Premiere for DFDS’ new powerful charging station in Gothenburg

© Martin Andersson

The market's most powerful charging station, DFDS Dock & Drive, has been put into operation in Arendal at Hisingen in Gothenburg. The facility consists of a total of 40 charging points for heavy trucks and has a capacity of 45,600 kW.

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Build contract for new Isles of Scilly vessels signed

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG), the primary provider of passenger and freight transport to the Isles of Scilly, has signed a contract with shipbuilder Piriou for two new ships that will be delivered in 2026.

The Group, which operates passenger and cargo links between Penzance and St Mary's, as well as an airline with flights to the islands year-round, has signed contracts for a new 600-seat passenger vessel, SCILLONIAN IV, and a freight vessel. 

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Passenger travel on the upturn on Finnlines’ ships

FINNSIRIUS © Finnlines

The number of private passengers increased by over 17 per cent in 2023 compared with 2022 for Finnlines. During the year, the company’s first of two Superstar-class ro-pax vessels, FINNSIRIUS, entered the route between mainland Finland, Åland and Sweden.

The number of passengers, including truck drivers and private passengers, totalled 695,000 in 2023, an increase by 7 per cent. Leisure travel went up by over 17 per cent on Finnlines’ ships in 2023, a significant increase compared with the previous year. The greatest growth was on the route between mainland Finland, Åland and Sweden, 49 per cent, followed by the route between Finland and Germany, increase 11 per cent.

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Eckerö Line's passenger volume passed two million for the first time

FINLANDIA © Frank Lose

Eckerö Line passed the milestone of over two million passengers for the first time in 2023. The freight operations also grew significantly, as did Eckerö Line's market share of the total freight market on the Helsinki-Tallinn route. Among other things, FINBO CARGO’s renewed timetables contributed to the positive development of freight operations.

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Tallink Silja Line’s new Menu Nordic highlights flavours and local small producers from Estonian islands

Tallink Silja Line launched a new five-course tasting menu Menu Nordic for the dining enthusiasts travelling onboard the company’s cruise ferries operating on Tallinn-Stockholm and Helsinki-Stockholm routes. The new tasting menu Menu Nordic “Inspired by Estonian Islands”, created by the Chefs de Cuisine of the company’s vessel BALTIC QUEEN, Merike Kald and Maarjo Rang, is available onboard until 21 May 2024.

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Damen Shipyards wins contract for four, fully electrically operated, passenger car ferries to BC Ferries

2021-delivered ISLAND GWAWIS and part of the Island Class © Gijs Lokker

Damen Shipyards has won the contract to build and supply four, fully electrically operated, passenger car ferries for BC Ferries. These will be used for short-range services in the coastal waters of the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC). This order will take the total number of ferries that Damen has supplied to BC Ferries in recent years to 10. However, these latest additions will be the first to operate using 100% electrical power.

The vessels will be based on Damen’s double-ended Island-class RoRo 8117 E3 model. Each will be capable of carrying up to 47 vehicles and 390 passengers. Battery packs with a capacity of 2,000 kilowatts will supply the electricity for the power trains. 

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Orkney Ferries on a new journey with Hogia Ferry Systems

Orkney Ferries, a Scottish inter-island ferry operator, has signed an agreement with Hogia Ferry Systems for a replacement of their reservation and ticketing system.
Hogia Ferry Systems will implement their reservation system, BOOKIT, during Spring 2024.

Niclas Blomström, Managing Director at Hogia Ferry Systems says: “For 15 years, we have been a proud partner to (Serco) Northlink in Orkney and we are excited getting the opportunity to now partner up with Orkney Ferries. We know that our modern platform, to start with, is far more capable and user friendly than their current system. It will enable Orkney Ferries to improve on both their service level and their customer offerings.

“Going forward, we will together, and with other parties, really make a difference in the Orkney Ferries’ customer experience”, he concludes.

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VIKING CINDERELLA returning to Helsinki with a new red look

VIKING CINDERELLA is now red © Viking Line

In March, VIKING CINDERELLA will return to service between Helsinki and Stockholm after a makeover. The vessel, which was previously painted white, has had its sides painted bright red at the shipyard in Naantali, where its interiors have also undergone an extensive refurbishment. The investment in technical upgrades will reduce the vessel’s carbon dioxide emissions by 2,500 tonnes a year.

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Record 2023 for Bornholmslinjen

EXPRESS 5 © Austal

2023 set a record for Bornholmslinjen with its routes to and from Bornholm. 1,993,966 passengers travelled back and forth on the three routes. That is almost 46,000 more than in the previous record, year 2022.

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Best year ever for Porto Santo Line

LOBO MARINHO © Porto Santo Line

Porto Santo Line transported more than 410,000 passengers on its route between the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, surpassing the previous record of 361,275 in 2019. Porto Santo Line operates the route with the 2003-built LOBO MARINHO which has a capacity of 1,100 passengers and 145 cars.

DFDS december volumes: freight 2% lower, passengers 8% higher

DFDS total freight volumes in December 2023 were 2.4% below 2022. In 2023, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 7.9% to 38.4m from 41.7m in 2022. The decrease was 4.2% adjusted for Channel. The number of passengers in December increased 8.1% and in 2023, the total number of passengers increased 19.4% to 4.5m from 3.8m in 2022.

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