Wightlink’s new £30million environmentally friendly car ferry for the Portsmouth-Fishbourne route will be named Victoria of Wight. The name was chosen by a panel of staff who considered 186 suggestions from 73 members of staff. Work is well underway on…
In the news, we report on the 500th voyage for Shieldhall, the first LNG offshore construction vessel completed, a new ferry for Carlingford Lough, and a new Stena ship charter. The ferry scene covers Stena buying the Cairnryan Superfast twins,…
On the hottest day of the year to date, 21 July 2017, a cool bottle of champagne was broken over the rail of Elizabeth River IV, thus christening Hampton Roads Transit’s (HRT) newest passenger ferry. Designed by BMT and constructed…
Stena Line has recorded strong volumes on its Belfast services for the first six months of 2017. To the end of June 2017, freight volumes increased +5%, passengers and cars grew +4% year on year. The fastest growing sector…
On 21 July 2017, in response to demand on the route from Rotterdam (Europoort) to Harwich, Stena Line announced that it is to increase capacity by changing to larger ships. The current ro-ro ships Capucine and Severine, which operate twice daily…
Brittany Ferries has confirmed the extension of its charter of MN Pelican (1999/12,076gt) from French shipowner Maritime Nantaise until 2019. This 155m con-ro vessel entered service between Poole and Bilbao during February 2016, initially on a one year charter. Announcing the news,…
The September 2017 issue of Ships Monthly is out now. Don’t forget to get your copy from your local newsagent. What to know about classic cruise ships still going strong? Black Watch, Columbus and Ocean Diamond all featured. Russell Plummer…
Stena Line’s parent company has confirmed a multi-million pound investment package to acquire the Superfast VII and Superfast VIII ferries which operate on its Cairnryan-Belfast route. The ships currently operate under a charter contract agreement with AS Tallink Grupp and…
On 13 July 2017 the ferry operated by Dutch shipping firm TESO, Texelstroom, began running on CNG (compressed natural gas), which is a first in Europe. Every year, TESO carries two million passengers and approximately 600,000 vehicles from Den Helder to…
God Mets Ons III, Ireland’s oldest domestic ferry serving Valentia Island in Co Kerry on the scenic west coast, is in doubt as the ageing vessel dating from 1963 no longer meets marine safety requirements. The seasonal service linking Reenard…