Shippax Newsletter– week 31
We hope you had a great summer!
This newsletter includes all the news published on the website since the last that was sent out.
Enjoy the reading.
Gram Car Carriers signed agreement to sell two PCTC's
VIKING CONSTANZA © Marc Ottini
Gram Car Carriers has signed an agreement to sell two PCTC's, the VIKING CONSTANZA (2,000 CEU, built 2010) and the VIKING PRINCESS (1,000 CEU, built 1996), for a total cash consideration of USD 43.5 million to modernise the fleet and capitalise on historically high second-hand vessel values.
NORWEGIAN VIVA delivered by Fincantieri
NORWEGIAN VIVA © Fincantieri
NORWEGIAN VIVA, the second of six vessels from Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) new Prima Class of ships was delivered 3 August at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.
Along with her sister-ships, NORWEGIAN VIVA will form the backbone of the future NCL fleet, at 143,000 gt, almost 300 metres long, and accommodating approx. 3,100 guests. Deliveries are scheduled through 2028.
Portsmouth International Port welcomed Condor Ferries' new CONDOR ISLANDER
CONDOR ISLANDER in Portsmouth
On 3 August, Portsmouth International Port welcomed CONDOR ISLANDER, the latest vessel in the fleet for Channel Island ferry service operator Condor Ferries, as part of berthing trials before it officially enters service in the autumn.
CONDOR ISLANDER was acquired by Condor in April 2023 from New Zealand, where she was operating for StraitNZ as the STRAITSMAN and positioned to Spain via the Panama Canal. She is a conventional passenger and freight ro-pax vessel, 124.9m long, can carry 1,286 lane metres of freight and up to 400 passengers.
AS Tallink Grupp Statistics for July 2023
In July 2023 AS Tallink Grupp transported 797,846 passengers, which is an 11.1% decrease compared to July 2022. The number of cargo units decreased by 27.8% to 23,597 units and the number of passenger vehicles by 1.5% to 125,118 units year-on-year.
Competition launched to name Hull 802 for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL)
Artist impression, Hull 802
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) is calling for the public’s help to decide the name for Hull 802, sister ship of GLEN SANNOX, both of which are under construction in Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow).
The two ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network will provide a year-round service for Arran.
Her launch is likely to take place towards the end of 2023 and is scheduled to follow GLEN SANNOX into passenger service by the end of 2024.
Tallink Grupp’s BALTIC QUEEN to undertake maintenance and upgrades
Shippax will host the 2024 Shippax Ferry Conference onboard BALTIC QUEEN © Christian Costa
Tallink Grupp’s Tallinn-Stockholm route vessel BALTIC QUEEN will not be in regular service from 3 September until 15 September due to the vessel’s planned maintenance works. The vessel will leave the route at lunchtime on Sunday, 3 September to head to BLRT shipyard in Naantali, Finland, and the vessel will return to regular traffic on the evening of Friday, 15 September 2023.
MV Werften Wismar: handover of symbolic key to Meyer Wismar
© Andreas Laible
The insolvency administrator of the MV Werften Group, Dr Christoph Morgen, handed over the symbolic key of the Wismar shipyard to Bernard Meyer of Meyer Wismar on 1 August. The shipyard, which has been owned by TKMS since June 2022, has been leased back by the insolvency administrator and subleased to Meyer Wismar for the completion of the cruise vessel located in the dock hall. Present at the handover were approximately 400 employees, who are as of today employed by Meyer Wismar.
Deltamarin signs multiple PCTC design contracts
Deltamarin announced that they have been selected to undertake multiple PCTC ship design contracts during the last couple of months for China’s largest electric car manufacturer BYD Auto, Swiss-based Sallaum Lines and China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES).
HAVILA POLARIS and HAVILA POLLUX delivered
HAVILA POLLUX © Martin Giskegjerde / Oclin
On Tuesday, 1 August, the coastal cruise ships HAVILA POLARIS and HAVILA POLLUX were finally delivered to Havila Voyages during an official ceremony at the Tersan shipyard in Turkey.
HAVILA POLARIS is scheduled to start operations from Bergen on 17 August and will be the first to leave the Tersan Shipyard. Not long after, HAVILA POLLUX is planned to follow the same route before she starts operating from Bergen on 23 August.
Seabourn takes delivery of luxury expedition ship SEABOURN PURSUIT
SEABOURN PURSUIT © Seabourn
Seabourn took delivery of its second expedition ship, SEABOURN PURSUIT from the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy.
SEABOURN PURSUIT offers the same luxurious "yacht like" small ship experience that travelers have come to expect from Seabourn with expedition activities led by an expert 24-person expedition team of scientists, scholars, naturalists, and more. SEABOURN PURSUIT is designed and built for remote, diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards and will include a plethora of modern hardware and technology that will extend the ship's global deployment and capabilities.
Corsica Linea to supply part of its fleet with certified sustainable biofuel
MEDITERRANEE © Jean-Pierre Fabre
Part of the Corsica Linea fleet will now be supplied with certified sustainable biofuel from the 2023 summer season. The fuel is composed of a mixture of recycled cooking oils and allows an 85% reduction in polluting emissions compared to its fossil equivalent.
A first bunkering operation was carried out on 18 July 2023 aboard the MEDITERRANEE ferry and will continue until the end of its summer commercial operation (note: September 2023) on the North African lines.
Royal Caribbean Group Q2 2023 financials
Total revenues were a record USD 3.5 billion, Net income was USD 458.8 million (net loss of USD 0.5 billion and adjusted net income was USD 491.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA was a record USD 1.2 billion and operating cash flow was USD 1.4 billion.
As of 30 June 2023, the Group's customer deposit balance was at a record-high USD 5.7 billion.
EXPLORA I delivered by Fincantieri to the Explora Journeys' brand of the MSC Group
EXPLORA I © Fincantieri
The Cruise Division of MSC Group celebrated a milestone in its continuous growth with the delivery of EXPLORA I to mark the official launch of Explora Journeys, the new luxury travel brand. The investment of the new ship amounted to over EUR 500m. This is the first of four sister ships to be built by Fincantieri in an investment plan worth EUR 2.3bn.
Marine Atlantic's new E-Flexer to be named ALA'SUINU
© Marine Atlantic
With a commitment and focus on Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, Marine Atlantic announced that its new vessel will be named ALA'SUINU (pronounced Ah-laa-sue-in-ou) a name that means “Traveller” in Mi’kmaq.
The new vessel is expected to enter service in 2024 and carry up to 1,000 passengers, have 146 passenger cabins (including pet friendly cabins), 40 passenger pods, a variety of food service options, seating lounges, a children’s play area, and a kennel for pets.
UK announces historic boost to seafarers’ rights and welfare
Thousands of seafarers will be guaranteed fair wages, proper rest periods and suitable training thanks to a new Seafarers’ Charter launched by the UK Government 24 July. Building on government action already taken, the charter – backed by DFDS Ferries, Condor Ferries, Brittany Ferries and Stena – is part of the Government’s wider nine-point plan to protect seafarers and boost employment protections, ensuring they’re paid and treated fairly – irrespective of flag or nationality.
DFDS expands transport network in the Netherlands
To further expand and develop their European transport network, DFDS has acquired 100% of the share capital of the Estron Group, a Dutch provider of road transport and warehousing based in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
“The acquisition of Estron Group expands and enhances our road and ferry transport network connecting continental Europe and the UK. Our offering of warehousing and logistics services to especially our Dutch customers is also greatly improved,” says Niklas Andersson, Executive Vice President and Head of Logistics Division.
DFDS June volumes: Freight in line with expectations, passengers up 19%
Total freight volumes for DFDS in June 2023 were 7.5% below 2022. Volumes were 3.0% below 2022 adjusted for Channel. The number of passengers increased 18.9% driven by continued recovery and more coach passengers on the Channel.
Meyer Werft handed over SILVER NOVA
Meyer Werft handed over its newest cruise ship, the SILVER NOVA to Silversea Cruises. Before the handover in Eemshaven, the SILVER NOVA proved its seaworthiness during technical and nautical sea trials and successfully completed extensive tests. The ship is 243 metres long, 30 metres wide and has room for 728 passengers.
Sister ship SILVER RAY will follow in June 2024.
Mr. Dominguez appointed Secretary-General of IMO
Mr. Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco (Republic of Panama) has been elected as the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with effect from 1 January 2024, for an initial term of four years.
Mr. Arsenio Dominguez Velasco has been Director of IMO's Marine Environment Division since January 2022. He joined the IMO Secretariat in 2017, first as Chief of Staff to the Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, before being appointed in 2020 as Director of the Organization's Administrative Division.
The first hybrid Superstar ro-pax vessel delivered to Finnlines
FINNSIRIUS © Finnlines Plc
FINNSIRIUS, the first of the series of two ro-pax vessels, was delivered at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai, China, on 18 July 2023. The vessel will enter Finnlines’ Finland–Sweden (Naantali–Långnäs–Kapellskär) line. Traffic is scheduled to start in September 2023.
The second vessel, FINNCANOPUS, is expected to be delivered by the end of 2023. The two ships are the largest ro-pax vessels in the Finnlines fleet. The cargo capacity will increase by nearly 24 per cent to 5,200 lane metres and passenger capacity will double from today’s 554 to 1,100.
Höegh Autoliners declares option to build the next four Aurora-class vessels
Höegh Autoliners announced that it has exercised the option to construct additional four new 9,100 CEU multi-fuel Aurora class vessels. This brings the number of total vessels under the newbuilding program to 12 vessels, all of which will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd (CMHI).
Höegh Autoliners will have the option to convert one or more of these vessels to ammonia propulsion as soon as the technology is available.
Most read
Stena Line to increase cargo capacity by 30% on STENA FORERUNNER and STENA FORETELLER
May 08 2024
A third Öresundslinjen ferry to become fully electric
May 07 2024
Finnlines adopts graphene-based hard foul release hull coating across its ro-ro and ro-pax fleet
May 07 2024
Finnlines’ financial review January–March 2024
May 10 2024
DFDS Q1 report and April volumes
May 10 2024
Shippax Guide 24 - out now!
May 06 2024
One of the world’s largest biofuel plants is planned in Malmö
May 17 2024
DFDS to Invest EUR 1 billion in battery electric ships for the Channel
May 17 2024
