The 14,458gt/1976 built former Sally Sky/Larkspur has been renamed from Larks to Lucky Star but remains laid up in Greece. Former fleet mate Ardenia (8,097gt/1978 built former European Endeavour/Gardenia) has been renamed Star Fighter.

Blue Star Ferries’ 10,193gt/2000 built Blue Star Ithaki (above) has reportedly been sold to the Canadian Government to replace the 10,051gt/1971 built Princess of Acadia in Nova Scotia.

Attica Group, a Greek ferry operator is to expand the joint service agreement with Crete-based Anek Lines that encompasses both Greece’s domestic ferry network and the Adriatic routes linking Greece and Italy.

BC Ferries in Canada is planning to convert its two largest vessels, the 18,797gt/1993 built Spirit of British Columbia and the 18,797gt/1994 built Spirit of Vancouver Island to dual fuel, as well as make modifications to the hull, in order to save approximately $Can 9.2 million per annum over the remaining 27-year life cycle of the two vessels. BC Ferries spent $Can 126 million on fuel last fiscal year and the two Spirit-Class vessels consumed approximately 15% of the fleet total. The Spirit Class upgrades will take place 2016-2018.

Bluferries ceased to convey cars and coaches as from 29th September and dropped Messina from the schedule. They operate between Tremestieri and Villa San Giovanni in freight only mode. Finnlines began a new service from the Port of Tilbury in August. The port announced in September that it had secured the Ro-Ro service with Finnlines, one of the leading shipping operators of ro-ro and passenger services in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The weekly schedule calls each Thursday feeding the Baltic States and Scandinavia with cargo including paper and general. This operation sees Finnlines make a welcome return to Tilbury after an eight year absence.

Grimadli is, according to reports, seriously considering the acquisition of Baltic ferry operator Polferries through subsidiary Finnlines and, possibly, Hellenic Seaways with mention also being given to Tirrenia and Trasmediterranea by some in the industry. The most likely at this time would appear to be Polferries but only time will tell. Gibdock has also consolidated its relationship with Grimaldi Lines having overhauled the 47,115gt/2008 built Grande Angola in September with the 51,925gt/1998 built Repubblica del Brasile visiting the yard in July.

LD Lines: In mid-September local reports suggested that the Motorway of the Seas ferry service to Gijon may have a stay of execution to permit negotiations and possibly the funding for another operator and ship. The LD Lines ships sailed south following the closure with the 26,904gt/2009 built Norman Atlantic proceeding to Messina for a three month charter to Caronte and Tourist (between Messina and Salerno replacing the Cartour Delta) and the 27,414gt/2007 built Norman Asturias going to Algeciras to operate across the Straits of Gibraltar in place of the 21,856gt/1997 built Stena Feronia.

NEL Lines made an official request in late September to the Greek Shipping & Aegean Ministry to reinstate their 9,124gt/1973 built ferry Mytilene to serve Kavala, Limnos, Mytilene, Lesvos, Chios, Vathi and Samos from Piraeus as a free route. This came just weeks after the same ministry stripped NEL of its rights to operate state-subsidized services for at least 12 months.

SNCM: The 39,777gt/2009 built Excelsior (above) has been returned to her owners Grandi Navi Veloci after an 18 month charter. Her port of registry was Marseille for the charter but has now reverted to Palermo under the Italian flag.