Contract Cancelled

The government of Trinidad & Tobago has cancelled its lease contract for the Ocean Flower II after the lncat craft failed to arrive in local waters by the end of July. The 4,114gt/1996 built Ocean Flower II was part of a two vessel deal, the other being the 19,963gt/1988 built Ro-Ro vessel Cabo Star, both supplied by Bridgemans Services Group LP of Canada.

Another Bump For Fast Craft

On the evening of 17th August the lncat built 5,743gt/1998 built Manannan made contact with No.1 linkspan berth whilst attempting to berth in Douglas Harbour at around 2200. No injuries were reported and all passengers and vehicles arriving from Liverpool were safely disembarked. The 0730 round trip of the fast craft from Douglas was cancelled on 18th August whilst repairs were underway. The afternoon round trip from Douglas at 1500 was retimed to 2000 to give time for repairs to be inspected and the vessel passed for service. The damage sustained was to a bow fin. The Ben-my-Chree’s sailings were unaffected and the 7,606gt/1998 built Arrow was again drafted in to operate a relief freight sailing. Meanwhile, on 14th August the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company launched a 3-week public consultation as it considers operating services to and from the Port of Lame in Northern Ireland to help boost visitor and other traffic. Relocating Belfast services to Lame would lead to reduced sailing times between Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, as well as allowing some schedules to be revised to offer more convenient departure timings from Douglas.

Newbuild For Fjord Line

On 24th August Austal Limited announced a new contract valued at €73 million to design and build a 109 metre high-speed vehicle passenger ferry for Fjord Line of Norway. The all-aluminium catamaran, designed by Austal Australia, will be the 8th large high-speed commercial ferry (over 100 metres in length) to be built by the company.

Pre-Owned Delivery For BC ferries

On 3oth August BC Ferries took delivery of the 2,679gt/2000 built Greek Ro-Pax ferry Aqua Spirit in Piraeus. The ship, to be renamed to the rather un-ferry-like Northern Sea Wolf, will offer a new direct service from Port Hardy to Bella Coola from summer 2018. The vessel’s new name is inspired by a First Nations legend in which the Sea Wolf is a manifestation of the Orea. The Sea Wolf symbolises family and loyalty and the spirit of the Sea Wolf protects those travelling their waters. BC Ferries acquired the vessel from Greece in 2016 to support the Province’s commitment to this new route and the vessel will accommodate a minimum of 35 vehicles and 150 passen­ gers and crew. The ship is scheduled to arrive in B.C. this autumn prior to undergo­ ing a refit and upgrade ahead of entering regular service next summer 2018. Sailings will depart from Port Hardy and Bella Coola five days per week during peak season. The Aqua Spirit has been replaced by the 3,934gt/2002 built Aqua Jewel.

BC Ferries Vessel Returns To Europe

On 3rd September BC Ferries announced that the 18,747gt/1993 built Spirit of British Columbia (above) had been withdrawn from service prior to her mid-life upgrade and conversion to dual fuel operation (HFO/LNG) in Europe. Built in Germany originally, the ferry departed from BC Ferries’ Fleet Maintenance Unit in Richmond to for Remontowa Ship Repair Yard S.A. of Gdansk, Poland under her own power on 12th September having been modified for her 42 day voyage. In addition to the LNG conversion, the vessel’s passenger areas will be upgraded with new carpeting, refurbished washrooms, expanded gift shop and an additional washroom on Deck 5 as well as a new coffee bar on Deck 6. Other planned upgrades include the renewal of navigation equipment, propulsion equipment components including rudders, steering system, bow thrusters, propeller blades, LED lighting and more efficient air conditioning equipment to reduce energy consumption. The Spirit of British Columbia will be the first ship through the mid-life upgrade and conversion process, with the work being completed from October to the spring of 2018. The 1994 built sistership Spirit of Vancouver Island will follow during the same period from October 2018. Both ships serve on the Metro Vancouver-Victoria (TsawwassenSwartz Bay) route, the busiest crossing in the fleet, and the work will prepare the ships for another 25 years of operation.

Solent Updates

On 15th August Wightlink revealed that the name of its new £30 million flagship for the Portsmouth-Ashbourne route will be Victoria of Wight. The name was chosen by a panel of staff who considered 186 suggestions from 73 members of staff. Work is well underway on the new ship at the Cemre shipyard in Yalova, Turkey and the Victoria of Wight will be officially handed over to Wightlink early in 2018. It has not yet been decided when she will enter service. The newbuild will be a hybrid vessel, powered by batteries as well as low sulphur marine gas oil. Red Funnel revealed the much anticipated news on 22nd August that another fast craft had been ordered from Wight Shipyard in East Cowes. The £7 million order for Red Jet 7 marked the first major investment in the company by the consortium of UK and Canadian pension funds which acquired the operator in July 2017.

Hovertravel’s new 12000TD hovercraft have again encountered problems leading to their withdrawal whilst the research and development process continues. The Island Flyer suffered a failure in service on 23rd August and returned to Ryde on half power, with her starboard side propeller shut down. This appeared to act as the catalyst for both craft being withdrawn.

By 9th September both the Solent Flyer and Island Flyer were laid up at Ryde Hoverport minus their propellers (above) as these components appear to be where the latest issues lie. Hovertravel hopes to have the craft back in service in October. Despite the various issues, Hovertravel’s reliability for July 2017 was 98% (July 2016 was 97.4%) and the yearly average was 97.4% (the same time for the previous year was 96.8%) and these include weather cancellations.

Pre-Owned Delivery For Bc Ferries

On 3oth August BC Ferries took delivery of the 2,679gt/2000 built Greek Ro-Pax ferry Aqua Spirit in Piraeus. The ship, to be renamed to the rather un-ferry-like Northern Sea Wolf, will offer a new direct service from Port Hardy to Bella Coola from summer 2018. The vessel’s new name is inspired by a First Nations legend in which the Sea Wolf is a manifestation of the Orea. The Sea Wolf symbolises family and loyalty and the spirit of the Sea Wolf protects those travelling their waters. BC Ferries acquired the vessel from Greece in 2016 to support the Province’s commitment to this new route and the vessel will accommodate a minimum of 35 vehicles and 150 passen­gers and crew. The ship is scheduled to arrive in B.C. this autumn prior to undergo­ing a refit and upgrade ahead of entering regular service next summer 2018. Sailings will depart from Port Hardy and Bella Coola five days per week during peak season. The Aqua Spirit has been replaced by the 3,934gt/2002 built Aqua Jewel.

BC Ferries Vessel Returns To Europe

On 3rd September BC Ferries announced that the 18,747gt/1993 built Spirit of British Columbia (above) had been withdrawn from service prior to her mid-life upgrade and conversion to dual fuel operation (HFO/LNG) in Europe. Built in Germany originally, the ferry departed from BC Ferries’ Fleet Maintenance Unit in Richmond to for Remontowa Ship Repair Yard S.A. of Gdansk, Poland under her own power on 12th September having been modified for her 42 day voyage. In addition to the LNG conversion, the vessel’s passenger areas will be upgraded with new carpeting, refurbished washrooms, expanded gift shop and an additional washroom on Deck 5 as well as a new coffee bar on Deck 6. Other planned upgrades include the renewal of navigation equipment, propulsion equipment components including rudders, steering system, bow thrusters, propeller blades, LED lighting and more efficient air conditioning equipment to reduce energy consumption. The Spirit of British Columbia will be the first ship through the mid-life upgrade and conversion process, with the work being completed from October to the spring of 2018. The 1994 built sistership Spirit of Vancouver Island will follow during the same period from October 2018. Both ships serve on the Metro Vancouver-Victoria (TsawwassenSwartz Bay) route, the busiest crossing in the fleet, and the work will prepare the ships for another 25 years of operation.

Solent Updates

On 15th August Wightlink revealed that the name of its new £30 million flagship for the Portsmouth-Ashbourne route will be Victoria of Wight. The name was chosen by a panel of staff who considered 186 suggestions from 73 members of staff. Work is well underway on the new ship at the Cemre shipyard in Yalova, Turkey and the Victoria of Wight will be officially handed over to Wightlink early in 2018. It has not yet been decided when she will enter service. The newbuild will be a hybrid vessel, powered by batteries as well as low sulphur marine gas oil. Red Funnel revealed the much anticipated news on 22nd August that another fast craft had been ordered from Wight Shipyard in East Cowes. The £7 million order for Red Jet 7 marked the first major investment in the company by the consortium of UK and Canadian pension funds which acquired the operator in July 2017.

Hovertravel’s new 12000TD hovercraft have again encountered problems leading to their withdrawal whilst the research and development process continues. The Island Flyer suffered a failure in service on 23rd August and returned to Ryde on half power, with her starboard side propeller shut down. This appeared to act as the catalyst for both craft being withdrawn.

By 9th September both the Solent Flyer and Island Flyer were laid up at Ryde Hoverport minus their propellers (above) as these components appear to be where the latest issues lie. Hovertravel hopes to have the craft back in service in October. Despite the various issues, Hovertravel’s reliability for July 2017 was 98% (July 2016 was 97.4%) and the yearly average was 97.4% (the same time for the previous year was 96.8%) and these include weather cancellations.

Keel Laid & Naming Contest Announced for Newbuild

Irish Ferries announced on 2nd September that it was encouraging members of the public to have their say on the name that they think could be given to the company’s new 55,000gt, €144 million cruise ferry, which is currently under construction at FSG in Germany and is due for launch next Summer (above). The keel for the new €144million, 55,000gt cruiseferry was laid during a ceremony at FSG at 2pm on 11th September. Due to be delivered next July, the newbuild will be the largest and most luxurious ferry ever to sail on the Irish Sea. She will enter year-round service on the Dublin-Holyhead and Ireland-France routes.

Bumpy Ride For Veterans

Waverley Excursion’s paddle steamer Waverley collided bow-on with an esplanade wall at Rothesay on 25th August as she was departing. The vessel suffered damage to her bow stem and was swiftly dry-docked at Greenock the following day for a new stem section to be fitted. White Funnel’s passenger vessel Balmoral has had a challenging season with cancellations due to mechanical and weather issues. A £1.8 million Heritage Lottery Application has gone in and good news is hoped for to go to stage two of the process. One appreciative Gentleman donated £100,000 during the season with two other donations of £5,000 each have been received. Please safeguard the Balmoral’s future by making a donation via the website at www.mvbalmoral.org.uk or by cheque to MV Balmoral Fund Ltd, 23 Adder Hill, Great Boughton, Chester, CH3 5RA.