Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched Japan's first LNG-powered ferry

SUNFLOWER KURENAI launching © MOL

Japan's first LNG-powered ferry, SUNFLOWER KURENAI, was launched at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shimonoseki Shipyard on 3 March 2022. SUNFLOWER KURENAI is the first of two ro-paxes which Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) ordered from Mitsubishi Shipbuilding. She is set to be delivered in December 2022, enter service on the 12-hour Osaka-Beppu route in January 2023 and will be operated by Ferry Sunflower, a subsidiary of MOL. Her sistership named SUNFLOWER MURASAKI will be delivered in May 2023.

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Ibiza-based Naviera Pitiusa AquaBus buys two 42m high-speed ferries from the Philippine’s

MALAMBING EXPRESS © Mabuhay Maritime Express

There is a new high-speed passenger ferry operator running year-pound services between Ibiza and Formentera – local Ibiza-based tourist ferry operator Naviera Pitiusa AquaBus has acquired the two 410 passenger capacity, 28 knot high-speed ferries MAGALANG EXPRESS and MALAMBING EXPRESS, from Philippine operator Mabuhay Maritime Express, a subsidiary of Philippine Airlines.

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Grimaldi brings in FINNCLIPPER to replace fire-damaged EUROFERRY OLYMPIA in the Mediterranean

FINNCLIPPER © Jukka Huotari

Grimaldi acted quickly to replace the fire-damaged ro-pax ferry EUROFERRY OLYMPIA on its Brindisi-Igoumenitsa-Patras service by taking the 33,958gt 1999-built ro-pax ferry FINNCLIPPER off its Malmö-Travemünde Service. FINNCLIPPER arrived in the Italian port of Piombino on 27 February, where she will be renamed IGOUMENITSA and re-branded in Grimaldi Lines colours.

Meanwhile, EUROFERRY OLYMPIA has arrived in the Greek port of Astakos, where the onboard fire on her main vehicle deck re-ignited following the opening of the vessel’s stern door/ramp. EUROFERRY OLYMPIA carried 292 people when the fire broke out. Eight people have been confirmed to have lost their lives in the fire, while three are still missing. It is also feared that more unregistered passengers could have been onboard.

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Grimaldi takes delivery of ECO MALTA from Jinling

ECO MALTA delivered © Grimaldi Lines

Grimaldi Lines has reached the halfway point of its short-sea ro-ro fleet upgrade programme with the delivery of the 7.800 lanemetre capacity ECO MALTA from China’s Jinling Shipyard on 1 March. ECO MALTA is the sixth of 12 Grimaldi Green 5th Generation (GG5G) ro-ros; the first five vessels are currently in operation in the Mediterranean.

The 67,311gt ECO MALTA measures 238m x 34m and has a service speed of 20.80 knots, provided by its battery hybrid propulsion system. 

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RMC starts production of Spirit of Tasmania’s first of two new LNG-powered ro-paxes

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV © RMC

A steel cutting ceremony at Rauma Marine Constructions marked the production start for SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV, the first of two planned LNG-powered ro-pax newbuilds for Spirit of Tasmania to operate the challenging route across the Bass Strait between Geelong, Australia and Devonport, Tasmania.

The vessels will hold 1,800 passengers each and their gross tonnage will be approximately 48,000 metric tons. The new vessels will replace similarly Finnish-built sister ships, SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I and SPIRIT OF TASMANIA II from the late 1990s. The first vessel, SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV will be finished in late 2023 and the second, SPIRIT OF TASMANIA V in late 2024.

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Kongsberg Maritime to provide propulsion system for new zero-emissions Scandlines ferry

Illustration © Scandlines

Kongsberg Maritime (KM) has just been commissioned to supply a complete propulsion and control system package for a forthcoming Scandlines zero-emissions vessel which, when built, is destined to be the world’s largest all-electric double-ended ferry.

The ferry has been designed by LMG Marin AS in Norway and will be constructed at Cemre Shipyard in Turkey, in close cooperation with Scandline’s vessel-newbuild experts. The new freight ferry is expected to enter service in 2024. As the first of the company’s next-generation vessels, heralding its ambitions to make its operations entirely emission-free, it will represent a momentous step in Scandlines’ green journey.

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Oceania Cruises' VISTA launched by Fincantieri Sestri Ponente

VISTA launch © Fincantieri

VISTA, the first of two new generation cruise ships that will start the “Allura class” for Oceania Cruises, a brand of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., was launched at the Sestri Ponente (Genoa) shipyard. VISTA will be approximately 67,000gt and able to accommodate 1,200 passengers on board, assisted by 800 crew members, for a ratio of three to two.

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Scandlines offers free of charge passage to Ukrainian refugees

BERLIN © Frank Lose

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has major human consequences. Scandlines wants to show its unequivocal support to the Ukrainian people and is therefore offering Ukrainian refugees free transport from Germany to Denmark on the company's ferries.

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AS Tallinna Sadam (Port of Tallinn) financial results for 2021 Q4 and 12 months

© Port of Tallinn

In the fourth quarter, both sales revenue (+13%), adjusted EBITDA (+6%) and profit (+14%) increased. Growth in passenger volume and ferry calls increased revenue in the Passenger harbours segment, which made the biggest contribution to the improvement in the Group’s financial performance. However, profitability indicators improved less than revenue because surging energy prices and some major maintenance and repair works.

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Wärtsilä to support sustainable operations on Viking Line’s new climate-smart flagship

VIKING GLORY © Viking Line

The technology group Wärtsilä will provide technical management for a broad scope of solutions installed on Viking Line’s new climate-smart vessel VIKING GLORY under a three-year contract. The agreement was signed in December 2021.
VIKING GLORY begins its first commercial sailing this week. It features many cutting-edge technologies intended to minimise climate impact and air pollution. The new agreement covers six LNG-powered Wärtsilä 31DF engines, two LNGPac fuel gas supply systems and three tunnel thrusters.

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Stena RoRo has built the world's largest civilian hospital ship – the GLOBAL MERCY is now calling Rotterdam

GLOBAL MERCY arriving in Rotterdam © Mercy Ships

From February 28 to March 14, the world's largest hospital ship, the GLOBAL MERCY, will be in Rotterdam. A momentous event for Stena RoRo who, on behalf of the charity Mercy Ships, has been the project manager for the ship's construction since 2013. During her weeks in Rotterdam, the newly built ship will be open to visitors. Private individuals, organizations, partners, donors, volunteers and the media are welcome to visit the ship while she is being outfitted in Rotterdam for its vital mission in West Africa.

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California startup plans to fix the global supply chain with fast, zero emissions hydrofoil cargo ships.

Argo © Boundary Layer Technologies

Boundary Layer Technologies, a California-based marine technology startup, has revealed its operational plans and engineering design for it’s zero-emissions hydrofoiling containership, ARGO. The company plans to operate these vessels to establish a zero-emission shipping service that can replace air freight along major intra-Asia trade lanes.

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Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and Island Express join together to show support for Ukraine

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and local freight carrier Island Express have partnered up to send essential supplies to Ukraine. Manx Support for Refugees has organised collections for supplies kindly donated by Manx residents. These will be distributed in Poland to refugees from Ukraine who have been displaced by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Isle of Man based-company Island Express has worked with Manx Support for Refugees to pack an articulated trailer full of supplies, which the Isle of Man Steam Packet company agreed to ship on BEN-MY-CHREE, free of charge.

AS Tallink Grupp Statistics for February 2022

In February 2022 AS Tallink Grupp transported 235 214 passengers, which is an 217.3% increase compared to February 2021. The number of cargo units increased by 24.8% to 32 958 units and the number of passenger vehicles increased by 143.0% to 45 295 units in the same comparison.

Wasaline stops transporting Russian-registered trucks