BALTIC QUEEN returns to regular traffic following a two-week maintenance break

BALTIC QUEEN © Christian Costa

Tallink Grupp’s Tallinn-Stockholm route vessel BALTIC QUEEN will return to her regular route and operations on 15 September 2023. The vessel which will host the Shippax Ferry Conference in 2024 has spent two weeks at the BLRT shipyard in Naantali, Finland for maintenance and upgrades.

- Complete overhaul of the Grill House restaurant with a completely new look and feel
- Carpet changes, bathroom updates and general updates and refreshments to both passenger and public areas
- Re-bladed propellers for an expected 10-13% emissions-saving
- A graphene-based hull paint has been added to reduce the water resistance significantly

The 2024 Shippax Ferry Conference will be held between 13-15 May, 2024. Welcome to join us on board BALTIC QUEEN then!  https://www.shippaxferryconference.com/

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La Meridionale takeover by CMA CGM details released

CMA CGM officially took over La Meridionale on 31 May, but details of the deal were at the time kept under wraps.

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SEK 33 million financial support proposed for Gotland's ferry traffic

Freight and ticket prices for ferry traffic to and from Gotland have increased. To ease the situation, the Swedish government proposes financial support of SEK 33 million for 2023 for ferry traffic to and from Gotland. The aid is subject to rapid approval from the European Commission.

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Isles of Scilly Steamship Group names Piriou as the preferred builder for its its new passenger and cargo vessels

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group has named Piriou as its preferred shipbuilder to build and deliver two new vessels for the Group. In April, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group announced a private financing solution for the replacement of the vessels and the intent to select a preferred shipyard. This announcement continues the next stage of the Group’s plan.

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group and Piriou will commence detailed design work with the intention of signing contracts in October 2023 for the new SCILLONIAN IV passenger ship and a new cargo vessel to replace the current GRY MARITHA.

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Wärtsilä solutions chosen for world’s first methanol fuelled hybrid ro-ro vessels

Stena NewMax © Stena Line

Wärtsilä will supply an integrated hybrid propulsion system for two new hybrid ro-ro vessels. The ships are being built at the China Merchants Jinling shipyard (Weihai) Co., Ltd for Stena RoRo. The ships will be the world’s first methanol fuelled hybrid ro-ro vessels and will operate in the Stena Line Irish Sea system. Part of the order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q2 2023, while the remaining order was booked in Q3 2023.

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Scandlines’ new zero direct emissions ferry approaching launching

Preparations are running at full speed full speed: at the Cemre shipyard in Turkey and at the ferry terminals in Puttgarden and Rødby, everything is currently being prepared for the deployment of Scandlines’ new zero direct emissions freight ferry. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the ferry will be launched.

In 2019, Scandlines invested in a 50 kV / 25 MW power cable to Rødbyhavn. Now Scandlines is investing in a 30 kV / 15 MW power cable including transformer and charging station for the port of Puttgarden. As of 2025, this will reduce the charging time to just 12 minutes in each port and allow the ferry to cover the 18.5 km between Puttgarden and Rødby in 45 minutes with zero direct emissions.

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Smyril Line expands fleet with SEAGARD from Bore

SEAGARD © Bore

Smyril Line has purchased the ro-ro ship SEAGARD from Bore Ltd. The vessel will be renamed GLYVURSNES and handed over in the first week of January 2024.

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DFDS August volumes: Freight closing in further on 2022, passengers up 3%

Total freight volumes in August 2023 were 4.6% below 2022. Volumes were 1.6% below 2022 adjusted for Channel. The number of passengers increased 2.8% driven by more passengers in all three passenger areas.

For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 10.9% to 38.7m from 43.4m in 2022-21. The decrease was 4.2% adjusted for Channel.  

For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total number of passengers increased 48% to 4.4m from 3.0m in 2022-21.

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GBP 19.8m grant for Portsmouth International Port decarbonisation project

Portsmouth International Port has been awarded GBP 19.8m from the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure competition (ZEVI), funded by UK Government and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. The grant will allow them to embark on a major decarbonisation project with Brittany Ferries, alongside the University of Portsmouth, MSE International, B4T, IOTICS and Swanbarton.

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