Shippax Newsletter– week 6
Dear reader,
Below are the news pieces published on our website during the week, sorted by date of publishing. So, make sure to scroll all the way down.
Want news and/or press releases published? Please send to news@shippax.se
Enjoy your weekend
The Shippax team
Fosen Yard filed for bankruptcy
With debts of NOK 100 million, Fosen Yard has filed for bankruptcy, leading to the loss of 130 jobs in Rissa. It is not the first time the yard has gone bankrupt though, and hopes are that they will start up again since they have several major contracts in the books and the losses relate mostly to the last two projects, the latest being the electrification of Torghatten Nord’s BARØY.
CLdN acquires Distriport terminal of Broekman Logistics in Rotterdam
CLdN announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Broekman Distriport Real Estate BV and its 100% subsidiary Broekman Distriport BV.
Distriport occupies a 22-hectare site on the opposite side of Brittanniëhaven from CLdN’s existing Rotterdam terminal. The acquisition offers the scope to further grow and diversify CLdN’s service offering in all three segments currently served at Distriport: ro-ro, lo-lo, and breakbulk handling.
BIRKA GOTLAND is being upgraded for SEK 70 million
BIRKA STOCKHOLM © Jukka Huotari
The newly-founded company Gotland Alandia Cruises is investing SEK 70 million in a three-week interior and exterior upgrade of the cruise ship BIRKA GOTLAND. On 6 February, the ship began its journey towards the shipyard in Landskrona, and on 20 March, it will resume service.
BIRKA GOTLAND will cruise from Stockholm to destinations such as Mariehamn, Visby, the High Coast, Ystad, Bornholm and Riga.
FRS Helgoline to offer additional trips from Brunsbüttel to Cuxhaven and Heligoland from 3 April 2024
HALUNDER JET © FRS Helgoline
The high-speed catamaran HALUNDER JET will enable trips from Brunsbüttel to Cuxhaven and Heligoland from 3 April 2024. FRS Helgoline is expanding its range of departure points towards Helgoland in addition to Hamburg and Lower Saxony to include Schleswig-Holstein. For this purpose, the shipping company acquires the ferry pier in Brunsbüttel.
Marine Atlantic accepts delivery of the E-Flexer ALA SUINU
Marine Atlantic has taken delivery of its newest vessel from CMI Jinling Weihai, the E-Flexer ALA SUINU. Over the next several days, preparations will be underway to prepare for the journey home. The vessel is projected to arrive at Marine Atlantic’s facilities in April.
The vessel will primarily operate on the Argentia service this summer, connecting customers between Cape Breton and eastern Newfoundland, and operate between Port aux Basques and North Sydney during the fall, winter, and spring periods.
The ALA SUINU E-Flexer is 202.9m long and will be able to carry 1,000 passengers. It offers 146 passenger cabins, 40 sleeping pods and 486 reclining seats. A total of 2,571 lane metre capacity for vehicles is provided, including 476 lane metres for cars.
Ammonia attracts the shipping industry, but researchers warn of its risks
© Chalmers University of Technology/Petra Persson
Switching to ammonia as a marine fuel, with the goal of decarbonisation, can instead create entirely new problems. This is shown in a study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, where researchers carried out life cycle analyses for batteries and for three electrofuels including ammonia. Eutrophication and acidification are some of the environmental problems that can be traced to the use of ammonia – as well as emissions of laughing gas, which is a very potent greenhouse gas.
Viking Line to create green corridor together with Ports of Stockholm and the Port of Turku
Viking Line, Ports of Stockholm and the Port of Turku signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 6 February 2024, to create a green maritime corridor between Turku and Stockholm. The goal is for the corridor to be 100% carbon-neutral by 2035.
The partnership will serve as an innovative platform for developing scalable solutions for the phase-out of fossil fuels and enable green maritime travel between Turku and Stockholm.
Smyril Line has signed contracts for two new e-methanol ready ro-ro ships
Smyril Line announced that a contract has been signed with the CIMC Raffles shipyard in China to build two new ro-ro ships for the company. The ships will measure 190 metres in length and will each have a 3,300-lane metre capacity. The new ships will join Smyril Line's current network, and they are planned to start sailing in 2026. They are designed for optimal year-round seaworthiness in the North Atlantic, with great emphasize on crew comforts and wellbeing on board.
ARC adds ninth US-flag vessel to its fleet – ARC HONOR
The Florida-based, American Roll On Roll Off Carrier Group (ARC) added its ninth US-flag PCTC to its fleet in the South Korean port city of Incheon on 2 February – ARC HONOR. The 2012-built and 7,934 CEU capacity vessel was previously Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s TULANE.
ARC HONOR is now part of the US Maritime Administrations (MarAd) Maritime Security Programme (MSP) and the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA).
Brittany Ferries announces the resumption of maritime rotations on its historic Roscoff / Plymouth line
ARMORIQUE and PONT-AVEN © Frank Lose
Brittany Ferries announces the resumption of its commercial activity between Roscoff and Plymouth after a winter break, a resumption which occurs earlier than in previous years. From 9 February 2024, ARMORIQUE will serve Plymouth five times a week.
Passengers will board in the afternoon in Roscoff for an evening arrival in England. During a getaway, they will be able to enjoy the next day freely on site to re-embark the same evening. The Plymouth / Roscoff return will be operated at night. The company also offers travelers crossing packages with accommodation.
Gram Car Carriers ASA: Sale of Mid-size vessel VIKING AMBER to capture attractive second-hand values
Gram Car Carriers ASA has signed an agreement to sell the Mid-size Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) VIKING AMBER (4,200 CEU, built 2010) for a total cash consideration of USD 64.6 million to capitalise on historically high second-hand vessel values.
GCC expects to recognise a net book gain of USD 36.6 million upon completion of the sale and delivery of the vessel to the new owner at the end of its timecharter contract in the second quarter of 2024. The buyer of the vessel is an investment company, backed by a European-based vehicle logistics company.
Ventouris Ferries’ latest acquisition arrived in Greece
BAJA STAR in Perama. Next to it lies OLYMPIC CHAMPION, which will be transferred within the Attica Group from ANEK Lines to Superfast Ferries. © George Giannakis
The 1992-built BAJA STAR has arrived in Perama, Greece, to be prepared for its new role as Ventouris Ferries’ fourth vessel alongside RIGEL II, III and VII.
BAJA STAR was bought from Mexico’s Baja Ferries and served the company’s route between Pichlingue and Topolobampo.
Ventouris Ferries operates routes between Greece-Italy and Albania-Italy.
AS Tallink Grupp Statistics for January 2024
In January 2024 AS Tallink Grupp transported 329,974 passengers, which is a 2.4% decrease compared to January 2023. The number of cargo units increased by 4.5% to 28,606 units and the number of passenger vehicles decreased by 3.0% to 50,234 units in the same comparison.
Tallink Silja Line offers eight summer special cruises to Visby
VICTORIA I © Uwe Jakob
Tallink Silja Line has announced its summer special cruises for the upcoming 2024 season, with ticket sales opening during the day of 6 February 2024. Altogether, there will be eight opportunities to travel to Visby, the capital of the Swedish island of Gotland, with departures in June, July and August, departing from Tallinn and Helsinki onboard VICTORIA I.
COSTA FIRENZE transferred to Carnival Cruise Line
COSTA FIRENZE © Fincantieri
COSTA FIRENZE has officially joined the Carnival Cruise Line fleet as CARNIVAL FIRENZE from sister line Costa Cruises, growing the Carnival fleet to 27 ships. Now, Carnival’s team will lead a refurbishment project over the next two months to bring many of the popular Carnival features – with a touch of Italy.
Neptune Lines orders two more 4,200 CEU PCTCs
© Deltamarin
Neptune Lines announced the order for two more PCTC from the same Fujian Mawei shipyard in China, which is building the first two. The 4,200 CEU dual fuel PCTCs are specially designed for the company’s short-sea trades, and these latest two will be delivered in 2027.
Old names for Molslinjen’s new electric ferries
Molslinjen is building two new electric ferries at Cemre Shipyard in Turkey, which will sail for Alslinjen and Samsølinjen. These have now been named, and the choice has fallen on two old names that both have roots in the local community on Als and Samsø. The Alslinjen ferry will be called NERTHUS, while the Samsølinjen ferry will be called TYRFING.
The ferries will be 117m long and have a capacity for 600 passengers and 188 cars.
More than 300 of our seats are now sold out!
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