Industry News
Hawaii Superferry’s to be Auctioned
Aug 1, 2010
From The Star Advertiser
The Hawaii Superferry's two decommissioned vessels -- the Alakai and Huakai -- are sitting in a Norfolk, Virginia shipyard waiting to be sold in a court-ordered auction more than a year after the ferry operator filed for bankruptcy. The two catamarans are in the possession of the U.S. Maritime Administration -- a federal agency that provided a $140 million loan to Hawaii Superferry in 2005 -- and will be sold to the highest bidder once the bankruptcy court that is handling the case sets an auction date. Agency officials said they expect the court to set a sale date soon.
Four More LNG Ferries for Norway
Jul 31, 2010
From ShipPax Information
The Norwegian local ferry operator Torghatten Nord has won a 10 year concession contract for two routes, for which it will order 4 new ferries with LNG propulsion. The concession for the routes Bodö-Moskenes and Bognes-Lödingen will come in effect in January 2013. The total contribution from Statens Vegvesen (the Norwegian authority for local ferry routes) amounts EUR 175 million for the entire period. Representatives of Torghatten Nord have visited shipyards in Poland, but in a statement its Operations Manager Bendix Klykken says Norwegian shipyards are definitely competitive. In Poland, the company is currently building four small ferries with a capacity of 16 and 21 cars respectively, for four routes in the Troms and Möre og Romsdal counties. Torghatten Nord owns 32 ferries, producing a profit of EUR 6.7 million in 2009.
Congo Ferry Sinks
Jul 30, 2010
From The Boston Globe
A boat ferrying about 200 passengers to Congo’s capital capsized after hitting a mud bank. At least 80 people were confirmed dead and as many as 60 more passengers were missing and feared dead. The boat, the HB Yedu, was heading to the capital, Kinshasa, from the Kwilu district on the Kasai River, a tributary of the Congo River. It was overloaded and sank about 74 miles east of Kinshasa. The river was unusually low at the time the boat ran aground.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, a vast Central African country of jungles and huge rivers, has little more than 300 miles of paved road and few rails. Many people prefer to take boats even if they cannot swim. The boats are often in poor repair, filled beyond capacity, and lack basic safety equipment. In May, dozens of people died when an overloaded canoe capsized on a river in eastern Congo. In November, at least 90 people were killed after a logging boat sank on Lake Mai-Ndombe in Bandundu Province. The timber-carrying vessel, which was not supposed to be carrying passengers, went down in bad weather. In September 2009, more than 250 people died in three boat accidents on Congo waterways.
Interferry Member Press Release
Jul 29, 2010
Tunisian Operator Orders Ferry from Korea
Jul 28, 2010
From Marine Log
Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has won a $262 million order from Tunisian state-owned COTUNAV (Compagnie Tunisienne de Navigation) for an overnight car passenger ferry with a length of 210 m, beam of 50 m and capacity of 3,200 passengers and 1,060 cars. Cruise ship style passenger facilities include shopping, childrens' play area, restaurants, swimming pools, night clubs and internet cafes. Delivery is set for the first half of 2012.
Most “Spine Tingling” Commutes
Jul 27, 2010
Travel Publisher, Lonely Planet, has identified the 10 best commutes in the world. Four of them are ferries: Sydney Ferries, Chao Express Boat in Bangkok, the Vaporetto in Venice and Star Ferry in Hong Kong. Of course they have missed many. Just to name a few: Staten Island Ferry in New York, IDO in Istanbul, Thames Clippers in London, Waxholmsbolaget in Stockholm, SeaBus in Vancouver, Washington State Ferries in Seattle, Transtejo in Lisbon, WETA in San Francisco.
Lake Victoria Ferry Sinks
Jul 22, 2010
From Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
More than 50 persons are reported missing - possibly drowned - when a ferry carrying 60 passengers capsized Wednesday on the Ugandan side of Lake Victoria. The ferry was carrying timber, sacks of fish and 60 passengers, mostly traders. Ten passengers were confirmed dead while four survivors were pulled out of the water unconscious and were being treated at a hospital. Strong winds might have caused the ferry to capsize just when it was to dock near the town of Entebbe, south of the capital, Kampala. The accident is the third most serious ferry tragedy in East Africa. In May 1996, the Bukoba ferry sank on its way to Mwanza in Tanzania, with 800 dead. And in April of 1994, the MV Mtongwe sank while crossing from Mtongwe to Mombasa Island, drowning 272 individuals.
New Branding for DFDS
Jul 18, 2010
From ifw
The Norfolkline and Tor Line brands are set to disappear from the ferry market as part of DFDS’s plans for the future of the two companies. Earlier this week, DFDS revealed it had completed the takeover Norfolkline’s ferry business in a deal estimated to be worth €300 million (US$387m). DFDS plans to “simplify” the structure of the company by getting rid of the DFDS Tor Line, Lys Line and Norfolkline brands and creating a new ferry business, DFDS Seaways, and DFDS Logistics, for its trailers, containers and inland supply chain business. Peder Gellert Pedersen will be in charge of DFDS Seaways, Eddie Green will lead DFDS Logistics and Henrik Holck will be in charge of a People and Ships unit. A spokesman said it was too early to say whether the merger would result in fewer services – as many in the industry hope will happen to reduce competition. The takeover of Norfolkline creates a ferry firm with a turnover of €1.5 billion, 6,000 employees and a fleet of 63 ships. DFDS part-financed the acquisition through the transfer of 4.2 million of its shares to AP Møller-Maersk, equating to a 28% stake in DFDS.
Another Incat Crowther for the Seychelles
Jul 16, 2010
From Baird Maritime
Australian naval architect Incat Crowther will design a 26-metre, 216 passenger catamaran ferry for Seychelles operator Inter Island Boats. To be built in Tasmania, Australia by Richardson Devine Marine, ‘Cat Cocos III’ will be the third vessel Incat Crowther has designed for the operator. The vessel will be powered by two MTU diesels with propulsion via ZF gearboxes through to five-bladed propellers. The top speed will be 30 knots with a loaded service speed of 28 knots.
BC Ferries and TT Line Celebrate Milestones
Jul 14, 2010
BC Ferries, with services on the west coast of Canada, celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 15.
Downunder operator, TT Line, which runs to Tasmania from Melbourne with its Spirit of Tasmania service, celebrates 25 years today.