Baleària orders giant LNG fuelled ‘smart ferry’

An impression of the new LNG fuelled Baleària vessel that will be the largest ferry operating in the Mediterranean from 2019.
An impression of the new LNG fuelled Baleària vessel that will be the largest ferry operating in the Mediterranean from 2019.

Baleària, the ferry company head quartered at Denia, Spain, is to build a 232.2 m x 30.4 m LNG fuelled “smart ship” at Spain’s LaNaval shipyard.

It will be the largest ferry operating in the Mediterranean and among the largest in the world and is scheduled to start operations in 2019. It will have a capacity for 1,600 passengers (70% of whom can be accommodated in cabins), plus 340 vehicles.

Baleària decided to use liquefied natural gas and solar power as energy sources to “reinforce the idea of ​​the pleasure of travelling compatible with the respect for the environment,” said Baleària Chairman Adolfo Utor.

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Storm damaged City of Rotterdam heads to Tyneside for repairs

The storm damaged City of Rotterdam is now in Tyneside for repairs
The storm damaged City of Rotterdam is now in Tyneside for repairs

A&P Group has welcomed the City of Rotterdam, one of the biggest ships to be affected by Storm Desmond, to its Tyneside yard for repair.

The 5,000-tonne dwt Ro-Ro Cargo ship collided with another vessel on the Humber Estuary when Storm Desmond hit the north of England earlier this month.

A&P Group’s 100 strong Tyneside team will now undertake a 5-week programme of structural steel repairs before the City of Rotterdam returns to service at the end of January.

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Maiden voyage for Germany’s first newbuild LNG powered seagoing vessel

fassmerThe first ever newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled German seagoing vessel, which is powered by a complete Wärtsilä LNG propulsion solution, had its maiden voyage on December 11. The ship has been built at the Fr. Fassmer shipyard in Germany.

The passenger ferry, owned by Reederei Cassen Eils GmbH, will operate between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland. This route takes the vessel close to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Wadden Sea National Park, an ecologically sensitive area in the south-eastern part of the North Sea. Because of the need to minimise exhaust gas emissions in this area, the ferry will operate primarily on LNG using two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium-speed dual-fuel engines.

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Ferguson launches third hybrid ferry for CalMac

Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd of Port Glasgow has launched a third hybrid ferry
Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd of Port Glasgow has launched a third hybrid ferry

A cutting edge ferry, which is the third of three unique ‘hybrid’ vessels, was launched on the Clyde today at Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd’s (FMEL) shipyard in Port Glasgow.

The hybrid ferry, named MV CATRIONA, is a sea-going passenger and vehicle roll-on, roll-off ferry incorporating a low-carbon hybrid system of traditional diesel power and electric lithium-ion battery power. Her sister ship, the MV HALLAIG, was the first in the world to incorporate this technology in a sea-going vessel when launched in December 2011. The innovative vessel was launched by Mrs. Anna Østergaard, wife of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) Chairman, Erik Østergaard.

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The world’s first smart ship is underway

The world's first smart ship is coming to a port near you soon. (PRNewsFoto/China State Shipbuilding Corp.)
The world’s first smart ship is coming to a port near you soon. (PRNewsFoto/China State Shipbuilding Corp.)

The world’s first smart ship has been revealed at the Smart Ship Development Forum & Smart Ship Demo “i-Dolphin” Release Meeting sponsored by CSSC on December 1st in Shanghai, China.

The 38,800 dwt smart ship project is the first civilian program of CSSC Innovation, planed and led by Shanghai Ship Design and Research Institute with participation from CSSC Systems Engineering Research Institute, CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, CSSC Power Research Institute and Hudong Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd.

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Bureau Veritas classes first ethane powered ships

Bureau Veritas classes first ethane powered ships
Bureau Veritas classes first ethane powered ships

JS Ineos Insight is the first of a series of eight 27,500m3 ethane powered ships and multi-gas Dragon-class vessels being built at Sinopacific, China, for Denmark’s Evergas. The vessel is configured for transport of ethane, LPG or LNG. It has options for ethane, LNG and conventional diesel power.

“The ability to burn ethane as well as LNG to power these vessels is a major step forward in the use of clean fuels. It means the vessels can use cargo gas during transits to provide a clean and clear commercial and environmental advantage. We have worked with Evergas and the Danish Maritime Authority to verify and ensure that the use of ethane is at least as safe as required by the IGC and will not impair the engine compliance with MARPOL Annex VI,” said Martial Claudepierre, business development manager at Bureau Veritas

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Damen launches superyacht support vessel

DAMEN launches its first superyacht support vessel
DAMEN launches its first superyacht support vessel

The sale of a new 69-metre superyacht support vessel marks the next level of development for the successful Yacht Support range built by DAMEN in cooperation with Dutch luxury yacht builder AMELS. The new SEA AXE 6911 is the first in the Yacht Support range to feature the ultimate technical area for serious superyacht helicopter operations – a fully enclosed hangar beneath the LY3 / MCA fully certified helideck.

The new build vessel is under construction at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands and scheduled for delivery in June 2016 – the fifth purpose-built Yacht Support vessel to be delivered since DAMEN and AMELS introduced the revolutionary new concept to the superyacht market in 2009.

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North America’s first LNG powered ferry enters service in Québec

The first ship of any kind to run on LNG power in North America has entered service
The first ship of any kind to run on LNG power in North America has entered service

Société des traversiers du Québec, the Canadian ferry operator, has officially commissioned the NM F.‑A. Gauthier. This is the first ferry to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) in North America and is also the first ship of any kind to run on LNG in Canada.

NM F.‑A. Gauthier has replaced the NM Camille‑Marcoux on the Matane–Baie‑Comeau–Godbout route.

Following an agreement concluded in 2013, Gaz Métro, through its subsidiary Gaz Métro LNG L.P., was chosen as the LNG supplier to fuel three new Société des traversiers du Québec ferries, including the NM F.‑A.‑Gauthier. The two other ships will be assigned to the Tadoussac–Baie‑Sainte‑Catherine crossing.

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MOL orders world’s first methanol powered carriers

MOL orders world's first methanol powered carriers
MOL orders world’s first methanol powered carriers

Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) has made an order for methanol powered carriers as part of its overall environmental strategy, the company has announced.

According to reports, three carriers will be built by Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co Ltd.

The vessels are expected to be delivered in 2016 and will be chartered to Waterfront Shipping Company Limited under a long-term contract.

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Wightlink unveils plans for new Fishbourne Portsmouth ferry

An artist's impression of the new Wightlink ferry for the Fishbourne to Portsmouth route
An artist’s impression of the new Wightlink ferry for the Fishbourne to Portsmouth route

Wightlink has unveiled the dates and locations for its public exhibition of its proposed £45 million investment plans, which include a new ferry for the Fishbourne to Portsmouth route capable of taking 1,000 passengers, plus port improvements on both sides of the Solent.

Senior managers from Wightlink are looking forward to hearing views from customers, stakeholders and local people in both Fishbourne and Portsmouth during the first weekend in June:

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Global demand for LNG ships is growing

Worldwide demand for LNG ships is growing fast and Korean yards are expected to be the main beneficiary
Worldwide demand for LNG ships is growing fast and Korean yards are expected to be the main beneficiary

Ship owners around the world are placing orders for new LNG ships one after another. Many of them are expected to go to Korean shipbuilders.

According to industry sources, Gail of India is planning to purchase nine LNG ships, three from Indian shipbuilders and the rest from foreign ones. BP Shipping is discussing LNG ship order placement with three ship owners to reach a conclusion within this month, too. Engie of France is expected to buy up to four ships for the Cameron LNG Project. Korean shipbuilders boasting of a high level of technical strength are appealing to the ordering parties.

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The first electric car ferry in the world starts work

Norwegian shipbuilder Fjellstrand has built the world's first electric car ferry for Norled
Norwegian shipbuilder Fjellstrand has built the world’s first electric car ferry for Norled

The world’s first electric car and passenger ferry powered by batteries – the MF Ampere – has entered service in Norway.

The vessel’s owner Norled has started operating the electric car ferry on a route across Sognefjord between Lavik and Oppedal. The fully electric ferry travels six kilometers across the fjord 34 times a day, with each trip taking around 20 minutes.

The ferry, which is 80 meters long and 20 meters wide, is driven by two electric motors, each with an output of 450 kilowatts. It is made exclusively of light aluminum, which makes it only half as heavy as a conventional ferry, despite its ten ton batteries and a capacity for 360 passengers and 120 vehicles.

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