Attica Group signs agreement with Stena RoRo for the long-term charter with purchase option of two (+two options) new methanol ready E-Flexers

Attica Group signed an agreement with Stena RoRo for the charter with purchase option of two E-Flexer vessels, to be built by Stena RoRo at the CMI Jinling Weihai Shipyard, China. The two new vessels with an overall length of 240m, are the largest ro-pax vessels ever ordered by a Greek shipping company. With passenger capacity of 1,500 pax and 3,320 lane metres cargo decks (approximately 200 freight units) per vessel, they will enhance significantly the overall transport capacity in the Adriatic routes.

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BALTIC QUEEN sees energy efficiency improved by 13% as a result of technical upgrades

BALTIC QUEEN with its new propeller blades

Tallink Grupp has recently analysed the initial results of the most recent technical upgrade to its Tallinn-Stockholm route vessel BALTIC QUEEN and found that the upgrade has led to a significant 13% increase in energy efficiency (i.e., the amount of fuel needed to travel 1 nautical mile has reduced by 13%) and reduction in emissions in the same amount in the last nine months.

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Bridgemans renews CABO STAR contract with Trinidad and Tobago

CABO STAR © Bridgemans Services Group

Bridgemans Services Group (Bridgemans) announced that the company and Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) have renewed their agreement for cargo ferry CABO STAR to continue to connect Port of Spain and Scarborough until January 2026.

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Höegh Autoliners ASA signs another five-year contract with a major international car producer

Höegh Autoliners has signed a five-year contract with a major international car producer for transport of cars from US and Mexico to the Middle East.

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A ban on emissions from ship scrubbers in Swedish waters is proposed in a memorandum

Emissions from scrubbers that wash flue gases on ships may be banned in Swedish maritime territory. A memorandum with such a proposal is now being forwarded.

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Viking Line’s Helsinki-Stockholm link celebrate 50 years and 45 million passengers

GABRIELLA © Jukka Huotari

Viking Line's service between Helsinki and Stockholm began in the middle of the 1970's oil crisis but nevertheless got off to a flying start. The route, which has already served 45 million passengers, was a key player in creating the tourism and later the experience industry in Finland.

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Fincantieri signs agreement with Crystal for two new high-end cruise ships

Fincantieri and Crystal announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the construction of two state-of-the-art high-end cruise ships, plus an option for a third unit. The value of this agreement, subject to financing and other terms and conditions, is between EUR 1-2 billion. The new units will boast a gross tonnage of 61,800 and accommodate approximately 690 passengers.

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Launching of GNV’s second of four new ro-paxes at GSI

© GSI

GNV celebrated the launching of GNV ORION, the second of four ro-pax vessels currently under construction in China at the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) shipyard. 

GNV ORION will be delivered to the owner in the summer of 2025 and will have a gross tonnage of approximately 52,000, a length of 218 metres, a width of 29.60 metres and will be able to reach a maximum speed of 25 knots. She will have 433 cabins and a carrying capacity of 1,785 passengers and 3,100 lane metres. The first ship, GNV POLARIS, will be delivered at the end of this year. The last two ships will be delivered in 2026 and will become LNG-powered.

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Construction underway of Scilly’s new passenger and freight vessel

Building work is now officially underway on the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group's (ISSG) new passenger and freight vessels, with the first steel for the new ships being cut during a special ceremony at Piriou's shipyard in Vietnam.

The event marks the start of the build and was attended by senior company executives from ISSG and Piriou. Work will progress rapidly over the coming months, with the keel-laying for both vessels due to take place in the autumn.

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Adria Ferries starts new Ancona to Bar line

Adria Ferries announced that starting from 9 July 2024 it will operate on the new line between Ancona, Italy and Bar, Montenegro. The ferry connection will be guaranteed with departures from both ports on a bi-weekly basis.

The AF MIA, a ro-pax ferry that entered the Adria Ferries fleet in December 2023, is the ferry that will operate on the Ancona - Bar route. The ship, formerly the CRUISE SMERALDA of Grimaldi Lines, can accommodate more than 1,500 passengers and has approximately 200 cabins.

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Carnival Corporation Q2 2024 financial results

Revenues in Q2 2024 for Carnival Corporation reached USD 5.78 billion, up from USD 4.91 billion in the period last year. Record second quarter adjusted EBITDA of USD 1.2 billion, increasing over 75 percent compared to 2023. Net income was USD 92 million, an increase of nearly USD 500 million compared to 2023.

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SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV conducted its first sea trial

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV returned to the RMC shipyard from its first sea trial on Monday, 24th of June. During the sea trial, the ship's systems and performance were tested. The sea trial was successful, and work on the ship continues. A second sea trial will be conducted before the ship is handed over to TT-Line Spirit of Tasmania.

Upon its expected completion in August, SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV will operate between mainland Australia and Tasmania on the Bass Strait, known for its challenging sea conditions.

Sister, SPIRIT OF TASMANIA V, will be delivered at the end of the year.

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Saronic Ferries picks Nowhere Networks as supplier of high-speed internet

Greek Saronic Ferries has chosen Swedish Nowhere Networks as supplier of high-speed internet for its fleet consisting of five ships operating in the Saronic region of Greece. Saronic Ferries transports approximately one million passengers annually in the Saronic region with daily traffic from Piraeus to the islands of Aegina, Agistri, Poros and Methana peninsula.

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Blue World completes successful testing of 200 kW maritime fuel cell system to run on green methanol

After months of preparation, Blue World Technologies announced the successful testing of the world's first 200 kW high-temperature PEM fuel cell module. The test was completed at the newly established test facilities in connection to the Blue Aalborg Factory, where the fuel cells for the system are produced. The initial testing has been completed with great results which has exceeded performance expectations.

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Finnlines upgrades route between Sweden and Germany following passenger growth

Finnlines maintains its commitment to Malmö. In April, the shipping company launched a new line between Malmö and Poland and is now upgrading its services on the Malmö–Travemünde route. At the end of June, a new restaurant will be opened on board FINNSWAN operating the route, as well as renovated facilities on the other two, FINNPARTNER and FINNTRADER.

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Gotlandsbolaget to continue to run the Gotland ferry services

© Kai Ortel

Gotlandsbolaget and its subsidiaries have been informed of renewed confidence in the procured Gotland ferry services during the next traffic period 2027–2035. The procurement has been ongoing since August 2023 and was carried out in full competition from shipping companies throughout the EU.

The Gotland traffic will be operated with three ships, Swedish flag and Swedish collective agreement.

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CLdN establishes Baltic connection with Transfennica

CLdN and Transfennica announced a connection of their shipping services in Zeebrugge to provide customers with broader connections through Northern and Western Europe. Transfennica's Northern Baltic service between Antwerp and the ports of Hanko, Kotka, Rauma (Finland) and Paldiski (Estonia) will call at CLdN's Albert II terminal in Zeebrugge every other Thursday enabling the exchange of northbound and southbound cargo. The first call is scheduled for Thursday 25 July.

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Emanuele Grimaldi re-elected as Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Board of Directors has unanimously re-elected Emanuele Grimaldi, President and Managing Director of Grimaldi Euromed SpA, as Chairman of the Board. ICS represents 80% of the world's merchant fleet and is the principal international trade association for merchant shipowners and operators. Mr Grimaldi will continue as Chairman for another term of two years.

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Three years extension for Guldar Kivro as a member of the Management Board of OÜ TS Laevad

Guldar Kivro at the Shippax Ferry Conference 2024

The supervisory board of AS Tallinna Sadam's subsidiary OÜ TS Laevad extended powers of Guldar Kivro as a member of the Management Board for three years from 9 December 2024. 

Guldar joined TS Laevad in June 2016 as a captain-project manager of the construction of new ferries and has also served as the captain of the TIIU. Guldar became member of the Management Board of TS Laevad in December 2018, and he is responsible for shipping business.

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Fincantieri and Viking sign contracts for two more cruise ships

VIKING STAR was in 2015 the first ship delivered in this series. The first ships were somewhat smaller than the latest ones © Fincantieri

Fincantieri and Viking have announced that they have signed contracts for the construction of two further cruise vessels, based on the features of the previous ships, which Fincantieri has already built for this shipowner. The vessels will be delivered in 2028 and 2029. The new vessels will be placed in the small cruise ship segment, the gross tonnage is about 54,300 and they will accommodate 998 passengers on board in 499 cabins.

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