Ferry Fleets Update – October 2021

By: Gary Andrews
Date:
Last updated:
WASA EXPRESS at Alexandria Port 24/10/21. Image: Mohamed Badawi
WASA EXPRESS at Alexandria Port 24/10/21. Image: Mohamed Badawi

Starting this month, NIFS brings you a monthly update of the latest changes to the Global ferry fleet.  

All information is thoroughly researched and cross-checked as far as possible.  However, please note that this is a snapshot at the time of writing and late changes may occur.

Charters

Baleària is to take a short charter of the WASA EXPRESS from UME.  She is expected to operate on the Nador – Almeria route from the middle of November.  The company is also reported to be taking delivery of a Visentini in January.  With the AURA SEAWAYS due in service in the New Year at Klaipeda, NIFS suggests that this vessel could be the KERRY, currently on charter to DFDS from Stena RoRo.

Meanwhile, Baleària’s charter of the ROSALIND FRANKLIN has come to an end and the vessel is currently enroute from Valencia to Malmö.  Owner, Finnlines will revert her to the name of FINNCLIPPER and use her on their Malmö – Travemünde route.

The Moby Group/Tirrenia CiN has chartered the MARIA GRAZIA ONORATO to CLdN/Cobelfret for 12 months, reportedly at a time charter rate of around €20,000 per day.  The vessel arrived at Rotterdam on 30 October.

MARIA GRAZIA ONORATO arrived at Rozenburg, Rotterdam 30/10/21. Image: Rob de Visser


Another Moby Group roro, ELIANA MARINO started operating on DFDS’ Trieste – Mersin route on 8 October. This is said to be a 6-month charter, at a reported €14,000 per day.

GNV has retained the Ernst Russ Shipping roros ELISABETH RUSS and CAROLINE RUSS for another 12 months from the end of September 2021. Charter rate is said to be €10,000 Euro per vessel per day. The vessels are used to connect the ports of Genoa, Palermo and Valletta.

The Visemar-owned roro FRIJSENBORG departed Genova on 23 September, arriving in Thai seas on 28 October.  Although the purpose of the current charter isn’t yet known, at the time of writing the ship is at the Sattahip Anchorage.  The ship had been on charter to GNV from May to September.

SILJA EUROPA arriving on the Clyde 21 October 2021. Image: Bruce Wilson

The Tallink Grupp has chartered the ROMANTIKA and SILJA EUROPA for COP26 accommodation ship work at Glasgow.  ROMANTIKA’s charter is 15 October to 12 November and SILJA EUROPA’s 17 October to 17 November.

Samsølinjen will charter the ANE LÆSØ from Læsø Færgen to cover the docking of the SAMSØ 25 January to 10 February 2022.

ANE LÆSØ. Image: Mercedes-Benz Danmark AS

Demolition

Ventouris Ferries’ RIGEL I, renamed ROGER, arrived at Alang, India, on 9 October.  The 1973-built ferry is best known as the BORE I of Silja Line and the BALTIC KRISTINA for a string of Baltic operators, including Estline, Tallink and Riga Sea Line.

Fellow Ventouris Ferries fleet member, BARI is also expected at Alang shortly having been sold by the company and renamed ALTAIR.  The ship departed Durres on 5 October and is currently heading towards the Indian coast. The ferry is best known for her time in UK waters as the ST ANSELM and STENA CAMBRIA.

STENA CAMBRIA. Image: Scott Mackey.

Namma Shipping Lines has sold the MASARRAH (ex EXPRESS APHRODITE, STENA ADVENTURER, STENA HIBERNIA, ST COLUMBA) and MAHABBAH (best known as Swansea Cork/Strintzis SUPERFERRY) for scrap.  The ships were sold for US$ 525 LT LDT and are expected to be demolished at Alang soon.

The Bridgemans accommodation vessel BLUEFORT arrived at Alang on 5 October.  The vessel is best known as the Baltic cruiseferry DIANA II / MELOODIA. 

BLUEFORT: Image: Bridgemans.

Another former ferry that arrived at Alang in October was the 1986-built LOTUS.  Arriving on 9 October, the former MUKRAN and and PETERSBURG, had seemingly been “on the run” for a few months.

The Stena Group owned SASSNITZ arrived at Aliaga on 20 October.  With scrap prices high and no work in prospect for the former Stena Line ship, it seems the 1989-built ship had no other possible fate.

EXPRESS PEGASUS. Image: Attica Group

The 1992-built Philippine ferry ST. LEO THE GREAT of 2Go Ferries has been sold for scrap.  The vessel is currently at anchor off Manila and hasn’t yet departed on her journey to demolition.

The EXPRESS PEGASUS of Hellenic Seaways is reportedly due to depart Greece for demolition soon.

Sales

Godby Shipping has sold the LINK STAR to Norwest Ship Management.  Delivery will take place in Husoy, Norway between 12 to 25 November 2021.

Golden Star Ferries transfer of the SUPERFERRY II to Seajets took place on 12 October.  The vessel is currently undergoing rebranding and the one-time PRINCE LAURENT has been renamed SUPERSTAR.

LINK STAR. Image: Godby Shipping

The SARDINIA REGINA of Corsica Ferries has been renamed KEVALAY QUEEN and re-registered to Panama.  The new owners are Libya’s Kevalay Travel and Tourism Company who are reportedly planning a Misrata – Izmir service.

CMAL has purchased the UTNE from Norled to operate on Calmac’s Oban-Craignure route.  The ship was expected to be handed over before the end of October and will be placed in service in early 2022.

UTNE. Image: Norled.

Salamis Lines’ ALEXO has been handed over to Marfat Martime and renamed AMIRA MARFAT.  Sale price was said to be $3,479,000.

Newbuild Deliveries

Hyundai Mipo has delivered the 5051-lane metre roro FAUSTINE to CLdN/Cobelfret.  The LNG ship was handed over on 8 October.  The ship sailed from Ulsan, Korea to Yantai, China to collect a cargo, believed to be newly constructed containers to bring along on her delivery voyage to Europe.  On the morning of 31 October FAUSTINE was noted to have departed China and was enroute to a stop at Singapore.

Fred. Osen Express took delivery of the trimaran ferry BAÑADEROS EXPRESS from Austal Philippines on 4 October.   After a delivery voyage via the Suez Canal, the ship arrived at Las Palmas on 25 October, entering service just three days later on 28 October.   The vessel is now sailing between Gran Canaria and Tenerife, alongside her younger sister the BAJAMAR EXPRESS.

FAUSTINE. Image: Hyundai Mipo.

Naviera Armas took delivery of the VOLCÁN DE TAIDÍA around 24 September.  The Incat-built fast ferry arrived at Las Palmas on 21 October and entered service on 25 October.

Boreal’s TOMREFJORD was delivered by Turkey’s Sedef Shipyard in mid-October.  The ship is currently due to arrive in Molde, Norway on 2 November. She will operate on Boreal’s Molde-Vestnes route.

BC Ferries’ sixth Island Class ferry is now on its way to British Columbia after she departed Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania on 11 October.  The transatlantic journey will take around 60 days.

TOMFREFJORD. Image: Sedef Shipyard.

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