Shippax News Bulletin – 7
The first patients have boarded the world's largest civilian hospital ship
GLOBAL MERCY in Dakar © Mercy Ships
On Valentine's Day – 14 February - the brand-new state-of-the-art hospital ship GLOBAL MERCY from Mercy Ships arrived in Dakar, Senegal, where she will help two whole nations from one and the same port. In a short time, volunteers from Denmark will join the life-changing work on board.
Finnlines expands its Ireland–Belgium freight service by adding a second vessel
To meet the increased capacity and frequency demand from customers, Finnlines is strengthening its Ireland–Belgium freight service. With the addition of a second ro-ro vessel to service, Finnlines will provide a significant increase of capacity on the direct connection between Ireland and Europe mainland. FINNPULP will join FINNWAVE on the route in week 8, departing from Zeebrugge on 23 February.
Costa Group and Proman join forces towards decarbonisation of the cruise industry
Costa Group and the methanol producer, Proman, have signed an MOU to drive further the implementation of methanol as a marine fuel for the cruise industry.
The partnership aims to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonisation of the existing fleet by enhancing the supply of sustainable methanol, paving the way for the retrofitting of existing vessels to operate on clean fuel, as well as investment in further methanol-fueled new builds.
MacGregor has secured a significant order for ro-ro equipment for two vessels
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has been selected to supply ro-ro equipment for two 8,000 lanemetre ro-ro vessels built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) in South Korea for CLdN.
The order is booked into Cargotec’s first quarter 2023 orders received. The first vessel is scheduled to be delivered to the owner by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, and the second vessel in the second quarter of 2025.
Kongsberg has signed contract with Grimaldi for their two latest ordered GG5G ro-ro’s
Kongsberg Maritime has signed a repeat order from client Grimaldi Group to supply engineering and technology for two new 7,800 lanemetre ro-ro vessels of the GG5G class, which will be built at China Merchant Jinling Shipyard. The contract was signed in Q4 2022, and the vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2025.
The vessels will join Grimaldi Group’s fleet of low emission, hybrid ro-ro vessels known as the Grimaldi Green 5th Generation (GG5G) class. Twelve GG5G vessels have been completed, with the latest, ECO ITALIA, delivered in October 2022.
The CMA CGM Group confirms discussions to acquire La Méridionale
La Méridionale's KALLISTE and PIANA © JP. Fabre
The CMA CGM Group confirmed what has been earlier reported that they have entered into exclusive discussions with the STEF group to acquire 100% of La Méridionale. The finalization of this transaction is conditional on the signing of share transfer agreements, after information and consultation with employee representative bodies, and authorizations from the various competition authorities.
VIKING GRACE received extensive refurbishment and maintenance, together with fuel saving solutions
© Jukka Huotari
The ten-year-old VIKING GRACE returned to operate between Turku and Stockholm on 12 February as a better and climate-smarter version of itself. During its three-week visit to the dock, new technology to reduce fuel consumption was installed and the interior was refurbished. 5,000 sqm of old carpet and bags and bags of textiles was recycled.
VIKING GRACE has spent the last three weeks at the dry dock in Odense, Denmark, where an extensive refurbishment and maintenance of the ship has been carried out.
Digitalisation of Color Line’s operations supported by Telenor Maritime’s Unified Hosting Service™
SUPERSPEED 1 © Anders Martinsen
Sustainability through digitalisation: Telenor Maritime has installed its Unified Hosting Service™ (UHS®) on board Color Line’s fleet of five ferries, supporting the process of digitalising its operations and sustainability strategy.
RINA and ABB Sign MoU to Cooperate in Shipping
RINA,announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ABB. The MoU focuses on establishing a collaborative relationship with the aim to develop new concepts to reduce emissions in shipping for various vessel types. The collaboration will include the development of commercially viable solutions, including fuel cell systems with carbon capture, to move the shipping industry forward with decarbonization. It further focuses on promoting the use of hydrogen, and the introduction of modern approaches to ship propulsion.
MOL Ferry and Ferry Sunflower to become Japan's largest ferry and ro-ro company
SUNFLOWER SAPPORO © Tsuyoshi Ishiyama
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that its consolidated subsidiary companies, MOL Ferry Co., Ltd. and Ferry Sunflower Limited will be merged on 1 October 2023. The surviving company will be MOL Ferry Co., Ltd. and the company will be the largest ferry and coastal ro-ro vessel company in Japan.
Grimaldi acquires a new terminal in the port of Amsterdam
Through its subsidiary Amsterdam Multipurpose Terminal (AMT), the Grimaldi Group has recently gained strategic assets and a 20-year concession within the port of Amsterdam. The assets that AMT bought from the company EMA are located in the Amerikahaven area of the Dutch capital port and cover a surface of over 200,000 m2, including storage areas, adjacent warehouses and logistics areas, as well as two quays – the first, which is about 500 metres long, dedicated to ships deployed on deep sea routes, and the second, about 300 metres long, for the berthing of vessels serving short sea links.
Crystal Cruises rises from the ashes as Crystal – Exceptional at Sea
CRYSTAL SERENITY © Christian Eckardt
Former luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises will resurface this summer under its new guise of Crystal – Exceptional at Sea. Two of the previous vessels in the fleet – CRYSTAL SERENITY and CRYSTAL SYMPHONY – are currently being refurbished and readied for their return to service at the Trieste yard of Italy’s Fincantieri.
Associated British Ports (ABP) acquires ro-ro port Solent Gateway Ltd and Marchwood Military Port on Southampton Water
The Port of Marchwood © Solent Gateway Limited
In a major development for potential ro-ro ferry services from the south coast UK port of Southampton, Associated British Ports (ABP), owners of the Port of Southampton, has acquired Solent Gateway Ltd (SGL) and Marchwood Military Port, located on Southampton Water from owners David MacBrayne Ltd (which owns Scotland’s largest ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne) and automobile importer GBA Holdings Ltd.
Maxicaster Launches their New Generation Mobile Portal across the Fjord Line fleet
MAXICASTER announced the successful deployment of its next generation mobile portal across the Fjord Line fleet. The mobile video service is seamlessly integrated into Fjord Line’s dynamic passenger mobile portal allowing passengers to watch live TV and the latest movies anywhere on board. To ensure passengers never miss their favourite shows, Catch-up TV is enabled allowing passengers to watch previously aired live TV via the interactive Electronic Program Guide (EPG). The portal is designed to work across any device type ensuring a premium viewing experience regardless on any passenger device.
Stronger together – Interferry partners with EHRENBERG SØRENSEN Kommunikation
The global association for the ferry industry, Interferry, enters a partnership with the international communications agency EHRENBERG SØRENSEN Kommunikation. Based on its many years of work within the transport and shipping industry, EHRENBERG SØRENSEN Kommunikation will support Interferry as their new international PR and communication agency.
COSTA MAGICA sold to a Seajets company
COSTA MAGICA © Marc Ottini
A company belonging to Greece's Seajets have bought the former COSTA MAGICA from Carnival Corporation, thereby making it the fifth cruise ship in their possession. The ship has been renamed MYKONOS MAGIC and just as the other cruise ships in their fleet it will not be operated by them.
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