Tangier Med
- Ferry News
New “Brexit Buster” Ferry Route Launched to Bypass EU to UK Checks
A new direct ferry service between Morocco and the UK aims to bypass the EU and allow imports of fresh produce to arrive without checks and tariffs.
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LE RIF (ex Stena Galloway) update
Reports from Morocco indicate that LE RIF (ex Stena Galloway, Galloway Princess) is expected to return to service soon, following an extensive refurbishment and overhaul. The Belfast built former Sealink ferry has been out of service since 2013 when previous operator IMTC collapsed.
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Former Stena Galloway to re-enter service?
Le Rif arrives at Malaga for dry docking Recent reports that Le Rif (ex Stena Galloway, Galloway Princess) had been sold for scrap appear to have been untrue, as the former North Channel favourite arrived in Malaga on Saturday for a dry docking. The ship (including 4 crew and a Captain appointed for the trip) was towed from Tangier in Morocco where she had been abandoned in 2013, though she had been moved to a different berth in the port since then. Initially the Harland and Wolff built ship will undergo an assessment of her condition taking around 10 days and involving 14 people. A budget of around €2.5m has been set aside for the overhaul and refurbishment, which will involve significant technical…
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Image of Le Rif being towed a “false alarm”.
The former Galloway Princess / Stena Galloway is still in Morocco. The image of the former IMTC ferry Le Rif (ex Galloway Princess, Stena Galloway) being towed last month, which caused many (including NIFS) to believe she may be on her final journey, appears to have been a false alarm. As recently as yesterday (15/8/15) she has been spotted at Tangier Med II. It appears, therefore, that Le Rif was simply being moved within the port last month, rather than being towed to either further operations, or as thought, to a beach for dismantling / recycling. It has been reported by some sources that Le Rif has been sold to interests based in Dubai, however this has not yet been confirmed. As reported…
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Bad news about the former Stena Antrim (updated)
In particularly sad news for Belfast and Northern Ireland, one of the final passenger vessels built by Harland and Wolff could soon be headed to a beach somewhere for scrapping. The Ibn Batouta (ex Stena Antrim, St Christopher) is one of 4 ferries which have been laid up in Algericas for over 2 years following the failure of owners COMARIT. The port authority is now pushing for them to be declared abandoned so they can be removed and auctioned to the highest bidder. The most likely destination considering the age and condition of the 4 ships is for scrap. Between 1991 and 1996 Stena Antrim served to Stranraer, first from Larne and then from Belfast when Stena moved there in…
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