FährNews Aktuell – Issue June 2023

Introduction

Hello and welcome to the June issue of FährNews Aktuell in 2023. This month once again saw many exciting developments in the ferry sector. These include the relocation of the ferry terminals in Gothenburg, the commissioning of the P&O PIONEER and the confirmed takeover of La Méridionale by CMA CGM.

So stay tuned until the end to make sure you don’t miss anything!

https://youtu.be/1kCYnjXxeog

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And here is the entire June issue of FährNews Aktuell for you to read again:

1 Danish flag and dual crew for Scandlines New construction

[1] On May 23, 2023, Scandlines announced that all steel plates for the new Scandlines cargo ferry “PR24” had been cut to size at the Cemre shipyard in Turkey. All 36 sections are to be welded together and placed on the slipway by the end of June 2023. The 147.4-metre-long and 25.4-metre-wide Ferry will enter service in 2024 under the Danish flag and with a dual crew on the route between Puttgarden on Fehmarn and Rødby on the Danish island of Lolland. During their training, the dual officers will acquire skills in navigation, engineering, management, etc. and will thus be trained to work as both technical officers and skippers. Preparations are also in full swing at Scandlines’ Simulator in Puttgarden. A digital twin of the “PR24” will be installed there in the first quarter of 2024 so that the crew has enough time to practise Ferries on the “PR24” before it goes into service.

The ferry terminals in Puttgarden and Rødby must also be prepared for the use of the “PR24” and the increased traffic volume, especially in the freight sector.

Scandlines has therefore carried out a comprehensive traffic study in collaboration with the construction consultancy Sweco, which forms the basis for the new terminal infrastructure. The new infrastructure will increase the capacity of the terminal areas and enable the automation of check-in and the use of the new “PR24” cargo ferry. In addition to the remodeling of the terminals, an automatic license plate recognition system will also be installed at check-in, which will both speed up check-in and improve the customer experience.

2 Stena Line relocates ferry terminals in Gothenburg

[2] Stena Line and the Port of Gothenburg signed an agreement on June 9, 2023 for the relocation of Stena Line ‘s ferry terminals for German and Danish traffic. The new location in the Arendal port area, approx. 10 km outside the city center, will provide the basis for sustainable transport solutions for both Stena Line and the Port of Gothenburg.

The new terminal is scheduled to go into operation as early as 2028 and will be leased from Stena Line for at least 25 years. The construction of the terminal and the terminal building will be carried out by the Port of Gothenburg.

Since the 1960s, the Stena Line Ferries services to Kiel and Frederikshavn have been handled centrally in Gothenburg. The move to the Arendal port area opens up new expansion opportunities for Stena Line in order to meet the increasing freight and passenger rates. At the same time, the move offers development opportunities for the city of Gothenburg.

What do you think of the relocation of the ferry terminals? Do you think the new location has advantages or do you think the old jetties are better suited? Let us know your opinion in the comments.

3 STAVANGERFJORD and BERGENSFJORD back in service

[3] As we reported in the January issue of FährNews Aktuell, the STAVANGERFJORD and BERGENSFJORD from Fjord Line were in dock for an extended period of time due to the replacement of the ships’ LNG engines with dual-fuel engines. The STAVANGERFJORD has been back in operation since May 26, the BERGENSFJORD since June 16.

Both ships now have new dual-fuel engines that can run on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine diesel (MGO).

In addition to replacing the engines, other changes have also been made on board. For example, there is a new lounge suitable for domestic travelers between Bergen and Stavanger. Passengers have access to comfortable seats, simple meals, Wi-Fi and power sockets. The outdoor lounge has been upgraded and there is now also a children’s play area.

With the recommissioning of the modernized ships, passengers can once again travel between Bergen, Stavanger, Hirtshals and Kristiansand all year round. In the high season, Fjord Line will offer four daily departures between Kristiansand and Hirtshals.

4 Progress with new buildings for CMAL

[4] On May 24, 2023, two milestones were reached in the construction of four new ships for CMAL at the Cemre shipyard in Turkey. The first milestone was the keel laying of the LOCH INDAAL, the sister ship of the ISLE OF ISLAY, both of which will serve the islands of Islay and Jura. The second milestone was the steel cut for the first, as yet unnamed, vessel for Little Minch.

The ISLE OF ISLAY is expected to be delivered in October 2024 and the LOCH INDAAL in February 2025. The new ships will increase vehicle and cargo capacity on the Islay routes by almost 40%, reduce emissions and improve the resilience of the entire fleet.

The new vessels for Little Minch will be designed and built to the same specifications as the two new vessels for Islay, but will have raised rear loading decks to accommodate the higher berths at Lochmaddy, Uig and Tarbert. We have already reported on the newbuildings in the January issue of FährNews Aktuell. You can find the link in the video description.

The ships will each be able to carry up to 450 passengers and 100 cars or 14 commercial vehicles. This will increase vehicle and freight capacity on the Little Minch routes and improve the overall reliability of the entire fleet.

The new buildings are expected to be delivered in June and October 2025.

5 P&O PIONEERs put into service

[5] On June 19, 2023, P&O Ferries’ new hybrid ship, the P&O PIONEER, was officially put into service as part of its maiden voyage. The P&O PIONEER will be deployed on the route between Dover in England and Calais in France.

The ship can be powered by both conventional fuel and a battery supply and is designed to be CO2 neutral in the future.

With the further development of technology and the installation of charging stations in ports, the installation of additional batteries on board will enable fully electric operation.

With a length of 230 meters, the P&O PIONEER, together with its sister ship yet to come, is the largest double-ended ferry in the world. The newbuild offers various amenities, especially for passengers. In addition to a dedicated Commercial Drivers Lounge for truck drivers, the P&O PIONEER also features a Kids Zone & Teen Zone with entertainment options for children of all ages, a Pet Lounge that offers pet owners a comfortable travel experience with a bright, inviting space, complimentary hot drinks and an outdoor exercise area directly accessible via a dedicated elevator. The new ship also features P&O’s largest duty-free shopping area on board, measuring 588m2, a food market with a layout inspired by food markets found in train stations and airports. There should be something for everyone, including pizzas, paninis and a selection of salads, sandwiches, sweet treats and drinks.

6 STENA VINGA chartered to Africa Morocco Link

[6] The Moroccan company Africa Morocco Link, which is part of the Attica Group, has chartered the STENA VINGA, which sails under the Swedish Ferries, for the 2023 summer season. The ship, which should be familiar to many as an all-rounder for Stena Line in particular, will sail between the ports of Algeciras in Spain and Tangier Med in Morocco.

[7] Built in 2005 as the HAMMERODDE for Bornholm traffic, the ship is 124.9 meters long, 23.4 meters wide and can accommodate 400 passengers and 1235 loading meters for freight and cars.

7 La Méridionale officially part of CMA CGM

[8] In the February issue of FährNews Aktuell, we already reported on the CMA CGM Group’s interest in acquiring La Méridionale. CMA CGM has now completed the takeover of La Méridionale at the end of May. La Méridionale is a freight and passenger shipping company based in Marseille since 1931. La Méridionale currently has four RoPax vessels that operate up to 13 weekly crossings between Marseille, Porto Vecchio and Ajaccio as well as services between Marseille and Morocco.

The acquisition of La Méridionale expands the CMA CGM Group’s new business unit, which has focused on specialized transport. In addition to the new car transport business, the participation in Brittany Ferries and the investment in NEOLINE, a Nantes-based company developing the first sail-powered ro-ro vessel, La Méridionale is now also part of this division.

CMA CGM’s vision for La Méridionale is to create the first “green corridor” in the Mediterranean. To this end, the CMA CGM Group will invest in the modernization of the shipping company’s fleet to improve energy efficiency and increase environmental sustainability. The Group intends to order two new LNG-powered vessels. These ships will be able to run on methanol and will be among the most environmentally friendly ships in the sector. It will even be possible to call at ports without any CO2 emissions at all. The newbuilds will replace the oldest ships on the routes between Corsica and Marseille and thus help to protect the environment between the island and the mainland.

8 GNV charters CADENA 3

[9] The Italian shipping company Grande Navi Veloci, or GNV for short, has chartered the CADENA 3 for the summer season, a vessel it is already familiar with from its time at Hansa Destinations. The ship is to be used on the GNV routes from the Italian mainland to the island of Sicily, where it will take over freight transport, leaving more space on board the passenger ferries for holidaymakers and their vehicles.

9 Corsica Ferries on the way to optimal sustainability

[10] Wärtsilä will create a decarbonization model for two vessels in the Corsica Ferries fleet. As part of the study, a digital model of the two ships will be created to simulate the impact of different decarbonization technologies on their environmental performance. This will allow an accurate assessment of the efficiency gains that are possible through the implementation of the latest technological innovations.

[11] The MEGA EXPRESS and the MEGA EXPRESS TWO are sister ships with a length of 176 meters. Both Ferries have been in operation for Corsica Ferries since the early 2000s and have a capacity of 1756 passengers and 900 loading meters.

[10] Both are powered by Wärtsilä engines and propellers. Technologies to be evaluated during the modelling include propeller blading and hybridization, as well as Wärtsilä’s energy-saving Energoprofin propeller cap solution and the company’s air lubrication system, which reduces fuel consumption.

“It is a great advantage to be able to simulate in advance how different products, solutions and systems will affect efficiency. This will help us in our efforts to decarbonize fleet operations and achieve our sustainability goals. We value Wärtsilä’s experience and capabilities and look forward to continuing the good relationship between our companies with this modeling program,” says Nicolò Verrina, Energy Transition Naval Architect & Ocean Engineer of Corsica Ferries.

News in brief from Southern Europe

Here are a few short news items from Southern Europe. As you will already have noticed, a new speaker is on board for this episode. For the first time, these short news items will be presented by another FährNews team member who specializes in ferry services in the Mediterranean region. I am therefore very pleased to hand over the floor to my esteemed colleague Lukas. Thank you very much for your contribution! Please leave a Like now if you like his contributions!

10 Grimaldi Euromed continues to operate the Civitavecchia – Arbatax – Cagliari route

[12] Grimaldi Euromed, a subsidiary of the Grimaldi Group, emerged as the only bidder following a public tender launched by the Italian Ministry of Transport at the beginning of the year and will therefore most likely continue to operate the subsidized maritime connection on the Civitavecchia – Arbatax – Cagliari route. The deadline for submitting bids was May 5, 2023 and the binding price was EUR 42.4 million. Grimaldi, on the other hand, only offered EUR 26.9 million to operate the route over the next three years, but has now been awarded the contract.

[13] Grimaldi Euromed will deploy the ferry CORFÙ. The CORFÙ is 186 meters long and 25.6 meters wide. The ship is a Visentini class ro/pax vessel with a capacity of 2540 lane meters and 936 passengers at a maximum speed of 23 knots.

11 BLUE STAR 1 back in Greece

[14] After 26 months in the Irish Sea, the BLUE STAR 1 from Blue Star Ferries is returning to Greece. Since March 2021, the ship has been chartered by Irish Ferries for the Pembroke-Rosslare route, replacing the ISLE OF INISHMORE.

The ro-pax ship will enter service on July 1, 2023 on the Piraeus – Paros – Naxos – Santorini route, replacing her fleet colleague BLUE STAR PATMOS on the afternoon departures. The BLUE STAR 1 will call at Syros three times a week and at the port of Anafi twice a week. The ship will operate this route until September 11, 2023.

[15] The BLUE STAR 1 is 176 meters long, 26 meters wide and offers space for 1890 passengers and 1718 loading meters for freight and vehicles. With a top speed of 28 knots, the Blue Star 1 significantly increases tonnage during the summer months.

12 Aegean Sea Lines resumes Ferries service

[16] Aegean Sea Lines announced its return to the domestic Greek ferry market with the ANEMOS from June 26, 2023. The ship will be deployed on the Piraeus – Serifos – Sifnos – Milos and Piraeus – Sifnos – Ios – Santorini routes. The former ROSELLA from Viking Line, which is currently being overhauled at the Perama shipyard, will be used.

“A trip is not just about booking tickets. It’s about much more. It’s the prompt service, the comfort, the upgrade options, the amenities, but above all the feeling of security that you and your loved ones have entrusted yourself to the right people. Modern ships, impeccable staff, human treatment. Now you have the right ferry company for the Cyclades,” said an Aegean Sea Lines spokesperson.

13 PRINCE to Brindisi – Valona Relation

[17] The Ferry PRINCE from A-Ships Management will soon be deployed on the Brindisi – Valona route. The ship, which was built in Ireland in 1979, was purchased by the Croatian state ferry company Jadrolinija on April 14, 2023, refurbished in dry dock and is expected to leave Greece at the end of June.

[18] The PRINCE has a capacity of 1,300 passengers and 300 cars and reaches a top speed of 20 knots. She is the third ship in the A-Ships Management fleet. The GALAXY (1979) and the GOLDEN BRIDGE (1990) are currently chartered to Siremar and GNV.

That’s it again for the June issue of FährNews Aktuell. Finally, a request to you: If you watch our videos regularly and like them, but are not yet a subscriber to our channel, please do so now. We’d be delighted if you did, and your subscription will soon enable us to offer you even more. Stay tuned!

Until then, you are welcome to watch the last episode of FährNews Aktuell. Among other things, it covered the launch of the new Polferries vessel and the charter of the VISBORG by Baleària. Have fun and see you soon!

14 Sources

• [1] “Scandlines’ new zero-emission Ferry under Danish flag with dual crew | Scandlines”. https://www.mynewsdesk.com/de/scandlines/pressreleases/scandlines-neue-emissionsfreie-ferry-under-danish-flag-with-dual-crew-3253796 (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [2] C. Ferry, “Stena Line relocates ferry terminals in Gothenburg for sustainable ferry traffic ››› ferry-guide.com”, Ferry-guide.com, June 12, 2023. https://ferry-guide.com/news/stena-line-relocates-ferry-terminals-in-goeteborg-for-sustainable-ferry-transport/ (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [3] “STAVANGERFJORD and BERGENSFJORD return to service and ownership change announced in Fjord Line”, Shippax. https://www.shippax.com/en/news/stavangerfjord-and-bergensfjord-back-in-service-and-ownership-change-announced-in-fjord-line.aspx (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [4] “Construction milestones met for LOCH INDAAL and first of two Little Minch ferries”, Shippax. https://www.shippax.com/en/news/construction-milestones-met-for-loch-indaal-and-first-of-two-little-minch-ferries.aspx (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [5] “P&O PIONEER makes maiden voyage today June 19”, Shippax. https://www.shippax.com/en/news/po-pioneer-makes-maiden-voyage-today-19-june.aspx (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [6] J. C. D. Lorenzo, “AML fleta el ropax sueco “Stena Vinga” para la OPE 2023″, Puente de Mando – Juan Carlos Diaz, June 6, 2023. https://www.puentedemando.com/aml-fleta-el-ropax-sueco-stena-vinga-para-la-ope-2023/ (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [7] “M/S HAMMERODDE (2005)”. https://www.faktaomfartyg.se/hammerodde_2005.htm (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [8] “CMA CGM Acquires La Méridionale, New Ship Orders”. https://www.marinelink.com/news/cma-cgm-acquires-la-mridionale-new-ship-505501 (accessed June 21, 2023).
• [9] sandra, “GNV charters CADENA 3”, Ferry Shipping News. https://ferryshippingnews.com/gnv-charters-cadena-3/ (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [10] “Corsica Ferries to seek optimal sustainability with Wärtsilä’s Decarbonisation Modelling service”, Shippax. https://www.shippax.com/en/news/corsica-ferries-to-seek-optimal-sustainability-with-wartsilas-decarbonisation-modelling-service.aspx (accessed 20 June 2023).
• [11] “Mega Express Two”, Wikipedia. August 15, 2021. Accessed: June 20, 2023 [Online]. Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mega_Express_Two&oldid=214778240
• [12] sandra, “Grimaldi unique bidder for the maritime continuity”, Ferry Shipping News. https://ferryshippingnews.com/grimaldi-unique-bidder-for-the-maritime-continuity-on-the-civitavecchia-arbatax-cagliari-route/ (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [13] “CORFÙ : Information and special features”, Grimaldi Lines. https://www.grimaldi-lines.com/de/schiffe/corfu/ (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [14] “BLUE STAR 1 returns to Greece”. https://ferryshippingnews.com/blue-star-1-returns-to-greece/ (accessed June 27, 2023).
• [15] “Blue Star 1”, Blue Star Ferries. https://www.bluestarferries.com/en-gb/our-fleet/blue-star-1 (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [16] sandra, “Aegean Sea lines’ ANEMOS enters service on June 26”, Ferry Shipping News. https://ferryshippingnews.com/aegean-sea-lines-anemos-enters-service-on-june-26/ (accessed June 20, 2023).
• [17] sandra, “PRINCE soon on the Brindisi – Valona line”, Ferry Shipping News. https://ferryshippingnews.com/prince-soon-on-the-brindisi-valona-line/ (accessed June 21, 2023).
• [18] “M/F Prince”, Wikipedia. June 9, 2023. Accessed June 21, 2023 [Online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=M/F_Prince&oldid=1159313742

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