News

The Directorate General of the Spanish Merchant Navy has authorized the change of name of the “Vittorio M” to “Barlovento Express”, and it is thus registered in the naval registry of Santa Cruz de Tenerife —which is its original registry, since its debut as “Milenium Dos”— in the new stage of this ship, chartered on a long-term basis by Fred. Olsen Express to the Italian company Liberty Lines. The ship is berthed at the Astican Yard since Dec 2, 2024, where it arrived from Algeciras painted with the corporate image of Trasmediterránea and where it is undergoing various works to adapt it to the standards of Fred. Olsen Express, as well as the replacement of the stern ramp.

Gotlandsbolaget has received a new charter for the 'Visborg' from the Spanish shipping company Balearia. Initially, the 'Visborg' will operate between Valenica, Palma and Ibiza, among others. The new charter is over a longer period of time.In May 2023 Gotlandsbolaget rent the ship to Balearia for traffic on a route between Almeria and Nador. In September, the charter ended, and after a short stopover for DFDS between Klaipeda and Karlshamn and a shipyard visit in Landskrona, the 'Visborg' arrived in Almería on Jan 1, 2024, en route from Landskrona. Gotlandsbolaget has signed a contract with Balearia for the charter. The ship management on the vessel will continue to be handled by Wallenius Marine. The 'Visborg' has had several charter assignments in recent years, including in DFDS Brexit traffic between Dunkirk and Rosslare. Through the charter mission, Wallenius Marine has started a recruitment for several positions on the vessel.

On Sep 30, 2024, the “Finnhawk" arrived at the port of Las Palmas on its positioning voyage from Zeebrugge for delivery to the Fred. Olsen Cargo Express, to be renamed “Bahía Cargo" after the registration procedures. It will enter the Fred. Olsen Cargo Express service in October in a combined schedule with the “Bentayga Cargo” for cargo services between Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

The 'Alfred' will continue to operate on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network for an additional six months. The vessel was chartered from Pentland Ferries in March 2023, for an initial nine months, but an agreement has been reached to extend the charter until the end of July 2024. It was expected that she will operate as a resilience vessel and also assist with vessel overhaul cover where required. This will help maintain resilience on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network during the winter months and into the summer. The ferry can operate on a number of routes on the network and allows other vessels to be moved to minimise any disruption if necessary. Recent berthing trials has confirmed which ports she can operate out of and plans for her next deployment are now underway.

The Moroccan company Africa Morocco Link (AML) has started a roll-on/roll-off service on the Tangier Med-Algeciras line on Sep 16, operated by the “Kaunas”. The ship is owned by the company Agalink Investment Co., and is sub-chartered to UKR Ferry and belongs to the same series as the ship “Vilnius”, which is in the service of InterShipping.