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Despite recurring breakdowns and high maintenance costs, Algérie Ferries does not seem ready to abandon the 'Tariq Ibn Ziyad'. The ferry, which had been immobilized for several months, is currently undergoing a major renovation in a shipyardin Eleusis to reduce its sulfur emissions to less than 0.5% by the end of 2025. After more than 25 years of service, the ship has accumulated technical problems. Several breakdowns and incidents have led to its prolonged immobilization, to the point that its future has been called into question. Repeated repairs and the cost of maintenance have raised doubts about the interest of keeping this ferry in the fleet. Despite these difficulties, Algérie Ferries has decided to invest in the refurbishment of the 'Tariq Ibn Ziyad' to extend its lifespan and to bring it up to international environmental standards. The project is part of the broader strategy of the Algerian Maritime Transport Group (Gatma) to make the fleet more environmentally friendly and competitive with European companies. In addition, the work also includes improvements to passenger comfort, including the modernization of cabins and the installation of an on-board Internet access system. Despite its age, the 'Tariq Ibn Ziyad' still meets market requirements, particularly for connections between Algiers, Oran and Marseille.

On Jan 30, 2025, the 'Emona' was detained in Gemlik with 38 deficiencies, 21 of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Safety Management Certificate Missing 2) Certificate & Doc - Minimum Safe Manning Doc Missing 3) Certificate & Doc - Tonnage certificate Missing 4) Certificate & Doc - Other (certificate) Other 5) Structural conditions - Closing devices/watertight doors Damaged 6) Structural conditions - Ballast, fuel and other tanks Holed 7) Structural conditions - Other (Structural) Other 8)) Life saving Appliances - Inflatable liferafts Not ready for use 9) Life saving Appliances - Buoyant apparatus Insufficient 10) Life saving Appliances - Rescue boats inventory Missing 11) Water/Weathertight - Doors Damaged 12) Water/Weathertight - Ventilators, air pipes and casings Damaged 13) Fire safety - Fire detection and alarm system Inoperative 14) Fire safety - Other (Fire safety) Other 15) Living and working - Personal equipment Missing equipment 16) Emergency systems - Abandon ship drills Insufficient frequency 17) Emergency systems - Enclosed space entry and rescue drills No records 18) Pollution Prevention - Sewage discharge connection Not as required 19) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Bilge pumping arrangements Not as required 20) Radio communications - Other (Radio comm) Other 21) ISM - Other (ISM) Other The vessel was released again on Feb 4 and permitted a single voyage to the Tuzla shipyard area for permanent repairs. The last detentions were on Oct 22, 2024, in Karadeniz Eregli with 13 deficiencies for three days and on Sep 14, 2023, in Kocaeli with 20 deficiencies also for three days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

On Jan 29, 2025, the 'RMS Neudorf' was detained in Guiness at the Grove Wharf with 30 deficiencies, six of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Fire safety - Evaluation of crew performance Lack of familiarity 2) Fire safety - Fire dampers Not as requied 3) Life saving Appliances - Rescue boats Damaged 4) Life saving Appliances - Rescue boats inventory Not as required 5) Life saving Appliances - Embarkation arrangements survival craft Not properly maintained 6) ISM - Ism cerificiate Not as required The vessel was released again on Feb 8 and left the port on Feb 10 en route to Ghent with an ETA as of Feb 11. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

On Nov 27, 2024, the 'Esperanza B' was detained in Mersin with nine deficiencies, six of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Structural conditions - Bulkhead - corrosion Not as required 2) Structural conditions - Beams, frames, floors-corrosion Not as required 3) Structural conditions - Other (Structural) Other 4) Water/Weathertight - Cargo and other hatchways Corroded 5) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Auxiliary machinery Not as required 6) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Other (Machinery) The vessel was relased again on Jan 14, 2025 and permitted a single voyage to the Tuzla shipyard area for permanent repairs, where it remained stationary as of Feb 10. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

On Jan 30, 2025, the 'Sayedona' was detained in Galati with 27 deficiencies, 13 of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - SOPEP Missing 2) Certificate & Doc - Manning specified by the minimum safe manning doc Not as required 3) Life saving Appliances - Lifeboats Not properly maintained 4) Labour conditions - Training and qualification of ships cook Not as required 5) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications Expired 6) Safety of navigation - Echo sounder Inoperative 7) Safety of navigation - Lights, shapes and sound-signals Missing 8)) Safety of navigation - Lights, shapes and sound-signals Not as required 9) Structural conditions - Steering gear Inoperative 10) Structural conditions - Decks - Corrosion Corroded 11) Emergency systems - Emergency fire pump and its pipes Insufficient pressure 12) Water/Weathertight - Manholes/Flush scuttles Not as required 13) Fire safety - Means of escape Blocked The vessel was released again on Feb 7, but the inspection led to a refusal of access to ParisMOU ports for the next three months: The last detentions were on Oct 9, 2024, in Alexandria with 35 deficiencies for 19 days, on May 26 in Batumi with 27 deficiencies, on Feb 29 in Larnaca with 28 deficiencies for 15 days, on Jan 23 in Poti, Georgia withg three deficiencies for three days and on July 24, 2023, in Thessaloniki with 24 deficiencies for ten days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591