supply a biogas upgrading and liquefaction solution for a new biogas plant in Sweden. The plant will be used to reduce carbon emissions from transport, and to speed the transition to cleaner energy. The order was placed by the energy company St1 and will be located at the Borås Energi och Miljö facility at Sobacken, near the city of Borås in Sweden. The plant is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2023. The order was included in Wärtsilä’s order book in September 2022.
Intesa Sanpaolo supports the renewal of the Grimaldi Lines Eco green fleet
Intesa Sanpaolo has concluded two loans for a total of EUR 70 million to Grimaldi Euromed, a Grimaldi Group company specialising in the transport of rolling cargo in Europe and the Motorways of the Sea and in passenger transport in the Mediterranean under the Grimaldi Lines brand.
The transaction, structured by Intesa Sanpaolo's IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division led by Mauro Micillo, consists of two loans for the purchase of the new ships ECO MEDITERRANEA and ECO ADRIATICA, the tenth and eleventh of the Grimaldi Green 5th Generation (GG5G) class, respectively. The transaction confirms Intesa Sanpaolo's support for the energy transition and NRRP-related investments.
Wärtsilä Corporation strengthens its lifecycle offering by integrating the Voyage business into Marine Power as a business unit. The President of Wärtsilä Voyage Mr Sean Fernback will leave the company and he will be succeeded by Mr Hannu Mäntymaa (45), (M.Sc.Eng) with immediate effect. Mr Mäntymaa, currently VP, Performance Services in Wärtsilä Marine Power, will take over to lead the integration process until year-end and will join Wärtsilä’s Board of Management for the interim period. He will then continue as the Head of the future Voyage business unit as the integrated organisation becomes effective as of January 1, 2023. With the same starting date, the financial figures of the Voyage business unit will be consolidated into Marine Power financials.
Hurtigruten Expeditions completes industry-first fleetwide installation of SpaceX’s Starlink
Hurtigruten Expeditions will be the first cruise line to implement SpaceX’s innovative broadband service Starlink across all ships. In cooperation with long-time connectivity partner Speedcast, the installation will be completed in October.
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