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Shippax News Bulletin – 1

Shippax News Bulletin – 1

- In association with Interferry

Dear Subscriber,

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and new year’s celebrations!

Please find below a selection of news bits we published on the Shippax website during week 50, 51, 52 and 1.

Enjoy the reading, and have a great weekend!


Shippax Designs 20 - OUT NOW!

Our annual publication presenting newbuildings and converted ships is published. Theme vessel is Grimaldi Group's ECO LIVORNO.

Articles:
Onboard report ECO LIVORNO - The technical parts of the ECO LIVORNO
FINNECO - Reducing the Baltic carbon footprint
Superstars in the archipelago - Next generation state-of-the-art ro-paxes for Finnlines
Grimaldi – looking to the future with sustainable solutions. An interview with Emanuele Grimaldi

Ferries:
ALFRED, AMAPOLA SOYA, COLOR HYBRID, ELLEN, ERESFJORD, ESPERANZA, FEDJEBJØRN, FERRY I, FERRY MISHIMA, FESTØYA, HANIL GOLD STELLA, HEILHORN, HILLEFJORD, ISLAND AURORA, KYOKUYO MARU, M2M-1, MATRE, SAFARI, SAMLAFJORD, SEA PASEO, SETTSU, STENA ESTRID, TRANS ASIA 20, TUSTNA, UTNEFJORD, ZHONG HUA FU XING

Cruise:
COSTA SMERALDA, GREG MORTIMER, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENDURANCE, SCARLET LADY, WORLD EXPLORER

Ro-ro:
EPHESUS SEAWAYS, GRANDE TORINO, HOKKAIDO MARU, KAI-OH MARU, LAURELINE, NICHIYU MARU, OLEANDER, RED KESTREL, TASMANIAN ACHIEVER II, UTOPIA

READ THE FULL STORY


GSI launches the first of two P&O Ferries double-ender ferries for its Dover-Calais service

© GSI

© GSI

Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) on 2 January launched the first of two 47,394 gt double-ender ferries for the UK’s P&O Ferries. The 230m vessel, as yet unnamed, is the largest ferry yet built for P&O Ferries flagship Dover-Calais service and the largest double-ender ferry yet built.

READ THE FULL STORY



Keel laid for IOMSPC’s new ro-pax MANXMAN at South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard

MANXMAN keel-laying © IOMSPC

MANXMAN keel-laying © IOMSPC

The keel was laid for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co’s (IOMSPC) new 133m ro-pax MANXMAN on 24 December at South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, in Ulsan. In fact, the keel laying ceremony was the lifting into place of the first of 36 mega building blocks for the new ferry, placed on the dock floor of the yard’s Drydock No.4. weighing 215 tonnes. The positioning of the first block was quickly followed by a further two blocks which make-up the ro-pax’s forward engineroom.

READ THE FULL STORY



Stena RoRo converts SAGA into an accommodation vessel for operation in Manila Bay

SAGA @ Manila bay Quarantine Anchorage

SAGA @ Manila bay Quarantine Anchorage

The mystery surrounding the future of Stena Line’s ro-pax SAGA (ex STENA SAGA) has been revealed. The 1981-built ferry has been converted by Stena RoRo in Perama, Greece, in a co-operation agreement with Vancouver-based Bridgemans Services Group, into an accommodation vessel for a charter of just over one year in Manila, the Philippines.

SAGA will act as an accommodation vessel for 1,000 workers engaged in the construction of the new Manila International Airport, being built on a new island being created by Holland’s Royal Boskalis Westminster. SAGA sailed from Perama, after her two-month conversion, on 16 November and arrived in Manila Bay on 20 December. 

READ THE FULL STORY



MSC Group orders two ro-paxes from GSI

© Bruce Peter

© Bruce Peter

Two 218m long ro-paxes have been ordered by the Italian MSC Group from the Chinese GSI Shipyard. The vessels which are smaller versions of the cancelled newbuilds previously ordered together with Moby Lines, will be put into GNV service.

The scrubber-equipped vessels will offer 303 cabins and a capacity for up to 1,500 passengers and 3,100 lanemetres of freight. They will be 218m long, have a beam of 29.6m and will sail at a service speed of up to 25 knots.

Expected delivery is at the end of 2024 for the first unit, and beginning of 2025 for the second.

It is understood that the order includes options for further sisterships.

READ THE FULL STORY



STENA BALTICA on her way home after completion of major lengthening and upgrade in Turkey

STENA BALTICA © Sedef Shipyard

STENA BALTICA © Sedef Shipyard

Stena Line’s ro-pax STENA BALTICA (ex STENA MERSEY) sailed from the Turkish port of Tuzla on 24 December bound for Gdansk, where she is due to arrive on 2 January, bringing to an end the largest ship lengthening and upgrade project yet undertaken by a Turkish shipyard.

Turkey’s Sedef Shipbuilding was awarded the contract by Stena RoRo to transform the two Visentini-class Irish Sea operating stern-loading single deck ro-pax sisters STENA LAGAN and STENA MERSEY into the through deck, two deck loading and discharge vessels STENA SCANDICA and STENA BALTICA, for their new service in the Baltic.

READ THE FULL STORY



Norway’s Sea-Cargo AS to start new “salmon” ro-ro service between the west coast of Norway and the UK and Holland

SC CONNECTOR with its unique tiltable rotor sails © Sea-Cargo

SC CONNECTOR with its unique tiltable rotor sails © Sea-Cargo

Following the failure of Faroe Island’s operator Smyril Lines “salmon” ro-ro service between the west coast of Norway and Rotterdam earlier this year, Norway’s Sea-Cargo AS has taken up the baton and announced that it will start a new salmon line ro-ro service between the west coast of Norway and the UK and Holland on 12 January 2022.

READ THE FULL STORY


VIKING GLORY delivered to Viking Line

© Viking Line

© Viking Line

Viking Line has taken delivery of VIKING GLORY from the shipyard Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co, Ltd. The vessel was commissioned 5 April 2017 and has been built in Xiamen, China. Viking Line’s total investment in the project is approximately EUR 225 million, including “Owners supply”. The traffic on the Turku – Åland Islands – Stockholm route is planned to commence at the beginning of March 2022.

Technical information
Length: 222,55m
Width: 35m
Service Speed: 22,1 knots
GT: 65,211
Route: Turku-Mariehamn/Långnäs-Stockholm
Class: DNV
Ice class 1 A Super
Flag state: Finland
Fuel: LNG (liquefied natural gas)
Passenger capacity: 2,800
Cabins: 922
Capacity: Freight 1,500 lanemetres, 464 passenger cars on deck 3 and 4, and 120 passenger cars on deck 5.

READ THE FULL STORY


VIKING OCTANTIS delivered to Viking

VIKING OCTANTIS delivered © Viking Ocean Cruises

VIKING OCTANTIS delivered © Viking Ocean Cruises

Fincantieri has delivered in Søviknes (Norway) VIKING OCTANTIS, the first of two expedition vessels for Viking. VIKING OCTANTIS, as well as her sister ship VIKING POLARIS, to be delivered in June next year, are 205m long and can host 378 guests in 189 staterooms.

READ THE FULL STORY


Washington State Ferries first plug-in hybrid-electric Olympic-class ferry to be named WISHKAH

The fourth Olympic-class ferry SUQUAMISH was delivered in July 2018 © WSF

The fourth Olympic-class ferry SUQUAMISH was delivered in July 2018 © WSF

The first new plug-in hybrid-electric Olympic-class passenger/vehicle ferry on order for US west coast operator Washington State Ferries (WSF) at local shipbuilder Vigor Industrial will be named WISHKAH. Construction of the new ferry will start in 2022 with WISHKAH scheduled to enter service in 2025.

WISHKAH will be the fifth vessel in the Olympic-class series, following the TOKITAE, SAMISH, CHIMACUM and SUQUAMISH, but the first with plug-in hybrid-electric technology. Funding has yet only been allocated for WISHKAH with this technology, but further similar Olympic-class series vessels are likely to follow.

READ THE FULL STORY


P&O Ferries sells EUROPEAN SEAWAY to Sea Lines

EUROPEAN SEAWAY © Marc Ottini

EUROPEAN SEAWAY © Marc Ottini

P&O Ferries is selling its EUROPEAN SEAWAY to Sea Lines. Sea Lines had been active on the Turkey-Ukraine route across the Black Sea for the last 10 years until they sold their SEA PARTNER to the Cenk Group in April this year.

The 30-year-old EUROPEAN SEAWAY has been renamed SEA ANATOLIA and offer a 1,925 lanemetre and 220 passenger capacity.

READ THE FULL STORY


AIDA Cruises takes delivery of new cruise ship AIDACOSMA

AIDACOSMA delivered © Meyer Werft

AIDACOSMA delivered © Meyer Werft

On December 21, 2021, AIDA Cruises took delivery of its newest cruise ship AIDACOSMA in Bremerhaven from the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. It is AIDA Cruises’ second newbuilding powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), and it’s the fourth new cruise ship delivered by Meyer Werft since the pandemic began.

The AIDACOSMA is already the ninth ship MEYER WERFT has built for AIDA Cruises. Like its sister ship AIDANOVA, the ship features low-emission LNG propulsion. In 2018, the AIDANOVA was the world's first cruise ship with this propulsion system.

AIDACOSMA and its sister AIDANOVA in the Helios Class are 337m long and have a capacity for more than 5,000 passengers in 2,600 cabins, plus more than 1,500 in crew.

READ THE FULL STORY


Daezer Shipping ordered a high-speed catamaran from Incat

© Incat

© Incat

South Korea’s Daezer Shipping has ordered a 76.7m long high-speed catamaran from Incat for service between Pohang and Ulleungdo once delivered in the first half of 2023.

The catamaran will have a maximum speed of 45 knots, go into production in January 2022 and will have a capacity for 970 passengers.

READ THE FULL STORY



Billy Bishop Airport's MARILYN BELL I is now Canada’s First Truly Zero Emission, Lithium-Ion Electric Ferry

© PortsToronto

© PortsToronto

The MARILYN BELL I ferry, which connects passengers, vehicles and supplies to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, is now the first electric ferry service in Canada to be powered by a zero-emission, lithium-ion power and propulsion system containing no diesel components.

PortsToronto, owners and operators of Billy Bishop Airport, celebrated the return to service of the MARILYN BELL I following its conversion to 100 per cent electric power. In operation since 2010, and upgraded to bio-diesel fuel in 2018, the vessel’s diesel generators and engines were removed in 2021 to make way for a new electric power and propulsion system and a suite of lithium-ion batteries fueled by 100 per cent Bullfrog Power renewable electricity.

READ THE FULL STORY


Third LNG battery hybrid PCTC for UECC launched

UECC has celebrated the New Year in fitting style with the launch of the third and final newbuild in a series of advanced dual-fuel LNG battery hybrid PCTCs that are being rolled out in rapid succession at China’s Jiangnan Shipyard.

The landmark launch of hull number H2665, AUTO ASPIRE, on 28 December comes only seven months after the keel-laying ceremony for the vessel and follows the recent final delivery of the first newbuild named AUTO ADVANCE, with the second and third vessels set to be delivered in the first half of this year.

READ THE FULL STORY


Zan Fast Ferries of Zanzibar (Tanzania) ordered a third CoCo Yachts designed high speed passenger craft

ZANZIBAR 3

ZANZIBAR 3

The first two Coastal Cruisers 448, named ZANZIBAR 1 and ZANZIBAR 2, were delivered in 2019 and were taken into service in early 2020, providing transport between Dar-Es Salaam and Zanzibar (Tanzania). Zan Fast Ferries decided to expand the ferry service to more routes and will enclose the island of Pemba in their service.

READ THE FULL STORY


SALAMANCA to sail through the Suez Canal and set sail for Spain

SALAMANCA © Brittany Ferries

SALAMANCA © Brittany Ferries

Brittany Ferries' first LNG vessel, the SALAMANCA, left the Weihai shipyard in China on December 10. It is expected in Bilbao, Spain on January 12. During this trip, it will have covered 10,322 nautical miles [19,116 kilometers] in 33 days, or 20 times the distance between Portsmouth and Bilbao, the route on which it will be put into service on March 27, 2022.

READ THE FULL STORY


Color Line takes COLOR HYBRID out of service for the time being

© George Giannakis

© George Giannakis

As a result of strict infection control measures in both Norway and Sweden, Color Line has decided to take COLOR HYBRID temporarily out of operation on the Sandefjord-Strømstad route from 2 January.

READ THE FULL STORY


SALISH HERON sets sail from Poland bound for B.C

SALISH HERON on its way to British Columbia © Remontowa

SALISH HERON on its way to British Columbia © Remontowa

BC Ferries’ new Salish Class vessel is now on its way to British Columbia. SALISH HERON left Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland on December 22. It is the fourth Salish Class vessel to join BC Ferries’ fleet and will commence service next year.

READ THE FULL STORY


DISCOVERY PRINCESS Marks Successful Sea Trials Milestone

ENCHANTED PRINCESS was delivered in September 2020 © Fincantieri

ENCHANTED PRINCESS was delivered in September 2020 © Fincantieri

Princess Cruises achieved a major milestone in preparation for the debut of its newest ship - DISCOVERY PRINCESS - with the completion of sea trials.

DISCOVERY PRINCESS set out to sea from the construction dock at Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and was put through a series of paces to test the steering, navigation equipment and propulsion. After a successful five days of trials, DISCOVERY PRINCESS is now back in the shipyard for further exterior and interior finishing to prepare for her maiden, seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise sailing roundtrip from the Port of Los Angeles on March 27, 2022.

READ THE FULL STORY


CMAL reveals name of newest member of vessel fleet following public vote

© CMAL

© CMAL

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has announced the name of its newest fleet member following a public vote.
Over 1000 votes were cast, with LOCH FRISA coming out as favourite, GLEN FORSA in a very close second place, and TOROSAY in third.

LOCH FRISA, previously known as the UTNE, was purchased by CMAL from Norway in October, and will bring extra resilience to the network. She is currently at Dales Marine Services Ltd in Leith, and is undergoing modification work to bring her in line with UK maritime regulations.

READ THE FULL STORY


BC Ferries’ sixth Island Class ferry expected to arrive today (21 December)

BC Ferries’ Island Class project will mark a major milestone today, when the sixth vessel in the Island Class series arrives in Victoria, British Columbia.

ISLAND 6, as it is temporarily named, departed Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania on October 11 under its own power on a 72-day transoceanic journey. Upon arrival in Victoria, the ship will transit to Point Hope Maritime. Customers can see the vessel as it sails around southern Vancouver Island and into Victoria’s Upper Harbour from a number of downtown Victoria locations including Dallas Road, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Songhees Walkway, Wharf Street, and the Johnson Street Bridge.

READ THE FULL STORY


Brittany Ferries new LNG-fuelled SALAMANCA cruise ferry enters Bureau Veritas classification

Bureau Veritas (BV) has taken delivery into class the brand-new cruise ferry SALAMANCA, built at China Merchants Jinling in Weihai, China. Powered by natural gas, the 1,015-passenger ferry will be operated by Brittany Ferries on its route between Portsmouth, in the UK, and Bilbao and Santander, in Northern Spain.

PSW Power & Automation awarded contract with Havnekraft AS

Havnekraft AS will establish a high-voltage shore power system for cruise ships in Haugesund. The facility will also be prepared for other vessels visiting the port outside the cruise season, which provides a highly flexible solution for the port and visiting vessels. Planned delivery of the facility is the end of 2022.

Viking Line ends an exceptional year with faith in the future

Like 2020, 2021 was an exceptional year for the entire world, including Viking Line. The operating environment was highly unfavourable due to the pandemic, as were the economic consequences. At the same time, the company experienced a number of positive events during the year. MARIELLA, one of Viking Line’s seven vessels, was sold in May, and in December the new climate-smart VIKING GLORY was delivered.

Langley completes acquisition of Bergen Engines from Rolls-Royce

Langley Holdings has completed the acquisition of the Norwegian Bergen Engines group from Rolls-Royce for a consideration of €91 million. In addition, €16 million of cash held within Bergen Engines AS, has been retained by Rolls-Royce.

AS Tallink Grupp statistics for December 2021 and the fourth quarter of the year

In December 2021 AS Tallink Grupp transported 358 989 passengers, which is an 153.2% increase compared to December 2020. The number of cargo units increased by 20.8% to 31 862 units and the number of passenger vehicles increased by 35.5% to 57 001 units in the same comparison.
In the fourth quarter of the year (October – December) AS Tallink Grupp transported 1 122 892 passengers, which is an 142.6% increase compared to the previous year. The number of transported cargo units increased by 24.0% to 101 486 units and the number of passenger vehicles increased by 27.5% to 171 037 units in same comparison.

CruiseCopenhagen strives to turn Copenhagen into a year-round cruise destination

CruiseCopenhagen is encouraging cruise lines to visit the Danish capital during the off-season. For the first time ever, Copenhagen expects to host cruise calls every month of 2022 improving the experience for both cruise lines and cruise guests.

First power exchange with NG3 PLUG at Trondheim

As part of the reduction of the emissions of the Kysruten (formally Hurtigruten) RopA service along Norway west coast , operated by both Havila and Hurtigruten vessels, port of Trondheim has just commissioned a new quay side PLUG interface with a power exchange capability of up to 2000 Ampère under 1 kilo Volt, provided by NG3.

Royal Caribbean Group provides update on COVID-19, Omicron variant impact

Knowledge about COVID-19 and how to deal with it have been in a constant state of flux for the last two years. Omicron has significantly altered the COVID-19 landscape for everyone, and the Royal Caribbean Group is no exception.
As widely reported, the Omicron variant is significantly more infectious than its predecessors and has already become the dominant form of COVID-19 in the U.S. and elsewhere. Fortunately, Omicron also appears to cause significantly less severe symptoms than earlier variants, especially for people who are vaccinated. Cruising remains one of the few places one can vacation knowing that almost everyone you meet is fully vaccinated.

Viking Line Abp publishes the final result of the rights offering

The final result of Viking Line Abp’s rights offering shows that 6,294,153 shares, corresponding to approximately 97.1 percent of the new shares offered were subscribed for pursuant to the exercise of subscription rights. The remaining 185,847 Offer Shares have been allotted to subscribers who have subscribed for Offer Shares without subscription rights. The subscription price was EUR 8.00 per Offer Share. Viking Line will receive approximately EUR 51.8 million through the Offering before taking into account any transaction costs in relation to the Offering.

Tender responses for Islay vessels received

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has received four compliant bids for a tender to build two new vessels for Islay and Jura.
Four shipyards were invited to tender for the work in September; Damen Shipyards in Romania, Remontowa Shipbuilding in Poland, and Sefine Denizcilik Tersanecilik Turizm, and Cemre Marin Endustri in Turkey.

Increase of the amount of AS Tallink Grupp claim against AS Tallinna Sadam in a court dispute in port dues

On 22 December 2021, Harju County Court stared the proceedings on an additional claim filed by AS Tallink Grupp (hereinafter: “Tallink”) on 02.08.2021 against AS Tallinna Sadam (hereinafter: “Tallinna Sadam”) in the amount of EUR 5.5 million (plus accrued interest) for partial reimbursement of the port dues unduly received or, alternatively, for compensation of damages paid in 2016; and the claims were joined to the civil case 2-21-3181. The total amount of the claim in the litigation after aggregation is EUR 20.9 million (plus accrued interest). The initial claim of Tallink concerned the port dues paid by Tallink in Tallinn Old City Harbour in 2017, 2018 and 2019, the court ruling extended the claim to the port dues paid in 2016 as well.

Intesa Sanpaolo, CDP and Fincantieri sign a 300 million euro “sustainability linked” loan for the construction of a cruise ship

Fincantieri has signed the first sustainability-linked construction loan with bank Intesa Sanpaolo (IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division) and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti for a maximum amount of 300 million euros.

Rolls-Royce invests in methanol technology for climate-friendly shipping

Rolls-Royce is focusing on methanol as a fuel for climate-friendly shipping: Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems is currently working on mtu engines for use with methanol. The new high-speed four-stroke engines, which are based on proven mtu technologies, are planned to be available to customers as soon as possible for use in commercial ships and yachts.

Carnival Corporation provides fourth quarter 2021 business update

U.S. GAAP net loss of USD 2.6 billion and adjusted net loss of USD 2.0 billion for the fourth quarter of 2021. Fourth quarter 2021 ended with USD 9.4 billion of liquidity. For the cruise segments, revenue per passenger cruise day ("PCD") for the fourth quarter of 2021 increased approximately 4% compared to a strong 2019. The increase was driven in part by exceptionally strong onboard and other revenue.

Color Line announces redundancy of another 700 employees

As a result of the Norwegian government's strict infection control measures, Color Line has decided to temporarily take COLOR MAGIC out of service on the Oslo-Kiel route from 29 December and the sister ship COLOR FANTASY from 10 January. The decision will involve notification of redundancies to more than 700 employees.

Panama’s Cabinet Council Approves Panama Canal Tolls Structure for Passenger Ships

The Cabinet Council of the Government of the Panama has approved the modifications to the waterway's toll structure and the admeasurement regulations for passenger ships, following a recommendation from the Panama Canal Board of Directors.

Enova grants more than 1 billion NOK to three industrial projects. Hydrogen is the climate solution in all three projects

The companies behind the projects receiving the grants from Enova are Yara Norge AS (up to NOK 283 million), Tizir Titanium & Iron AS (up to NOK 261 million) and Horisont Energi AS (up to NOK 482 million).

DNV certifies new SimFlex Cloud simulator platform

DNV has certified Force Technology’s cutting-edge SimFlex Cloud navigation simulator platform according to DNV’s ST-0033 Maritime Simulator Systems Class D standard requirements, for the approval of simulators used for mandatory simulator-based training or as a means to demonstrate competence. DNV requires that all simulators are DNV certified when used as tools for training and examination in accordance with STCW Regulations I/12, in order to issue a DNV SeaSkill™ Learning Programme Certificate to training providers.


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