Shippax News Bulletin – 14
Shippax News Bulletin – 14
- In association with Interferry
Dear Subscriber,
Please find below a selection of news bits published on our website this past week.
Photo above: The 1989-built KAUNAS is part of Ukrferry’s current three ship fleet, together with GREIFSWALD and VILNIUS. Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Odessa based Ukrainian operator had expansion plans and even signed a MoA at the beginning of the year with Grimaldi Lines to purchase the EUROCARGO NAPOLI, but the delivery of the vessel was agreed for March 2022 and therefore not finalized. KAUNAS, GREIFSWALD and VILNIUS are now currently in warm lay-up. Photo © Ukrferry
At our conference in May, Roman Morgenstern, Marketing & Project Director of Ukrferry, will have a presentation where he talks about the “War in Ukraine and its impact on Black Sea ferry routes”.
Stena Line deploys its lengthened E-Flexers on Karlskrona-Gdynia route
© Stena Line
As a response to a particular strong freight development in the Baltic Sea South region, Stena Line will launch its two new 240m long lengthened E-Flexer vessels on the route between Karlskrona and Gdynia instead of between Ventspils and Nynäshamn as originally intended.
The recently lengthened and modernised STENA SCANDICA and STENA BALTICA will continue to serve the route between Nynäshamn and Ventspils, thus continuing to add a 30% freight and 70% cabin space boost in capacity.
Incat Tasmania delivers SANTA MONICA 1 to South Korea’s Seaworld Express Ferry
SANTA MONICA 1 delivered © Locky Gardner
The 76-metre midsized high speed catamaran SANTA MONICA 1 has been delivered to Seaworld Express Ferry of South Korea.
Capable of accommodating 621 passengers and crew and 86 cars at speeds of over 40 knots, the SANTA MONICA 1 features Incat’s tried and proven evolved hullform with its new centre-bow arrangement, reflecting over thirty years of experience building high speed vehicle-passenger ferries.
First steel cut for Scandlines new zero-emission double-ender ro-pax at Cemre Shipyard
Scandlines newbuild steel cut © Cemre Shipyard
The first steel cutting ceremony for Scandlines first zero-emission double-ender ro-pax on order at Turkey’s Cemre Shipyard took place on 4 April, starting the process to build the world’s largest zero direct emissions ferry.
When delivered in 2024 the new ferry, designed by Norway’s LMG Marin, will operate between Puttgarden, in Germany and Rødby, carrying 140 passengers and 66 freight vehicles (approximately 1,200 lanemetres), an increase of 23% on the vessels currently maintaining this route.
St Malo port to receive a EUR 150 million modernizing
Aerial view illustration © Region Bretagne and AREP architecture agency
Bretagne Region, which owns the port of St Malo, is about to start a comprehensive EUR 150 million rebuilding of its ferry port also known as Naye Terminal.
The project aims to modernize the whole facility, its quays and maritime access to the port in order to allow larger ferries to dock. A second ferry berth will be made operational so that two ships can be operated at the same time.
Tallink Grupp 2021 financial results reflect a challenging year
Tallink Grupp CEO Paavo Nõgene © Tallink Grupp
Tallink Group carried a total of 2,961,975 passengers in 2021, which is 21% less than in 2020. The number of cargo units transported increased by 2.6% compared to 2020. The Group’s revenue amounted to EUR 476.9 million (EUR 442.9 million in 2020). Strict cost control raised EBITDA to EUR 58.3 million (EUR 8.0 million in 2020) and net loss EUR 56.6 million (net loss of EUR 108.3 million in 2020).
Full report https://view.news.eu.nasdaq.com/view?id=b1160f6963c007023aafbcfff3ba864dd&lang=en
AS Tallink Grupp statistics for March 2022 and the first quarter of the year https://www.shippax.com/en/press-releases/as-tallink-grupp-statistics-for-march-2022-and-the-first-quarter-of-the-year.aspx
Moby’s GIUSEPPE SA sold at auction for EUR 4.6 million
GIUSEPPE SA © Marc Ottini
Moby’s 1975-built GIUSEPPE SA reached a sale price of EUR 4.6 million when sold at Milan auction last week, considerably higher than the EUR 1.56 million asking price.
The buyer is not-yet known, and the vessel has been laid up since January 2021.
Cemre Shipyard to build zero-emission ferry for Torghatten Nord
© Norwegian Ship Design
Cemre Shipyard and Torghatten Nord AS have entered into a contract to build a new zero-emission ferry for the Bognes-Lødingen route in Northern Norway. Developed by Norwegian Ship Design, the double-ended car and passenger ferry with designation NSD120CFc will become 117 m long, have a 399-passenger capacity and will be built to DNV class rules and carry the Norwegian flag.
Tallink Grupp's damaged SILJA EUROPA temporarily replaced on Tallinn-Helsinki route with VICTORIA I
SILJA EUROPA sustained hull damage and is replaced by VICTORIA I © Kai Ortel
Tallink Grupp has announced that it will temporarily replace its vessel SILJA EUROPA on the Tallinn-Helsinki route with the company’s other vessel VICTORIA I. The move comes as SILJA EUROPA sustained hull damage on the evening of 5 April 2022 when mooring at the Port of Tallinn.
After immediate assessments of the damage, it was clear that the vessel hull, which came into contact with the pier, will need repairs before the vessel can sail again. According to initial estimates the repairs are likely to take seven days.
UECC launches new North Sea service
MINCHAH is the former 1997-built AUTOPRIDE © Marc Ottini
UECC is launching a new North Sea service connecting the ports of Zeebrugge, Esbjerg, Gothenburg and Drammen on a weekly basis. This new service is being launched on the back of several new contracts with some of the major European car manufacturers and will supplement UECC’s existing weekly Atlantic service connecting the ports of Vigo, Zeebrugge, Bremerhaven, Malmö and Drammen.
With the launching of the new North Sea service, UECC is now able to offer two sailings per week between Zeebrugge and Drammen. The first departure from Zeebrugge with the new North Sea service will be Thursday 7 April 2022.
Brittany Ferries commits to twice-weekly Cork/Roscoff sailings as company celebrates 45-year partnership with Port of Cork
ARMORIQUE © Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries has confirmed that its new midweek sailing connecting Cork with France will become a permanent feature of the company’s sailing schedule, further reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to Ireland, Irish tourism and the Port of Cork.
The Wednesday sailing is part of a new three-year deal signed by the Port of Cork Company (PoCC) and Brittany Ferries that was revealed at a reception held on board ARMORIQUE which docked in Ringaskiddy, Cork on Wednesday April 6th.
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Unveils New NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ISLANDER ll
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ISLANDER ll is the former CRYSTAL ESPRIT © Lindblad Expeditions
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has unveiled the newest addition to their award-winning fleet, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ISLANDER ll. With just 48 guests, and the spirit and soul of a private yacht, the all-suite ship will make her inaugural voyage in the Galápagos on August 18, 2022 for year-round expeditions in the islands.
SH DIANA is the name of Swan Hellenic’s third and largest bespoke expedition cruise ship
© Swan Hellenic
Swan Hellenic announced that construction of its third and largest next-generation ship was proceeding smoothly at Helsinki Shipyard, with more than half the structure already assembled and all but two blocks now delivered. Crowning the announcement was news revealing her name – SH DIANA – in the classic Swan Hellenic tradition.
The new ship is a next-generation polar expedition vessel, designed for worldwide cruising with a strong focus on high-latitude areas. SH DIANA will feature a 4.6-megawatt diesel-electric hybrid-ready propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction and PC 6 ice-strengthened hull that is fully Safe Return to Port certified. Although the largest ship in the Swan Hellenic fleet, the 125 m long, 12,100 gt expedition vessel has been specially designed for worldwide cruising to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on earth.
The CIUDAD DE MAHON rejoins the service between the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands with a renewed image
CIUDAD DE MAHON © Grimaldi Trasmed
The CIUDAD DE MAHON (formerly the VOLCAN DE TIJARAFE), belonging to the Spanish shipping company Trasmed, belonging to the Grimaldi Group, arrived at the port of Valencia in the morning of 4 April, after having undergone work of improvement in the shipyards of Naples in Italy.
The ship, already refurbished and sporting a completely renewed image, returns to service on the Valencia - Ibiza line. She will also make the journey between Barcelona and Ibiza and from 9 April she will call at the ports of Mahón and Alcudia.
Now passengers can also travel with Stena Line's new ferry line to Finland
URD © Sebastian Ziehl
From 1 April, passengers arriving by car, motorbike or even bicycle can travel with Stena Line's new line from Nynäshamn to Hanko in Finland. The new route is part of Stena Line's ambition to strengthen its position in the Baltic Sea area. In the first months, it was a pure freight ferry line but has now also opened to passengers.
Short-term charter agreement of ISABELLE
ISABELLE © Jukka Huotari
AS Tallink Grupp and Estonian Social Insurance Board have signed a short-term time-charter agreement for the vessel ISABELLE. The vessel will be chartered to the Estonian authorities from 7 April 2022 for four months with extension options (4+2+2).
The vessel will be used to provide temporary accommodation to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Estonia. Chartering of the vessel means that, in contrast with the original plans, the company will not re-open the Riga-Stockholm route in 2022.
Norsepower and NAPA join forces to maximise wind propulsion benefits using voyage optimisation
Norsepower’s Rotor Sails operating onboard the SC Connector © Sea-Cargo
Norsepower Oy Ltd., provider of auxiliary wind propulsion systems, has signed a formal agreement with NAPA, the global maritime software, services and data analysis expert, to offer weather routing software in combination with its Rotor Sails solution. Under the agreement, NAPA Voyage Optimization software will be included as an option in all future sales of Norsepower’s Rotor Sails solution.
More Danes will sail with Stena Line on Easter holiday
STENA NAUTICA © Joakim Leihed
Danes are once again looking abroad when planning their holiday, and Sweden in particular seems to be a popular destination this year. The interest in trips to Sweden has also not gone unnoticed by the ferry company Stena Line, which experiences that the number of Danish bookings on the Grenå-Halmstad route has increased fivefold compared to Easter and the high season last year.
Making sea traffic more sustainable: ABB technology to power new hybrid-electric ferries
Two will be for Unity Line service and one for Polferries © Remontowa Shiprepair Yard
ABB has secured a large order from the Polish shipbuilder Remontowa Shiprepair Yard S.A. to supply integrated power, automation and propulsion solutions to three large passenger and car ferries to operate in the Baltic Sea. The 195-meter-long ferries will each have capacity for up to 400 passengers and 200 trucks and will be delivered to the Polish ferry company Polskie Promy one apiece in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
BASTØ VI ready for departure after completing successful sea trials following its hybridization
BASTØ VI © Bastø Fosen
During the summer of 2020, Westcon Yards signed a contract with shipping company Bastø Fosen for the hybridization of two passenger ferries; BASTØ IV and BASTØ VII. First up was BASTØ IV, which was delivered back to the shipping company 6 October, 2021.
The work of converting BASTØ VI from diesel to hybrid operations was set to be completed between 02.11.2021 and 31.03.2022. The progress plan for this project determined that the sea trials should start 24.03.2022 - and at 08.06 Thursday the 23rd of March, BASTØ VI left the quay for her sea trials.
Holland America Line Ship Will Become Temporary Home for Ukrainian Refugees in the Netherlands
VOLENDAM © Holland America Line
Holland America Line's VOLENDAM will be used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees as part of an agreement announced by Netherlands and City of Rotterdam government officials. The ship will dock in Rotterdam for three months to provide a temporary home for approximately 1,500 Ukrainians, part of a larger commitment from the Netherlands to accommodate 50,000 people who fled the war in their homeland.
DNV awards AiP for ammonia-fuelled 7,000 CEU PCTC developed by SDARI
DNV recently awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate to Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) for a design of an ammonia-fuelled 7,000 CEU PCTC.
Developed by SDARI, it is the first ammonia-fuelled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) design from China. Drawing on global resources, DNV Approval Centres in Shanghai and Norway assured that the design complies with the latest DNV Gas Fuelled Ammonia notation.
Yara International and Azane Fuel Solutions to launch world's first carbon-free bunkering network; delivering green ammonia fuel to the shipping industry
The world's first carbon-free ammonia fuel bunker network is arriving in Scandinavia. Yara International has pre-ordered 15 floating bunkering terminals from Azane Fuel Solutions enabling shipping fleets’ uptake of emission-free green ammonia as fuel.
Baleària begins operating twelve weekly connections to Melilla with two ships
BAHAMA MAMA © Mike Barker
The shipping company offers six services with the port of Malaga, three with Almería and another three with Motril.
Baleària begins to operate from today (1 April) as the successful bidder for all lines of public interest that connect with Melilla, until 31 March, 2023. Thus, the shipping company increases its weekly connections to the city to twelve: six with the port of Malaga, three with Almería and another three with Motril. With the aim of providing the best service to the citizens of Melilla, the shipping company is committed to two of its ships, which have been re-engined with dual engines that can run on gas.
Less than a month left until the 2022 Shippax Ferry Conference
It is now less than one month left until the 2022 Shippax Ferry Conference, and we are really excited to be able to soon welcome you all onboard again!
Please find our conference programme below.
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Don't miss out to be seen - grab one of the last exhibition areas and/or sponsorships to have the maximum of exposure
For those of you staying before and/or after the day(s) of the conference, we have a special discounted price at the Clarion Hotel Sign, Stockholm. Hotel information (Few left)
Port of Tallinn operational volumes for 2022 Q1
In 2022 Q1, 4.8 million tonnes of cargo and 896,000 passengers passed through the harbours of Port of Tallinn. Compared to the same period of previous year, the number of passengers increased by 140% i.e. 524,000 passengers whereas the cargo volume decreased by 8%. The number of vessel calls declined by 2% to 1645 calls. The number of passengers travelling between the Estonian mainland and the main islands increased by 20% and the number of vehicles by 13%.
SCHOTTEL and elkon will operate as partners in the maritime market in the future. The corresponding contract for the purchase of the majority stake in elkon by the holding company SCHOTTEL Industries GmbH has now been signed in Istanbul, Turkey, and announced at the Nor-Shipping trade fair in Oslo, Norway.
NIB has signed a 7-year loan agreement with a EQT owned company to finance capital expenditures relating to electric ferries operated by Molslinjen A/S in Denmark and Torghatten AS in Norway. The EUR 84.71 million loan, which is fully eligible to be funded by NIB Environmental Bond proceeds, will be key in realising EQT Infrastructure’s ferry capital expenditure programme during 2021-2026.
Leading cruise lines commit to onshore power supply in the Baltic Sea region
On April 5th 2022 the Cruise Baltic network, politicians, cruise line executives, and other stakeholders from the cruise industry met in Copenhagen for Sustainable Cruising. The conference marked a historic moment for the entire cruise industry as 19 cruise lines made a significant commitment to the use of onshore power supply by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.
Royal Caribbean celebrates keel laying for ICON OF THE SEAS
The building of Royal Caribbean International's highly anticipated cruise ship, ICON OF THE SEAS, has reached a pivotal milestone ahead of its fall 2023 debut. A keel-laying ceremony took place at Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku to officially mark the start of the revolutionary ship's physical construction, with Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku senior executives and teams in attendance.
AS Tallink Grupp statistics for March 2022 and the first quarter of the year
In March 2022 AS Tallink Grupp transported 303 360 passengers, which is an 321.5% increase compared to March 2021. The number of cargo units increased by 20.0% to 37 767 units and the number of passenger vehicles increased by 175.2% to 54 277 units in the same comparison.
In the first quarter of the year (January – March) AS Tallink Grupp transported 720 261 passengers, which is an 169.5% increase compared to the previous year. The number of transported cargo units increased by 19.7% to 101 938 units and the number of passenger vehicles increased by 85.2% to 140 380 units in same comparison.
Yanmar Acquires Majority Ownership in Battery Technology Company ELEO
Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd., officially announced it has acquired a majority share in ELEO Technologies B.V., a fast-growing battery technology company based in Helmond, the Netherlands. By integrating ELEO’s advanced, scalable, and modular battery technology, Yanmar will further its electrified powertrain capabilities with versatile, customized solutions for off-road applications.
Telenor Satellite expands to meet the communication needs of the growing European market
Delivering Quality of Experience for high bandwidth vessels and offshore installations is at the heart of Telenor Satellite’s drive to service the satellite communications needs of the growing European maritime market.
And while the cruise and ferry sectors look to recovery from the effects of the global pandemic, general maritime, offshore oil & gas and fishing sectors are upping their demand for high quality satcom services.
Wärtsilä coordinates EU funded project to accelerate ammonia engine development
A powerful consortium of shipping stakeholders is aiming to develop demonstrators for two-stroke and four-stroke marine engines running on ammonia fuel. The Ammonia 2-4 project aims to advance viable concepts for ammonia fuel.
The project is coordinated by technology group Wärtsilä, with participation from naval architects C-Job, classification society DNV, ship owner MSC and the National Research Council (CNR) of Italy. It has secured funding of €10 million from the European Union through the Horizon Europe research funding initiative.
Gram Car Carriers signs TC contract for VIKING DRIVE adding USD 35.5 million of contract backlog
Gram Car Carriers announced that the company has signed an extension to its current contract with Seven Seals for the VIKING DRIVE (3,500 CEU), until February 2026.
The agreed contract has a day rate of USD 30,000 for year 1, USD 28,000 for year 2, USD 25,000 for year 3, and USD 22,000 for the last 8 months, providing a total contract value of approximately USD 35.5 million. On average, the extension represents an increase of more than 120% to the daily time charter rate compared to the current contract.
Gram Car Carriers executes vessel swap and signs five-year TC contract for VIKING EMERALD
Gram Car Carriers announced that the company has signed a five-year time charter contract for the VIKING EMERALD (4,200 CEU) with a leading Asian operator. The contract commences in May 2022 at a time charter rate of USD 28,000 per day, providing a total contract value of approximately USD 51 million over the five-year period.
The Corvus Energy Hydrogen Fuel Cell System developed through the H2NOR project has received Approval in Principle (AiP) by DNV for its groundbreaking safety solution enabling simplified placement of the system inside a ship’s hull. This is the first fuel cell system (FCS) designed to be inherently gas safe meaning that the surrounding machinery space will be considered gas safe under all conditions. This design significantly reduces the number of requirements for the safety and ventilation support systems, thereby enabling a more efficient integration onboard the ship.
Kongsberg Maritime launches its new CPX propeller solutions
Kongsberg Maritime announced that it is dividing its propeller systems into three distinct categories, C-Line, P-Line, and X-Line. The idea is to ensure the provision of reliable, safe, high-quality and high-performing propeller solutions which are adapted to all customer-specific requirements and pricing levels, building upon almost a century of hydrodynamic and engineering expertise.
Norway’s Eksfin grants EUR 70m ‘shopping line’ to Fincantieri S.p.A.
Eksfin (Export Finance Norway) has established an EUR 70m export buyer credit guarantee for Europe’s largest shipyard group for the procurement of a wide range of maritime equipment and service deliveries from Norwegian exporters.
Caterpillar is announcing additional development of alternative fuels with an investment in methanol engine technologies. This commitment supports the development of decarbonization efforts in the marine industry by offering cost effective methanol-powered solutions without sacrificing the value customers expect from Caterpillar.
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