Świnoujście Snapshot – Spring 2022 – Part 2 – Polferries

By: Gary Andrews
Date:
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MAZOVIA at Świnoujście 01/05/22. Image: Bartosz Bagiński FSE.
MAZOVIA at Świnoujście 01/05/22. Image: Bartosz Bagiński FSE.

The last Świnoujście Snapshot NIFS feature covered TT-Lines, this update looks at Polferries.

Świnoujście – Ystad is operated by both Unity Line and Polferries. 

Trading as Polferries, Polska Żegluga Bałtycka S.A, is effectively state owned.  Their Polish rival, Unity Line, is ironically also effectively state owned and part of Polska Żegluga Morska.  In reality, both companies are independent of the government but all shares are owned by the Polish state.

Polferries currently operates three ships on the Świnoujście – Ystad route.

The Polferries fleet is an interesting mix of ships with varied careers.

MAZOVIA

MAZOVIA was built in Indonesia by  Pt Dok Kodja Bahri.  Although ordered by Rederi AB Gotland, the 1996-built vessel never seen service for their key Destination Gotland subsidiary.

After some short charters, the ship was sold to Finnlines at the end of 2007.  She was mostly used on the Kapellskär – Naantali service from 2007 until 2013 with some service on other routes and external charters.  Transferred from Finnlines to sister company Grimaldi Lines, her passenger capacity was expanded as EUROFERRY BRINDISI.

Sold to Polferries at the end of 2014, the ship received further work before entering service on the Świnoujście – Ystad route in Spring 2015.

As MAZOVIA, she has a capacity for 1,000 passengers and 2,620 lane metres of freight.

CRACOVIA

CRACOVIA was built by Astilleros Españoles, Sevilla, Spain in 2002 for Trasmediterránea as MURILLO.  She is a near sister to the 1998 – 2000 ships built for Merchant Ferries and today trading as ISLE OF INISHEER, FINBO CARGO, KAIARAHI and AQUARIUS BRASIL.

The ship operated under Bulgaria West Port ownership 2014 – 2017, sailing mainly from Burgas, Bulgaria to Novorossiysk, Russia as the DRUJBA.

Sold to Polferries, the ship entered service on the Świnoujście – Ystad route in autumn 2017.

BALTIVIA

Now an elderly ferry, BALTICA was delivered in 1981 as SAGA STAR.  She spent most of her career with TT-Line until 2002 when she was purchased by Transmanche Ferries for their Newhaven – Dieppe route.

After the delivery of purpose-built tonnage, the ship was sold to Polferries in late 2006.  She entered service in early 2007 as BALTIVA.  She was mainly used on Gdansk – Nynäshamn until the introduction of the NOVA STAR in 2018 and has since primarily operated on the Świnoujście – Ystad route.


Polite notice: While we welcome our articles being shared, we request that links to this website are provided rather than other approaches. Thank you (NI Ferry Site team).