Shippax Newsletter– week 23
WSF’s WENATCHEE becomes the largest hybrid electric ferry in the US
WENATCHEE © Washington State Ferries
The Seattle Harbour Island yard of US west coast shipyard group Vigor Marine has successfully converted Washington State Ferries' (WSF) double-ended passenger/vehicle ferry WENATCHEE, serving the Seattle-Bainbridge route, into the largest hybrid electric ferry in the US. The project took 21 months to complete.
CalMac extends charter of catamaran ferry ALFRED for a further five months
ALFRED © Pentland Ferries
The unreliability of the ageing ferry fleet of Scotland's largest ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), has meant further expense for the ferry operator as it has had to announce the further extension of its "emergency" charter of Pentland Ferries' catamaran passenger/vehicle ferry ALFRED for a further five months, until the end of October 2025.
New Passenger-Only High-Speed Ferry Service started between Jersey and Guernsey
SAN PAWL © Nikias Ioannidis
The fast-changing Channel Islands ferry services network has seen the arrival of a new high-speed passenger-only operator in the form of Guernsey-based Islands Unlimited and its Surface Effect Ship air cushion catamaran SAN PAWL, capable of carrying 316 passengers.
The 1991-built SAN PAWL had previously operated with Malta's Virtu Ferries and will operate a daily service linking Guernsey (St Peter Port) with Jersey (St Helier), with the possibility of an extended service to Alderney at a later date.
GulenSkyss Partners with Fjellstrand AS for New Electric Ferry
GulenSkyss has signed a contract with Fjellstrand AS for the construction of a new, modern electric ferry. The new ferry, designed for exceptionally low energy consumption, prioritises optimal operation and environmental friendliness.
Specifically tailored for the Breistein–Valestrand route, the vessel is scheduled to enter service on 29 November 2027 with a capacity to carry up to 50 vehicles. The Breistein–Valestrand contract spans 15 years.
NIPPON MARU Slated for Retirement in May 2026
NIPPON MARU © Tsuyoshi Ishiyama
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd announced that MOL Cruises, Ltd, which operates its cruise brand Mitsui Ocean Cruises, will retire its cruise ship NIPPON MARU on 10 May 2026, with a cruise returning to Yokohama. Since entering service in 1990, the NIPPON MARU has sailed 5,332,383.964 km, or about 133 times around the globe, on over 2,000 cruises, calling at over 400 ports in Japan and other countries, and welcoming more than 600,000 guests aboard.
Port of Toulon Launches France’s Largest Shore Power System
The commissioning of France's largest-ever shore power solution for ships at the Port of Toulon has been completed. Operational since 13 February, the installation is currently in its final acceptance period. The facility now offers connections at 11kV and 6.6kV voltage levels and frequencies of 50Hz or 60Hz, supporting both cruise and ferry formats.
Car Carrier MORNING MIDAS Abandoned After Fire Erupts Off Alaska Coast
MORNING MIDAS © US Coast Guard
A fire broke out aboard the MORNING MIDAS, a 183-metre Liberian-flagged car carrier, on 3 June, forcing the evacuation of all 22 crew members. The vessel, carrying 3,159 vehicles, including 65 fully electric vehicles (EVs) and 681 partial hybrid electric vehicles, was en route from Yantai, China, to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, when smoke was first detected on a deck housing EVs, according to the ship's operator, Zodiac Maritime. The incident occurred roughly 260 nautical miles southwest of Adak Island, Alaska, about 1,040 nautical miles from Anchorage.
UECC Boosts North-South Route with BLUE HERITAGE PCTC and New Turkish Port Call
BLUE HERITAGE
United European Car Carriers (UECC) is enhancing its North-South trading network in Europe by adding the dual-fuel LNG PCTC BLUE HERITAGE and including a new port call in Yarimca, Turkey. This expansion increases UECC's fleet to seven vessels on this route, boosting sailing frequency to every 4.5 days and adding capacity for 7,000 cars.
Fincantieri cuts steel for OCEANIA CRUISES’ first of two new cruise ships
Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer, Oceania Cruises
The steel cutting ceremony for OCEANIA SONATA, the new luxury cruise ship for Oceania Cruises - a brand of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. - took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera (Venice). The 86,000gt, 1,450-passenger capacity vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2027 and will be followed by a sister ship in 2029.
LUMINARA for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection delivered
© Ritz-Carlton
Chantiers de l'Atlantique delivered LUMINARA, the second of two 242-metre, 456-passenger ultra-luxury dual-fuel LNG cruise vessels for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
The profile and interior spaces feature spacious public areas and a large selection of top-end passenger suites across various categories, all with balconies. The new vessels feature two upper suite categories, measuring up to 100 m².
Transport Scotland decides on “freighter-flex” design for new Northern Isles Freight Vessels newbuilding project and launches procurement
© Leadship
Following more than two years of discussions with all parties involved in the design of two new freight ferries for Scotland's Northern Isles services, Transport Scotland, the country's national transport agency, decided to go for the "freighter-flex" design option of the 140m vessel that will be able to carry 200 passengers in cabins in the peak seasons. The first stage of the competitive tender process will see interested shipyards complete the Single Procurement Document Scotland (SPDS), which will assess their suitability to take on the project against financial and technical criteria. Successful yards will then be invited to tender for the contract.
Nordic Ferry Infrastructure reportedly up for sale
Carsten Jensen, CEO Nordic Ferry Infrastructure
The Swedish investment fund EQT is reported in the Danish financial press (Børsen) to have initiated a sales process for the Oslo-based company Nordic Ferry Infrastructure - a company that owns Danish Molslinjen and Norwegian Torghatten, both of which are among the leading domestic and regional ferry operators in their respective countries.
Fifth Aurora Class delivered
HÖEGH SUNRISE © Höegh Autoliners
Höegh Autoliners has taken delivery of HÖEGH SUNRISE from China Merchants Heavy Industry in China. The HÖEGH SUNRISE, with a capacity of 9,100 CEU, is the fifth vessel in Höegh Autoliners' Aurora Class, which will comprise 12 ships when completed in 2027. HÖEGH SUNRISE departed the shipyard on 22 May, bound for Kobe, Japan, from where the vessel, according to Höegh Autoliners, will set course for Europe fully loaded.
Copenhagen's Cruise Shore Power Facility Inaugurated
On Monday, 2 June, H.M. King Frederik X of Denmark officially inaugurated Copenhagen's shore power facility for cruise vessels at an event at CMP's cruise terminals at Oceankaj.
The first ship connected to the facility was AIDANOVA of AIDA Cruises, represented by President Felix Eichhorn.
The facility, developed by Udviklingsselskabet By & Havn, is Europe's largest of its kind and complements CMP's shore power facility inaugurated in 2021 at Søndre Frihavn for the Copenhagen-Oslo line.
Port of Barcelona to Build Third Ro-Pax Ferry Terminal in EUR 54.7 Million Project
Port of Barcelona Adossat quay
As part of its commitment to maintaining its position as one of the Mediterranean's foremost passenger ferry ports, the Port of Barcelona has awarded the contract for the construction of its third ro-pax ferry terminal. Concurrently, it has awarded the concession to operate its new car terminal to Japan's NYK Line and the contract to build an Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system for its latest cruise ship terminal.
Molslinjen’s Electric Ferry NERTHUS Arrives in Kalundborg
NERTHUS © Molslinjen
Molslinjen's electric ferry, NERTHUS, completed an almost three-week long voyage home from the shipyard in Turkey. In beautiful Danish summer weather, the ferry docked in Kalundborg, where an intense program now begins to get the ferry ready for operation on 16 June.
The first of Molslinjen's two new electric ferries, NERTHUS, glided quietly into the quay in Kalundborg Harbour in the morning of the 3rd of June at 08.00.
Sail installed on the wind-powered ro-ro ship NEOLINER ORIGIN
NEOLINER ORIGIN © RMK Marine
Neoline Armateur celebrated with Turkish builder RMK Marine and its partners, the installation of the Solid Sail rigid sail system on the NEOLINER ORIGIN's, the world's first commercial sailing ro-ro vessel. Equipped with 66-metre carbon fiber masts and a total sail area of 3,000 m², the vessel is now ready for sea trials.
With a loading capacity of 1,200 lane metres (2.8m wide) or 265 TEUs for a maximum weight of 5,300 tonnes of goods, the NEOLINER ORIGIN can accommodate different types of cargo. It can also carry up to 12 passengers during its various rotations.
Algérie Ferries takes ANEK’s EL VENIZELOS on long-term charter
EL VENIZELOS © Frank Lose
ANEK Lines veteran ro-pax ferry EL VENIZELOS has been taken out of service and drydocked at ONEX Elefsis Shipyards in Greece for a major drydocking and refit prior to starting a long-term charter to Algeria's Algérie Ferries.
The 38,261gt 1992-built ferry, the largest in the ANEK fleet, made her last sailing from Chania, Crete to Piraeus on 25 May before drydocking in Elefsina, close to the port of Piraeus. The vessel is being replaced on the Piraeus-Crete route by the 29,992gt 1992-built ro-pax KISSAMOS.
Brødrene Aa Files for Bankruptcy following Norled Cancellations
The Brødrene Aa shipyard and LEGACY OF THE FJORDS (earlier delivered ship)
Norwegian shipyard Brødrene Aa AS has announced its decision to file for bankruptcy due to financial challenges. The board of Brødrene Aa AS decided to file for bankruptcy after Norled cancelled a contract for three fast ferries being built at the Hyen shipyard.
For months, the company worked to find a way to continue operations, but despite dialogue with the parties involved, no viable solution was found, leaving the company unable to manage the situation further.
Further delays for Tasmania’s two new ro-pax ferries due to issues with their LNG systems
SPIRIT OF TASMANIA V © Marko Hanninen
The Tasmanian government and its ferry operator TT-Line announced that both newbuilding ro-pax ferries SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV and sister ship SPIRIT OF TASMANIA V, ordered from Finland's Rauma Marine Constructions, are further delayed due to technical issues with their LNG systems.
The LNG issues with the two new ferries are the latest in this newbuilding project, a project that has been affected by cost overruns and delays. Both new Bass Strait ferries were originally planned for delivery in late 2024. The delivery of both 48,000gt vessels was initially delayed by the construction work on the new ferry berth in the Tasmanian port of Devonport.
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