Essar Bulk Terminal completed work on the Passenger Ferry Terminal that has paved the way for a cruise-based passenger ferry service, commencing today, between Hazira Port in Surat and Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai. The Hazira-based terminal will also lead to ferry services being offered on other routes in the future.
Finferries has ordered a new hybrid electric ferry, which will operate on the Föglö route, and operated by Ansgar AB. Traffic on the Åland Föglö route is expected to start on April 1, 2022. The new ferry will be powered mainly by shore-based battery packs and backed up by diesel generators.
The ferry ‘Princess Anastasia’ was grounded off the Port of Stockholm, on November 6. According to initial information brief electric power interruptions were the cause of the incident. The ship has been refloated. The ferry has arrived at the port of Stockholm, and it will continue on its way after conducting the necessary technical inspections and obtaining an opinion from the port authorities of Sweden.
A New Zealand ferry company was fined with the amount of NZ $380,000 because the company’s ferry “City Cat” grounded on April 2017; The fine was also issued because the company failed to ensure the safety of the passengers’ and other sea users.
Swedish ferry operator Stena Line pleaded guilty to breaching Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) for failing to adequately assess risks in connection to a serious employee injury at the company’s port terminal in Birkenhead, Wirral, UK, in September 2017.
The UK Chamber of Shipping highlights the importance of dealing with the climate change through green and more sustainable means in the maritime sector supporting the development of more hydrogen ferries in the sector to achieve a green economy.
During Interferry’s annual conference, the participants discussed the shipping industry and its environmental footprint, focusing on its actions in tackling climate change and the potential to transform every aspect of the ferry industry.
The sinking of the ferry vessel MS Estonia in the Baltic Sea marks the second-deadliest peacetime sinking of a European ship, after the Titanic, as well as the deadliest peacetime shipwreck to have taken place in European waters. At the time of the incident, the ship was carrying 989 people, of whom 852 lost their lives. When the MS Estonia sank it shook the shipping industry, due to its unprecedented extent in the number of victims, and the damage it was caused.
Serco NorthLink Ferries have been selected to operate the next contract for the Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) as the bidder to deliver the ferry services to the Northern Isles, as was confirmed on September 20th. A package of fare reductions for Orkney and Shetland islanders was also announced by Scottish Ministers.
Finnish shipyard Rauma Marine Constructions has begun construction of the world’s most environmentally friendly RoPax vessel for the consortium Kvarken Link, to operate between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden. A traditional steel cutting ceremony was held at the shipyard on 16 September.
