Shippax Newsletter– week 49
Shippax Ferry Conference-Gotlandsbolaget official welcome and keynote speaker announcement!
"On behalf of Gotlandsbolaget and our colleagues on the Oslo-Copenhagen route, I want to extend a warm welcome to PEARL SEAWAYS for the Shippax Ferry Conference 2025.
We are honored to have the opportunity to welcome you to the conference – following our take-over from DFDS in November 2024. It will also be an opportunity for us to share the ships’ refurbishments, as we are planning large investments in cabins to be carried out in time for the conference. The crew of PEARL SEAWAYS stand ready to make sure the conference and your experience will be worth remembering."
Håkan Johansson
CEO Gotlandsbolaget
Keynote speaker announcement!
We are thrilled to once again be able to welcome Mr. Anders Borg as one of the keynote speakers at the conference. Anders is a leading economic policy maker as long-serving Minister of Finance in Sweden and president of the Ecofin Council. Former advisor to the Finnish Government, the Governor of the Riksbank and to the then Prime Minister Carl Bildt.
Austal Philippines delivers OCEAN MASTER to Rottnest Fast Ferries
OCEAN MASTER,a new 32-metre aluminium catamaran designed by Incat Crowther and constructed by Austal Philippines, has successfully completed sea trials and is now enroute to Perth, Australia where it will join Rottnest Fast Ferries' growing fleet.
The vessel, with a capacity of 400 passengers and five crew across three decks, will allow Rottnest Fast Ferries to optimise its operational efficiency while providing an elevated passenger experience. OCEAN MASTER features spacious seating arrangements, a flexible configuration to accommodate wheelchair users, extensive luggage and bicycle storage areas, a large bar and kiosk, and five bathrooms, including an accessible facility.
Keel-laying ceremony held for GNV’s fourth new ro-pax
The keel-laying ceremony of GNV AURORA, the fourth of the new ro-pax units of GNV, was held at Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI). During the event, the name of the ship was announced, inspired by the aurora polaris, the suggestive and rare natural phenomenon that occurs in the polar regions of the Earth.
In recent days, the technical launch of GNV VIRGO was also celebrated, the third of the four units. For GNV, these are the first ships powered by LNG, which will allow a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the units currently in the fleet.
Norwegian Electric Systems to deliver charging stations to Lavik-Oppedal ferries
Fjord1 has contracted Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) to deliver two onshore charging stations for use by the four autonomous, zero-emission ferries that will operate the Lavik-Oppedal crossing on the west coast of Norway.
One onshore charging station will be installed at the berth in Lavik and the other in Oppedal. Lavik-Oppedal is a 5.6-kilometre-long ferry route that crosses the Sognefjord, on the west coast of Norway. The ferries will be close to fully charged in approximately ten minutes while at port.
UECC and Titan signed new biomethane deal
Bunkering operation with Titan's FF002 and UECC's AUTO ASPIRE vessel
United European Car Carriers (UECC) and Titan Clean Fuels (Titan) have signed a new agreement that will see the vast majority of Liquified Gas supplied by Titan to UECC's multi-fuel ships to have them run on biomethane (LBM/bio-LNG) for the remainder of 2024 and then most of 2025.
EXPRESS 5 incident due to human error
It was a human error that caused EXPRESS 5 to hit the so-called Fliskaj on the ferry's last trip on the way out of Rønne harbour on Monday evening, 25 November. This is shown by an internal investigation of the incident.
EXPRESS 5 is currently at the FAYARD shipyard in Munkebo, where work is being done to get the fast ferry back to Rønne as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the route's normal high-capacity ferry, EXPRESS 1, has taken over responsibility as the main ferry on the route.
DOUGLAS MAWSON launched in Haimen, China
SunStone Maritime Group A/S announced the successful launch at China Merchants Heavy Industry in Haimen, China, of its latest Infinity Class expedition cruise vessel, DOUGLAS MAWSON, at China Merchants Heavy Industry in Haimen, China.
With a capacity up to 170 passengers and 102 crew, the vessel features advanced safety systems, energy-efficient operations, and eco-friendly technologies designed to minimize environmental impact. Built with Ulstein's revolutionary X-Bow® design, the vessel is Ice Class 1A and Polar Class 6, ensuring safe and efficient operations in some of the world's most challenging environments.
The Grimaldi Group takes delivery of ECO SALERNO
© Grimaldi Group
The Grimaldi Group announced the delivery of the ECO SALERNO, the 13th vessel in the Grimaldi Green 5th Generation (GG5G) series. The GG5G vessels can carry 7,800 lanemetre of freight, equivalent of 500 trailers and 180 cars – double the capacity of the vessels that they replace.
The GG5G class ships can effectively halve CO2 emissions per unit of transported cargo compared to the previous generation of ro-ro ships. In addition, emissions are cut to zero during port operations when they are at berth by using the electricity stored in mega lithium batteries, which are recharged during navigation thanks to shaft generators and 350 m2 of solar panels installed on board, thus reaching the "Zero Emission in Port®" target.
DFDS is selected as preferred bidder for Jersey ferry services
On 3 December, 2024, it was announced that DFDS is the preferred bidder to take on the 15-year contract to provide ferry life-line freight service and passenger services to Jersey of the Channel Islands from 28 March 2025.
The specific details regarding DFDS's plans for services, the schedule and the vessels will be provided within the next two weeks. As a part of the planning process, DFDS will work together with the local authorities, business organisations, ports and local communities in Jersey to optimise the service and provide a comfortable and efficient travel experience.
Fincantieri delivers VIKING VELA in Ancona
© Fincantieri
VIKING VELA, the first of a new series of cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for the shipowner Viking, has been delivered at the yard in Ancona.
The unit is placed in the small cruise ship segment. She has a gross tonnage of about 54,300 tonnes, is equipped with 499 cabins and is able to accommodate 998 passengers on board. VIKING VELA is the 13th ship delivered to Viking by Fincantieri Group, including the two expedition cruise vessels built by the Norwegian subsidiary Vard. Considering the ships ordered to date, and the contracts and options agreements signed in the last months whose finalization is subject to access to financing as per industry practice, the strong and long-lasting relationship between Fincantieri and Viking encompasses 26 ships.
Attica Group financial results for the first nine months of 2024
© George Giannakis
Attica Holdings S.A. (the 'Company') announced its results for the nine-month period 2024, incorporating for the first time the business operation of ANEK LINES S.A. and its subsidiaries ('ANEK') for the entire nine-month reporting period. The group's revenue rose by 27.4% in the nine-month period of 2024, reaching EUR 593.4 million (EUR 465.6 million), mainly due to the incorporation of ANEK.
EBITDA amounted to EUR 93.5 million (EUR 121.3 million), while the consolidated earnings after tax amounted to EUR 45.3 million (EUR 59.9 million).
(Continuation on earlier reports) Baleària welcomes confirmation of award of berth number 3 at the port of Tarifa
AVEMAR DOS © Mike Barker
The president of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, has expressed his satisfaction with the award of the tender for berth number 3 at the port of Tarifa, which will allow it to manage the Tarifa-Tangier Ville line for the next 15 years.
Baleària plans to build two electric fast ferries, the electrification of the ports and the recharging system. The construction of these two electric catamarans will be carried out at the Spanish Armon Shipyards in Gijón and will last two and a half years. During this period, the shipping company will allocate two transitional fast ferries to the route, the AVEMAR DOS, which was re-engined in 2021 to improve its efficiency, and the JAUME I.
Scandlines and Caterpillar Motoren sign MoU for methanol conversion
Scandlines and Caterpillar Motoren have signed a MoU to investigate the use of methanol on MaK-powered ferries in service on the Rostock-Gedser route. They will exchange information on methanol solutions to reduce CO2 emissions in ferry operations.
The signed MoU includes project planning for converting MaK M 32 C powered ferries from diesel to methanol dual fuel applications. Caterpillar considers green methanol, which is produced from renewable sources, as a promising alternative to traditional fuels.
Commission approves French State aid to Corsica Linea and La Méridionale for maritime transport services
© Kai Ortel
The European Commission has found a EUR 853.6 million public service compensation in favour of Corsica Linea and La Méridionale to be in line with EU State aid rules. The French measures will compensate both companies for the provision of passenger and freight maritime transport services between Marseille and Corsica (Ajaccio, Bastia, Propriano, Porto-Vecchio and L'Île Rousse) in 2023-2030.
Hurtigruten Group sells Hurtigruten and HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) to investors contributing over EUR 500m of new capital across the two businesses
Hurtigruten Group announced that it has secured more than EUR 500m of new capital to support business growth and the final phase of the separation of the Group into Hurtigruten and HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions). From January 2025, each business will exist as a standalone entity, with both businesses being owned by a consortium of existing investors.
The transaction is expected to close in January 2025.
Fred. Olsen Express to add BARLOVENTO EXPRESS to its fleet
Fred. Olsen Express has added a new fast ferry to its fleet, which will begin service next December. BARLOVENTO EXPRESS is designed to meet the connections between the islands scheduled for 2025, the year in which Fred. Olsen plans not only to maintain its current services but also to operate the new route that will connect El Hierro with Tenerife, starting on 31 December, in addition to meeting the demand for such important festivities as the Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyes, in El Hierro, and the Bajada de la Virgen de las Nieves, in La Palma.
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