Interferry newsletter
P&O Ferry Launched
The Spirit of Britain was launched this week at STX Europe's Rauma shipyard in Finland. At the same time preparations began for the keel laying of the ship's sister vessel, Spirit of France. Test runs are expected to take place in early August followed by sea trials in mid October and delivery to P&O Ferries by December 2010. The Spirit of Britain will be the biggest ferry operating on the English Channel. The 49,000 gt vessel is 213 meters long with a capacity of 3,746 lane meters for trailers, cars and other cargo. In addition to space for approximately 180 freight trucks and 195 passenger cars, the vessel has capacity for 1750 passengers. The newest technology is being utilised in the design and construction of the vessels with special attention paid to environmentally friendly solutions and safety.
Bangladesh Ferry Capsizes
At least 12 people have died and five are missing after a packed ferry capsized in storms in north-east Bangladesh. The ferry was carrying about 35 passengers including many school children. The accident took place in Sunamganj district, about 140km north of the capital, Dhaka. In recent days Bangladesh has been hit by bad weather which local people say created big waves and made the boat capsize in a huge wetland.
[Ed. note: Reporting on this accident is very confused. Estimates of the number on board, the number missing, the cause of the accident and even the distance from Dhaka vary substantially.]
Renewal Plans for New Zealand Operator
KiwiRail, owners of the Interislander ferry operation between Wellington and Picton, has announced significant plans for the future. The top priority is to lengthen the ARATERE by 30 metres. Spurring the plans is the project to build a new port at Clifford Bay on the South Island which would cut 20 minutes off the sailing and 50 minutes off the driving time.
The plan to stretch ARETERE is expected to have been completed by July 2011, adding another 120 m of rail capacity. For the KAITAKI, which is on charter from Stena RoRo, there are plans to add rails. The 25-year old ARAHURA is due for replacement and KiwiRail hopes to do so before 2015. Buying or leasing is an option, however, the number of rail ferries in the world is quite limited.
Another Caribbean Order for Austal
Guadeloupe-based ferry operator L'Express des Iles has selected Austal to design and construct two 47 m high speed catamaran ferries. The order, worth about US $29.5 million, is for one vehicle-passenger ferry and one passenger ferry, and is the company's third contract with Austal since 1997. The vessels are intended to operate from Guadeloupe to the Caribbean islands of Marie Galante, Dominique, Martinique and St Lucia, where they will provide an important inter-island link for tourism and trade. The vehicle ferry will have the capacity for 364 passengers and 10 cars. The passenger ferry will have the capacity for 437 passengers. Both vessels will have a maximum speed of more than 32 knots and are designed to also carry cargo.
Austal is also building four 41 m high speed passenger ferries for the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) in Trinidad and Tobago, scheduled for delivery later this year.
ICS Objects to Israeli Attack on the High Seas
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) - which is the principal international trade association for ship operators representing 75% of the world merchant fleet - has expressed deep concern about the forced boarding by Israeli armed forces of merchant ships on the high seas, apparently some 40 miles off the coast of Gaza, and condemns the totally unacceptable loss of life.
The numerous calls, including that of the UN Security Council, for an urgent international investigation are fully supported by the global shipping industry. As a matter of principle, and as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, merchant ships have a right to safe passage and freedom of navigation in international waters; and the high seas 'shall be reserved for peaceful purposes'. These fundamental principles of international law must always be upheld by all of the world's nations.
Interferry News Release
Interferry seeks ro-ro recruits to boost IMO voice
Trade association Interferry is mounting a membership drive with ro-ro operators among key targets in a further move to strengthen its representation at the International Maritime Organization.
Interferry, which has had IMO consultative status since 2003, recently became an associate member of the influential International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and has just set up a regulatory committee to direct safety and environmental submissions by its newly expanded delegation.
Now the association – formed 35 years ago by passenger sector interests - is aiming for more ro-ro members after becoming increasingly involved in issues that also affect freight-only ferries.
Peru River Ferry Sinks
Seventeen bodies have been recovered from a Peruvian ship that sank in the Amazon River near the border with Colombia. About 200 passengers survived, including two Germans and an Italian. The Camila sank around 2:40 am on Wednesday with over 300 people on board. Officials said 60 more people might have died in the accident.