November Ferry News Roundup

Moby Lines MOBY ZAZA currently serves the Nice to Bastia route which Moby Lines are to close in early 2019. She is perhaps better known in the UK and Ireland as the former OLAU BRITANNIA (i) of Olau and JULIA of Swansea - Cork operator Fastnet Line. Moby Lines.

A quick roundup of some recent stories featuring local, industry, and former local vessel news which haven’t warranted their own separate post.

In Waters New, Easter 2017 Roundup.

Stena Galloway at sea in Stena Line colours. Copyright © Scott Mackey.

A quick news roundup featuring some vessels which previously plied their trade in NI waters. LE RIF:  Could the former STENA GALLOWAY/GALLOWAY PRINCESS soon be back in service? The last purpose-built vessel for the Larne to Stranraer service could soon be back plying her trade in the Mediterranean.  Last month LE RIF (ex Stena Galloway, Galloway Princess) was moved from La Spezia to Napoli.  The vessel had previously been purchased at auction by the mysterious new Moroccan company DWLM who had intended to refit her at Malaga, however the vessel was moved to La Spezia amid reports of a dispute with the Malaga yard owners over costs.  Reports from Italy suggest that the vessel may now be under the control of the group of companies that own Mediterranean operator Moby Lines.  Moby themselves have been acquiring a number of elderly vessels in the past couple of years, including the now MOBY KISS (ex … Read more

Ferry industry news roundup (wk 2 Apr ’17)

Artists impression of Vikings new cruiseferry which is expected to be delivered in 2020. Viking Line.

A roundup of some of the news from the ferry industry in recent weeks. Viking launches FSTR service with former Larne vessel HSC express, whilst competitor Linda Line sells one of their craft. HSC EXPRESS has started the latest chapter of her post-P&O career operating another service in the Baltic, this time for Viking Line as an additional vessel to their fast-conventional RoPax VIKING XPRS on the Helsinki – Tallinn route.  Marketed as Viking FSTR (though still officially named EXPRESS), the former P&O vessel is operating the popular route in competition with Tallink’s ‘Shuttle’ service for vehicles and passengers, Eckerö Line who also carry vehicles and passengers on FINLANDIA, and Linda Line, who only carry passengers.  The introduction of EXPRESS, which appears to be largely unchanged from her days operating from Larne, appears to be a response to Tallink’s introduction of the brand new MEGASTAR fast-conventional RoPax alongside STAR.  Meanwhile, Linda Line have sold one of … Read more