A formal European Commission investigation has started into SeaFrance with particular focus on whether parent SNCM French Railways’ €223 million recapitalisation plan for the troubled English Channel ferry operator is compatible with European Union rules on state aid. SeaFrance currently…
LD Lines are sending Norman Voyager to the Mediterranean at the end of a current charter for Celtic Link Ferries’ Rosslare-Cherbourg service. Delivered by Visentini in 2009, she takes over LD Lines’ Marseilles-Tunis service from 15 November, initially making three…
Stena Line’s acquisition of DFDS Irish Sea routes from Belfast to Birkenhead and Heysham has been approved by the Competition Commission. Although the findings were not originally expected until 25 July, the green light for Stena came before the end…
A regular former UK ports visitor with Norway Line, Color Line, DFDS and on charter to Sealink, Wind Ambition (pictured), has been sent by Dutch owners C-Bed to Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, for a refit. Built in 1974 as Sessan Line’s…
Despite the loss of a subsidy worth £55,000 a year, Hythe Ferry operator White Horse Ferries reports an increase in fare-paying passengers on its service from Hythe Pier to Southampton Town Quay. What is one of England’s oldest passenger links…
The Gourock-Dunoon ferry link becomes a passenger-only service under a £10.6 million six-year contract awarded by the Scottish Government to present operator Argyll Ferries, a subsidiary of David MacBrayne Limited. Argyll Ferries are seen as providing the best value for…
Flyingcat twins Fastcat Shanklin and Raparee, the former Fastcat Ryde (below), have gone to Russia, arriving in Sochi as deck cargo aboard piggyback ship Beluga Fantasy in mid-May. Like Stena Line’s three former Fleetwood-Larne route ro-ro ferries, they will be…
Although late May gales, which played havoc with Irish Sea and Scottish services, failed to stop Caledonian MacBrayne’s new Islay route ferry Finlaggan from arriving in time for a naming ceremony on 25 May, the £24.5 million vessel was unable…
Early May brought a return to her original LD Lines route between Le Havre and Portsmouth for Norman Spirit after a year away on the now discontinued co-operation with TransEuropa Ferries between Ramsgate and Ostend. Completed in 1991 as the…
There will be a change on Celtic Link’s Rosslare-Cherbourg service in October, when one chartered Visentini-built ro-pax replaces another, Norman Voyager (2008/26,904gt) returning to LD Lines as Cartour Beta begins a five-year Celtic Link contract. Although Cartour Beta, completed in…
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