Cargo record for Wasaline following biogas day introduction

AURORA BOTNIA © Wasaline

Wasaline started operating with certified biogas one day a week as of 13 October. The experimentation increased the total amount of cargo bookings for the entire week 41 and broke this year’s cargo record. When compared to the same period in 2022, the amount of transported cargo units grew by 33 percent.

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23% CO2 emissions cut for RICHARD WITH following major refit programme

RICHARD WITH © Hurtigruten

Kongsberg Maritime has delivered a 23% cut in CO2 emissions on the 121-metre passenger vessel RICHARD WITH, owned by Hurtigruten, following an extensive refit last summer using Kongsberg Maritime engineering and technology.

The refit programme for RICHARD WITH included installation of two hybrid shaft generators, two SaveEnergy 1.120kWh lithium-ion batteries and two Bergen B33:45V engines. It also has new tunnel thruster motors, a retractable azimuth thruster, and controllable pitch propeller blades, plus digital management systems.

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The Faroe Islands government to sell its stake in Smyril Line

NORRÖNA © Smyril Line

The Faroe Islands government (Føroya Landsstýri) has made a decision to sell its 16.238% stake in Smyril Line. The sale is expected to be completed at the end of November this year and hopes to bring in some 80 million Faroese króna (approximately EUR 10.7 million).

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Hy2gen and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. sign MoU for joint study of supply solutions using e-methanol

Hy2gen, the global project developer, owner, and operator of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen derivative production facilities, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. The agreement includes a joint study of supply solutions using e-methanol as a maritime fuel.

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Nowhere Networks enters a strategic partnership with Vantage Towers to expand footprint in Greece

Vantage Towers Greece, member of the leading European Vantage Towers Group company with more than 5,270 sites in Greece and Nowhere Networks, provider of near shore and onboard connectivity solutions for the maritime market worldwide, announced the signing of a three-year strategic agreement. 

The agreement simplifies the cooperation of the parties and reduces lead times radically since Nowhere Networks has now access to a broad portfolio of sites across Greece while receiving from Vantage Towers a range of proactive services such as network optimization, project planning and construction of sites.

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Green Marine Europe: A growing commitment from the European maritime industry

Green Marine Europe (GME), a European environmental certification program dedicated to the maritime industry, unveiled its 2022 results and certified ship owners on October 17 during a day of discussions organized in Bilbao, Spain.

For this fourth consecutive evaluation year, 14 European ship owners have been certified – Brittany Ferries, CMA CGM, Compagnie Maritime Nantaise - MN, Compagnie Maritime Penn Ar Bed, CORSICA Linea, Aranui Cruises, Ifremer/Genavir, La Méridionale, Maritima, Orange Marine, Ponant, Socatra, Sogestran Shipping, and Stena Line. Eight participants have been certified for the first time, including MSC Cruises, a ship owner that joined in 2021, but was not then in time to join the certification process for that year.

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DFDS commits to carbon neutral battery-powered vessels on the English channel by 2030

Torben Carlsen, Olivier Becht and Mathieu Girardin

Carbon-neutral traffic across the English Channel has moved a step closer after the French Minister for Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Olivier Becht and CEO of DFDS, Torben Carlsen, met to discuss decarbonisation of the shipping sector and the electrification of maritime traffic across the English Channel. DFDS commits to invest in innovation and technology and deploying a fleet of battery-powered vessels in the Eastern Channel by 2030.

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Kent S. Hagbarth new Armas Trasmediterránea CEO

Armas Trasmediterránea announced the appointment of Kent S. Hagbarth as the Group's new CEO.
Kent S. Hagbarth is an international executive with more than 35 years of experience in the maritime transportation industry. Hagbarth has spent his entire career at Maersk, playing a key role in cultural change, transformation and customer experience.

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BC Ferries scales back its plans for the electrification of its Island-class vessels and ferry terminals

ISLAND DISCOVERY © BC Ferries

BC Ferries is scaling back its previously announced plans to electrify its Island-class fleet and ferry terminals due to a lack of Federal and Provisional government funding. Meanwhile, BC Ferries is in the process of ordering a further four vessels of this class.

It now looks like only four of the existing six Island-class ferries currently in service will undergo conversion to full battery-electric propulsion. The six Island-class double-ender ferries were all built by Damen’s Romanian yard, in Galati, and delivered 2020 and 2021.

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The Switch to supply DC-Hub and unique protection devices for world’s largest marine battery system

The Buquebus newbuild will be named CHINA ZORRILLA after the famous Uruguayan actor, director and writer © Incat

Helsinki-headquartered power electronics specialist The Switch will deliver its DC power distribution solution,The Switch DC-Hub,and ultra-fast Electronic Current Limiter (ECL) and Battery Short-Circuit Limiter (BSCL) protection devices as part of the battery-electric system for the world’s largest fully electric ro-pax on order for Argentine ferry operator Buquebus.

The catamaran will be built by Incat shipyard of Tasmania, which specializes in lightweight aluminum ship solutions for ferry operators, special service providers and military applications. With an overall length of 130 meters and a width of 32 meters it will be able to carry 2,100 passengers and 226 cars on services between Argentina and Uruguay. Delivery is scheduled for 2025. 

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