FährNews Aktuell – June 2024 issue

Hello and welcome to the June issue of FährNews Aktuell in 2024. The top topics of this episode are presented by ferry-guide.com, where you can easily book Ferries online:

• DFDS sells capital city route – Who will operate the connection between Copenhagen, Frederikshavn and Oslo in future?
• Brittany Ferries plans emission-free ship – What the study will investigate
• And: Total loss of the LA SUPERBA – After the fire last year, there is now certainty

The top topics of the June issue of FährNews Aktuell were presented by ferry-guide.com, the easy online booking platform for your ferry crossing. But here we go with the June issue of FährNews Aktuell. Be sure to stay tuned until the end so you don’t miss any news!

---

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

1 VICTORIA I on Tallinn – Stockholm

[1] Since May 31, 2024, Tallink Silja Line has been operating a second ship, the VICTORIA I, on the Tallinn-Stockholm route in addition to the BALTIC QUEEN. The deployment of the second ship will increase the number of departures between the two capitals during the summer season. In addition, eight summer cruises to Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland are planned with the VICTORIA I.
[2] The VICTORIA I is almost 194 meters long and 29 meters wide. It has a capacity for 2500 passengers and offers space for vehicles on 1000 lane meters.

2 BALTIC PRINCESS continues on Stockholm – Turku

[3] Tallink Silja Line has also announced that the BALTIC PRINCESS will continue to operate on the Stockholm-Turku route instead of returning to the former Kapellskär-Turku route. In addition, a new cruise product, “A Day in Turku”, will be introduced from Stockholm. This cruise will take place every Tuesday from September 17, 2024.

The current summer timetable of the BALTIC PRINCESS, with daily departures between Stockholm and Turku, will run until September 15, 2024 extended. From the From September 16, the BALTIC PRINCESS will continue on the same route, but with “A Day in Turku” cruises every Tuesday. This means that the ship will not resume the Kapellskär-Turku route, but will instead offer cruises and regular trips between Stockholm and Turku.

Every Tuesday, travelers from Stockholm have the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing cruise with two nights on board and a full day in the charming city of Turku. The cruise on the BALTIC PRINCESS departs Stockholm at 19:00 in the evening, arrives in Turku at 10:15 the next day and departs Turku again at 20:15, leaving plenty of time to explore the city.

During the day in Turku, travelers can experience the city’s rich history by visiting Turku Castle, stroll along the beautiful Aura River, enjoy delicious food in one of the popular restaurants or visit one of the city’s many museums with the family – a perfect day out for both families with children and culture vultures.

“In the past, it was not possible to stay overnight in Turku and return on the same ship. The new cruise allows travelers to leave their luggage in the cabin while they explore the city and return to the ship whenever they want during the day,” explains Matts Gottfarb, Commercial Director at Tallink Silja AB.

The BALTIC PRINCESS offers entertainment and activities for all ages. On board there are five restaurants, five bars, four stores, a play area for children, several conference rooms and a relaxing sauna area.

3 DFDS sells cruise ferry route

[4] DFDS will sell its cruise ferry route between Copenhagen, Frederikshavn and Oslo to the Swedish shipping company Gotlandsbolaget, also known as Rederi Gotland AB. This is intended to give the route the focus and investment needed to further develop it as a more mini-cruise line, while DFDS will concentrate more on its core business of freight, passenger transportation and logistics. The sale price is approximately DKK 400 million.

According to Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS, the separation from the route, which is an important part of the shipping company’s history, comes with a heavy heart. At the same time, however, this was the right step to place the route in the hands of a company with cruise experience as part of its core strategy.

Håkan Johansson, CEO of Gotlandsbolaget, expressed his confidence that the well-performing route will be further developed and represents a further step for the company to expand in the passenger shipping sector.

As part of the sale, around 800 employees will transfer to Gotlandsbolaget, and the two Ferries, [5] the CROWN SEAWAYS commissioned in 1994, [6] the PEARL SEAWAYS commissioned in 1989, [4] as well as port and terminal facilities are also part of the sale. The transaction is expected to be completed by October of this year.

If you would still like to experience the old operator DFDS or, from October, the new operator Gotlandsbolaget on the route between the Danish and Norwegian capitals, then book your ferry ticket with our partner ferry-guide.com. Here you can also see all alternative crossing options directly when you make your booking, should a departure not fit into your schedule, for example. You will also receive a price overview of the individual shipping companies during the booking process. At Ferry-guide.com you can easily book ferries online. You can also find the link to Faehren.net at the top of the video description or at the end of the video.

4 Irish Ferries renames ships

Following the acquisition of the SPIRIT OF BRITAIN, which we reported on in the last issue of FährNews Aktuell, the Irish shipping company Irish Ferries has now announced the new name of its new addition.

[7] The former SPIRIT OF BRITAIN will in future operate as OSCAR WILDE for Irish Ferries on the Dover-Calais route. The former OSCAR WILDE, which is used on the routes from Holyhead to Dublin and from Dublin to Cherbourg, will be renamed JAMES JOYCE. The OSCAR WILDE has now joined the Irish Ferries fleet on the Dover to Calais route as of this month. At the same time, the ISLE OF INNISFREE switches to the route from Pembroke to Rosslare.

Irish Ferries is proud to pass on its Irish heritage by naming its ships after famous Irish writers and their literary works.

Fittingly, the new JAMES JOYCE was built by the same shipbuilders as the ULYSSES, which is named after Joyce’s most famous novel. The JAMES JOYCE will sail side by side with the ULYSSES in the future. The legendary Irish writer, poet and literary critic Oscar Wilde is considered one of the most influential and important writers of the 20th century.

5 Brittany Ferries, Wärtsilä and Incat plan emission-free ship

[8] Brittany Ferries, Wärtsilä and Incat have signed a partnership agreement to investigate the design and technical requirements for a 137m zero emission vessel. The project comes at a time when Brittany Ferries is completing the largest fleet renewal program in its history. Between 2020 and 2025, a total of five new vessels will join the fleet, including two LNG-powered vessels and two LNG-electric hybrid vessels powered by shore-side electricity.

The agreement signed is to explore ways in which Brittany Ferries can achieve zero-emission ferry operations by 2050, particularly in collaboration with Wärtsilä as the supplier of LNG propulsion for the current newbuilds and Incat as the manufacturer of high-speed ferries.

For Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries, this agreement is an important project, as various options are being examined as to how Brittany Ferries can operate its routes completely emission-free by 2050. A fully electric drive is a possible solution that is best suited to shorter ferry routes. At the moment, Brittany Ferries does not yet know what is feasible and on which route the newbuilds will be used, but possibilities are now being explored.

6 DENIA CIUTAT CREATIVA on the Motril – Tangier Med route

[9] The DENIA CIUTAT CREATIVA from the Spanish shipping company Baleària will be operating the daily sea route between the port of Motril and the Moroccan port of Tangier Med with immediate effect. Last year, Baleària transported more than 20,000 passengers and 246,000 lane meters of freight on this route.

[10] The 150-metre-long DENIA CIUTAT CREATIVA was purchased by La Méridionale in 2015 and has a maximum speed of 19 knots, [9] a capacity for 399 passengers and 440 vehicles or 1,850 loading meters for freight. In addition to various seats, 79 cabins are also available. Baleària has been operating the route between Spain and Morocco since the end of 2022 and offers a daily service with departure from the port of Motril at 14:00 and arrival in Tangier Med at 20:30. In the opposite direction, departure is at midnight and arrival at 08:30 in Motril.

7 Moby opens new connections to Corsica

[11] Moby Lines has expanded its ferry service to Corsica with new and improved routes to meet the growing demand from travelers. The innovations include two new lines. On the one hand the Genoa-Ajaccio-Porto Torres route and on the other the Piombino-Bastia route.

The Genoa-Ajaccio-Porto Torres route will be served by the MOBY ALE DUE and the MOBY TOMMY from June to September [12], [11] with two connections per week in June and three in July, August and September. This new connection is intended to provide a more convenient connection to the French island, allowing passengers to save travel time and enjoy their vacation in Ajaccio.
The Piombino-Bastia route, the fastest connection between the mainland and Corsica, will be served twice a week in July and August, on Saturdays and Sundays [13] by the MOBY KISS.

[11] In addition to the new routes, Moby is also strengthening its existing connections. On the Livorno-Bastia route, the frequency has been increased since Easter until November with daily departures [14] of the MOBY ZAZA.

[11] The Genoa-Bastia route will be reinforced with up to two departures per day from mid-May to the end of September.

[15] One departure takes place during the day and one with a longer crossing time overnight. This route is served by the ships MOBY AKI, MOBY CORSE and MOBY ORLI.

[11] These extensions reflect Moby’s commitment to improving the accessibility of Corsica and complementing its historic routes.

8 Ban on battery systems at Ferries in Italy

[16] In Italy, shipping companies are prohibited from using battery systems installed on board their ships as environmentally friendly propulsion systems. Only the ro-ro ships of the GG5G class from Grimaldi are allowed to test the technology. All other Ferries equipped with battery systems on board are not allowed to use them. The reason for the ban is the lack of regulations and laws on the use of battery systems, said Lorenzo Matacena, CEO of Caronte & Tourist, during the business meeting for Ferries and RoRo operators organized by Shipping Italy in Naples.

Lorenzo Matacena also pointed out that there are now several shipping companies in Italy that are investing in batteries. In addition to Caronte & Tourist, these include RFI, Liberty Lines, Actv and many others. However, in order to achieve the Italian government’s decarbonization targets, it is essential that all ships and high-speed ferries equipped with new technologies such as a battery system can also use them.

All the shipping companies involved have called on the local shipping authorities to deal with this problem and resolve it as quickly as possible.

9 GNV reports total loss for LA SUPERBA

[17] The Ferry LA SUPERBA from Grandi Navi Veloci, which caught fire on January 14, 2023 in the port of Palermo in Sicily in the area of the vehicle deck, was declared a total loss and will probably soon be sold to Turkey for scrapping.

The insurance company Siat now owns the ship after GNV declared it a constructive total loss. Originally, GNV intended to return LA SUPERBA to service by summer 2023, but the vessel has remained inactive due to significant fire damage to the forward part of the ship, including two decks in the garage, some cabins and a public area.

So let’s shed some light on your story to say goodbye to this ship.

[18] The LA SUPERBA was delivered to GNV in March 2002 by the Nuovi Cantieri Apunia shipyard in Italy. When it entered service, it was the largest passenger ferry in the Mediterranean and one of the largest in the world. The Ferries offered space for 2,920 passengers in 567 cabins and 940 seats. It had 2,800 loading meters of space for vehicles. The Ferries also had balcony cabins, which is a rarity on RoPax ferries.

Perhaps a buyer can be found for the damaged ship and thus save the LA SUPERBA from being scrapped. As always, we will keep you up to date if there are any developments.

10 Attica Group charters AF Claudia

[19] The Attica Group has chartered the ro-pax ferry AF CLAUDIA from Adria Ferries for Superfast Ferries for 12 months. The ship will serve the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Venice route and replace Superfast Ferries’ ARIADNE, which will be transferred to the Piraeus-Heraklion route. The AF CLAUDIA began its journey from Patras on June 4 under the Superfast Ferries brand. The ship, which was previously used by Grimaldi and DFDS, was launched in 2001 at the Visentini shipyard in Italy and can carry 1,000 passengers as well as freight and cars on 2,044 lane meters.

[20] Due to the fact that the AF CLAUDIA only has 75 cabins compared to the originally planned LEFKA ORI with 184 cabins in each category, which now takes the position of the ARIADNE on the Adriatic, the Attica Group is rebooking.

If you have booked the ship, please pay attention to notifications from the company. The ship also had problems keeping to the schedule for the Venice – Igoumenitsa – Patras route and was thirteen hours late leaving Venice on June 15. This information comes from my personal research and information from guests with whom I have contact. I will stay tuned in this case. If you have ever had to deal with rebookings by a shipping company, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

11 DALMACIJA put into service for Jadrolinja

[19] The DALMACIJA, the largest ship in Jadrolinja’s history, set sail on its maiden voyage from Dubrovnik in Croatia to Bari in Italy on June 3, 2024. The DALMACIJA is the former OSLOFJORD of the shipping company Fjord Line.

As we reported in the February issue of FährNews Aktuell, this was sold to Jadrolinja at the beginning of 2024.

But that will be it for the June issue of FährNews Aktuell in 2024. Did you like the issue? Then leave with pleasure a Like there. If you have any other comments or requests, feel free to write us a comment. We look forward to your feedback!

FährNews Aktuell is now taking a summer break and there will be no issue of our news format in July. The reason for this is the generally low density of news during the summer vacation and vacation period. That’s why we’ll be back on August 30 with all the latest news from the last two months.

But that doesn’t mean you have to do without videos on this channel completely: In two weeks’ time, there will be a new edition of FährNews Spotlight on the CRACOVIA from Polferries. And a new format awaits you in four weeks’ time. So stay tuned and enjoy the summertime!

To book your ferry crossing, you can now click on the link to Faehren.net. Otherwise, please leave another subscription! If you haven’t had enough of FerryNews, we can recommend the latest issue of FerryNews News. Among other things, it dealt with the sale of the SPIRIT OF BRITAIN and nine possible newbuilds at Grimaldi. Have fun and see you soon!

Sources

• [1] “Tallink Silja Line adds VICTORIA I as second vessel to the Tallinn-Stockholm route for summer peak season, Tallink Silja Line adds VICTORIA I as second vessel to the Tallinn-Stockholm route for summer peak season”, Shippax. Accessed: June 17, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.shippax.com/en/news/tallink-silja-line-adds-victoria-i-as-second-vessel-to-the-tallinn-stockholm-route-for-summer-peak-season-.aspx
• [2] “M/S VICTORIA (2004)”. Accessed: June 17, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.faktaomfartyg.se/victoria_2004.htm
• [3] “BALTIC PRINCESS continues on the route between Stockholm and Turku – now with a new cruise product”, Shippax. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.shippax.com/en/news/baltic-princess-continues-on-the-route-between-stockholm-and-turku-now-with-a-new-cruise-product.aspx
• [4] “DFDS to sell Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen route to Gotlandsbolaget, DFDS to sell Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen route to Gotlandsbolaget”, Shippax. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.shippax.com/en/news/breaking-news-dfds-to-sell-oslo-frederikshavn-copenhagen-route-to-gotlandsbolaget-.aspx
• [5] “M/S CROWN OF SCANDINAVIA (1994)”. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://faktaomfartyg.se/crown_of_scandinavia_1994.htm
• [6] “M/S ATHENA (1989)”. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://faktaomfartyg.se/athena_1989.htm
• [7] “Irish Ferries name changes for Dover Calais and Holyhead Dublin ships”, Shippax. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.shippax.com/en/news/irish-ferries-name-changes-for-dover-calais-and-holyhead-dublin-ships.aspx
• [8] “Brittany Ferries, Wärtsilä and Incat partner on zero-emissions ferry project – Brittany Ferries”. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://brittanyferriesnewsroom.com/brittany-ferries-wartsila-and-incat-partner-on-zero-emissions-ferry-project/
• [9] “Baleària adds the DENIA CIUTAT CREATIVA to the route between Motril and Tangier Med”, Shippax. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.shippax.com/en/news/baleria-adds-the-denia-ciutat-creativa-to-the-route-between-motril-and-tangier-med.aspx
• [10] “M/S VIA LIGURE (1992)”. Accessed June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/via_ligure_1992.htm
• [11] sandra, “Moby: new ferry routes to Corsica”, Ferry Shipping News. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://ferryshippingnews.com/moby-new-ferry-routes-to-corsica/
• [12] “Ferry Genoa Ajaccio book now – MOBY”. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.mobylines.de/routen/ferries-corsica/genoa-ajaccio-genoa/
• [13] “Ferry Piombino Bastia – Book MOBY tickets”. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.mobylines.de/routen/ferries-korsika/piombino-bastia-piombino/
• [14] “Ferry Livorno Bastia – Corsica booking │ MOBY”. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.mobylines.de/routen/ferries-korsika/livorno-bastia-livorno/
• [15] “Ferry Genoa Bastia Korsica – Book now │ MOBY”. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.mobylines.de/routen/ferries-korsika/genua-bastia-genua/
• [16] sandra, “No use of batteries allowed on ferries in Italy”, Ferry Shipping News. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://ferryshippingnews.com/no-use-of-batteries-allowed-on-ferries-in-italy/
• [17] sandra, “GNV declared total loss for LA SUPERBA – Now likely to be sold for scrap”, Ferry Shipping News. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://ferryshippingnews.com/gnv-declared-total-loss-for-la-superba-now-likely-to-be-sold-for-scrap/
• [18] “La Superba (ship)”, Wikipedia. June 17, 2024. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=La_Superba_(ship)&oldid=245991945
• [19] sandra, “IMAGE CARDS week 23-2024”, Ferry Shipping News. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://ferryshippingnews.com/image-cards-week-23-2024-2/
• [20] “AF Claudia ship – Adria Ferries”. Accessed: June 20, 2024 [Online]. Available at: https://www.adriaferries.com/en/ferries/af-claudia.html

You can find this and other episodes of FährNews Aktuell on the FährNews YouTube channel.