Shippax Newsletter– week 38
We are now moving into a higher gear planning for next year’s conference on board Tallink's BALTIC QUEEN. A theme has been set, a programme starts to develop and some early confirmed speakers, sponsors and/or exhibitor’s have signed up. It is with great pleasure we invite you to take part in this 21st annual onboard ferry conference organized by Shippax.
The latest issue of our magazine has also been sent to the printers, with the online version expected to be available later today for our subscribers.
The Shippax team wishes you a great weekend!
Steel cut and keel laying for CMAL’s Little Minch ferries
Andy Millar - CMAL's site supervisor at Cemre presses the button to cut the first steel for Little Minch ferries
Ceremonies were held at the Turkish Cemre shipyard for CMAL’s two new Little Minch ferries. The keel was laid for the first vessel, while the first steel was cut for its sister ship. The ferries are expected to be delivered in June and October 2025.
The new 94.8-metre vehicle and passenger ferries will be designed and built to the same specification as the two new vessels for Islay and will replace the one vessel that currently covers the two Little Minch routes, Uig to Lochmaddy and Uig to Tarbert.
MSC confirms order for two new hydrogen-powered cruise to its Explora Journeys fleet
EXPLORA I was delivered by Fincantieri in July 2023 © Fincantieri
The cruise division of MSC Group confirmed firm orders for two hydrogen-powered cruise ships for its luxury travel brand Explora Journeys with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The deal completes a total investment of EUR 3.5 billion in six luxury ships for Explora Journeys. The contracts are subject to access to financing as per industry practice.
EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will have new state-of-the-art energy efficiency measures and will also be capable of using alternative fuels such as bio and synthetic gas and methanol and the Cruise Division will work in the future with Fincantieri to equip the ships with future technologies including carbon capture, and more advanced waste management systems. The two confirmed additions to Explora Journeys’ fleet will be delivered in 2027 and 2028.
Interferry calls for pan-European eco-bonus system for ferry shipping
Global trade association Interferry – representing more than 270 companies and some 1,200 individual members from over 40 countries – co-hosted a workshop at the European Shipping Summit this week, together with the shipping associations from Cyprus, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
Urging short sea cargo increase, the hosts welcomed more than 100 professionals and political representatives at Brussels Royal Museum of Fine Arts. Interferry´s key input was provided by Christophe Mathieu, CEO Brittany Ferries and member of the Interferry Board. Mathieu stressed the importance to propagate solutions to shift more goods transport from road to short sea services, to improve the efficiency and resilience of the European transport system.
Fjord Line will no longer operate the Sandefjord – Strömstad route
OSLOFJORD © Fjord Line
Fjord Line will no longer operate the ferry route between Sandefjord in Norway and Strömstad in Sweden, as the route does not support Fjord Line's vision and long-term strategy. Fjord Line sees this as a strategic move to concentrate operations around the routes between Norway and Denmark.
Fjord Line has operated the route with the ship OSLOFJORD since 2014, but this will now end as of 29 October 2023.
ForSea becomes Öresundslinjen
Kristian Durhuus, CEO Molslinjen
The name change to Öresundslinjen is a step towards integration with Molslinjen. The investment that ForSea began with investments in customer experience, service offering and sustainability is what Öresundslinjen continues to build on.
First in the fleet will be the electric ferry TYCHO BRAHE, which on 4 October will be back on the crossing, after a planned yard visit, with Öresundslinjen’s new logo, colors and fresh interior.
EUROPALINK is back in Malmö and flying the Swedish flag
EUROPALINK © Jukka Huotari
Finnlines’ EUROPALINK has returned to Malmö and rejoined the Swedish flag, which is important not least for Swedish security of supply in the event of a crisis. The reflagging ceremony was carried out on 18 September 2023 by Finnlines Ship Management AB’s CEO Thomas Doepel, Finnlines’ Line Manager Antonio Raimo, the Ship’s Master Jan Isberg and the Chair of the Regional Executive Committee in Skåne Carl Johan Sonesson.
FRS sells subsidiary FRS Iberia to DFDS
Ronny Moriana (MD FRS Iberia), Götz Becker (CEO FRS) and Tim Gädecken (MD FRS Iberia) in Front of LEVANTE JET © FRS
DFDS has entered into an agreement to acquire FRS Iberia/Maroc, a division of the German short-sea ferry company FRS GmbH & Co. KG. FRS Iberia/Maroc operates three short-sea ferry routes across the Strait of Gibraltar connecting Spain and Morocco.
“We are excited to expand our network to one of Europe’s significant ferry markets that we expect will continue to show high growth underpinned by the ongoing nearshoring of supply chains to Europe”, says Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS.
“This is a great opportunity to scale DFDS’ business model. We will apply our capabilities and experience, not least from the Channel short-sea market, to further develop the Strait of Gibraltar ferry infrastructure while supporting regional tourism and trade”, says Mathieu Girardin, Head of DFDS’ Ferry Division and EVP.
“FRS Iberia/Maroc has achieved great success for more than two decades. We are pleased to have found a partner in DFDS who will run the company in a proven manner to ensure its continued growth and take good care of our employees”, says Götz Becker, CEO FRS Group.
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
