Hurtigruten’s RICHARD WITH arrives at Fosen Yard for major upgrade

RICHARD WITH is undergoing a month-long major refit at Fosen Yard © Sørend Lund Hviid

Hurtigruten’s 1993-built RICHARD WITH arrived at Norway’s Fosen Yard on 4 November to start a month-long major refit, the first part of a two-stage upgrade for the vessel – the largest single upgrade project in Hurtigruten’s history.

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Hull of COLOR HYDRIB arrives at Ulstein Verft for final outfitting

COLOR HYBRID entering Ulstein Verft's covered building hall © Ulstein Verft

The 160m long hull of the world’s largest plug-in hybrid ro-pax ferry, Color Line’s 27,000gt COLOR HYBRID, arrived at Ulstein Verft’s shipbuilding facility in Ulsteinvik under tow from Poland’s Crist Shipyard in Gdynia on 6 November and was moved into the shipyard’s covered building facility on 8 November for final outfitting work to commence.

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Sefine Shipyard hands over ELIO to Caronte & Tourist

© LMG Marin

The LMG Marin-designed 133.6m long and 21.5m beam ELIO has been delivered by Sefine Shipyard to Caronte & Tourist. The double-ender has meanwhile left Yalova for the Messina Strait.

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TfL’s new Woolwich Free Ferries arrive on the Thames

BEN WOOLLACOTT and DAME VERA LYNN in their new homewaters © David Walter

Transport for London’s (TfL) two new hybrid passenger/vehicle ferries for the Woolwich Free Ferry service across the River Thames – BEN WOOLLACOTT and DAME VERA LYNN – both arrived simultaneously at the Port of Tilbury on November 6 after their delivery voyages from Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdansk, Poland via the Kiel Canal. They will remain in Tilbury for crew training and familiarisation before entering service in early January 2019.

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US operator CG Railway orders new rail ferry

CG Railway's BALI SEA © CG Railway

Chinese shipbuilder Huangpu Wengchong Shipbuilding has secured a ‘first’ – a newbuilding contract for a rail ferry from US operator CG Railway for its service across the Gulf of Mexico from Mobile, Alabama to Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. No further details on the new ferry are known, although Shippax did contact CG Railway, but has yet to receive a reply.

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Tirrenia up in Catania but down in Porto Torres

HARTMUT PUSCHMANN © Marc Ottini

During September, Tirrenia saw freight carryings on its Genoa-Livorno-Catania-Malta MoS increase by 46% compared to the corresponding period of 2017, totalling 266,000 linear metres.

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W.B. YEATS returns from trials

W.B. YEATS returned from trials on 7 November © Frank Behling

After nine days at sea, Irish Ferries’ W.B. YEATS returned to o Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft on Wednesday 7 November. The finishing of the 54,985gt ro-pax ferry is reportedly entering its final phase.

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Major Chinese cruise JV launched

© Fincantieri

Carnival Corporation, Fincantieri and China State Shipbuilding Corporation have formally launched the cruise joint venture CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited. Besides finalising the earlier agreement for two purpose-built cruise ships to serve the Chinese market, the joint venture will also acquire two existing cruise ships from the Costa fleet, namely the 2000-built COSTA ATLANTICA and her 2003-built sister COSTA MEDITERRANEA, each with a capacity of more than 2,100 passengers.

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SunStone’s third ship to be chartered by Victory Cruise Lines

OCEAN VICTORY © Ulstein Group

In June this year, Miami-based SunStone Ships Inc announced that it had firmed up the order for the third Infinity Class expedition cruise vessel to be built by China Merchants Industry Holdings Co. Ltd. The company has now also revealed that Victory Cruise Lines will be the long-term charterer of the vessel, to be named OCEAN VICTORY, once delivered in March 2021.

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USD 115 million upgrade for RCI’s NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS

The 2002-built NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS will get a make-over © Marc Ottini

Royal Caribbean Internationals’ (RCI) NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS is to undergo a USD 115 million refit at the end of this year, part of the company’s USD 1 billion ‘Royal Amplified’ fleet upgrade programme, which covers ten vessels over a four-year period.

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Danish Transport Minister criticizes Molslinjen

Molslinjen's EXPRESS 1 is the mainstay on the Ystad-Rønne route © Søren Lund Hviid

Danish Transport Minister Ole Birk Olesen has publicly criticized Molslinjen/Bornholmslinjen for offering unreliable ferry services maintained on the Rønne-Ystad route which the company took over from Faergen on September 1.

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MEIN SCHIFF 2 to arrive early

MEIN SCHIFF 2 will move to Kiel for final outfitting © Jukka Huotari

TUI Cruises has confirmed media reports according to which its latest newbuilding MEIN SCHIFF 2 will be delivered early and completed in Kiel rather than Turku.

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FRS happy with HALUNDER JET performance

Excellent occupancy rate for FRS' new HALUNDER JET © Marko Stampehl

The passenger-only fast ferry HALUNDER JET, in operation between Hamburg, Cuxhaven and Heligoland since April this year, has achieved record passenger volumes and occupancy levels during its first months, exceeding all expectations.

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Trasmediterranea to introduce yet another Armas ship

To enter the Balearic trade for Trasmediterranea: Armas' VOLCAN DE TIJARAFE © Marc Ottini

Trasmediterranea, the now Armas subsidiary, has announced that it will charter the VOLCAN DE TIJARAFE from Armas, to operate the Gandia-Ibiza-Palma route.

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Financials

Third quarter financial results reported by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Revenue increased 12.5% to USD 1.9 billion compared to USD 1.7 billion in 2017.  Net Revenue increased 11.8% to USD 1.4 billion compared to USD 1.3 billion in 2017. GAAP net income was USD 470.4 million or EPS of USD 2.11 compared to USD 400.7 million or USD 1.74 in the prior year.  The company generated Adjusted Net Income of USD 506.4 million or Adjusted EPS of USD 2.27 compared to USD 427.0 million or USD 1.86 in the prior year.  

Continued growth for Finnlines during January–September

The Finnlines Group’s result for the reporting period increased by EUR 7.3 million to EUR 75.3 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, EBITDA, came to EUR 129.0 million against EUR 120.4 million last year. Revenue increased by EUR 43.4 million to EUR 447.9 million.

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings 3Q financial results

Third quarter tour revenues of USD 87.2 million increased USD 2.7 million, or 3%, as compared to the same period in 2017. Lindblad segment tour revenues of USD 64.5 million decreased USD 2.9 million, or 4%, compared to the third quarter a year ago. Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA of USD 17.1 million decreased USD 6.0 million, or 26%, as compared to the same period in 2017.

Press Releases

First winners of the inaugural Direct Ferries Awards announced

Earlier this week ferry partners from all over the world gathered in the prestigious NED Hotel in the City of London for a gala awards dinner hosted by Direct Ferries, the world’s largest ferry demand platform and online travel agent (OTA).

Corporation of the Year Award and Shipping Company Award for the Grimaldi Group

In the exclusive setting of The Savoy Hotel, in Central London, the Grimaldi Group received the Corporation of the Year Award and the Shipping Company Award last 1st November, during the 2018 Automotive Global Awards. The event was organized by Three6Zero, an editorial group specialised in the automotive industry with various publications distributed in America, Asia, India and Europe.

MacGregor receives clearance from the German competition regulator for the acquisition of the marine and offshore businesses of TTS

MacGregor, a part of Cargotec, has received a clearance decision from the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) for the company's acquisition of the marine and offshore businesses of TTS Group ASA, which was announced on 8 February, 2018.

European Union commits €300 million for clean, healthy and safe oceans

The European Commission has announced €300 million of EU-funded initiatives, which include projects to tackle plastic pollution, make blue economy more sustainable and improve research and marine surveillance. This important contribution comes on top of the over €550 million committed by the European Union, when it hosted the Our Ocean conference last year in Malta.

Wärtsilä fully integrated scope chosen for largest LNG fuelled high-speed catamaran

The largest ever high-speed catamaran, which will operate on LNG fuel, will feature a fully integrated scope of supply from the technology group Wärtsilä. The 125 metres long vessel is being built at the Armon Gijón shipyard in Spain for Spanish ferry operator Baleària. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in Q2, 2018.

Corvus Energy achieves ISO 14001 demonstrating environmental responsibility

Corvus Energy’s Norwegian operation joins Canadian operation in being certified for its Environmental Management System and Processes in supplying and servicing battery-based energy storage system (ESS).

ABB and SINTEF test fuel cells for main propulsion potential

ABB and SINTEF Ocean are undertaking groundbreaking research to test the viability of fuel cells as an energy source for main ship propulsion. The new research project seeks to provide the answers required for fuel cell technology to be delivered at the scale needed to power commercial and passenger ships.