Balearia’s new 24 knot cruise ferry is to receive four Wärtsilä main engines of a dual fuel (LNG/diesel) 8-cylinder format, plus three 9-cylinder auxiliary engines along with two LNGPac 440 cbm gas systems plus two controllable pitch propellers.

CalMac’s 5,506gt/2001 built Hebrides, which was involved in an incident at Lochmaddy on 25th September, left dry dock after repairs in Greenock on 15th October. The vessel then returned to service on the Uig, Tarbert and Lochmaddy service from 17th October. This allowed the Clansman and Lord of the Isles to return to their usual routes.

Gotlandsbaten acquired the 5,902gt/1998 built 91m Incat wavepiercer Express for a new 2016 service from Visby to Nynashamn and latterly Visby-Vastervik. However, due to poor financial performance the company will not operate in 2017 and therefore P&O Ferries employed Express is available for the charter market. Perhaps Condor Ferries should consider her to improve the Channel Isles-UK service? Two fast craft would be so much better than one.

PolFerries’ 29,940gt/1996 built Mazovia suffered an engine room fire on 14th October in Ystad, Sweden. Passengers bound for Swinoujscie, Poland, were already on board and the sailing was subsequently delayed. Passengers remained aboard overnight but were asked to leave the next morning. The ship remained on the berth so the inward bound sailing from Swinoujscie (the Baltivia) was also cancelled.

Toremar’s 209gt/1999 built Schiopparello Jet (formerly Red Funnel’s Red Jet 5) completed her refit in October and proceeded to Portoferraio. She replaces the chartered Acapulco Jet on the Piombino-Cavo and Portoferraio service in Italy.

The TS Queen Mary was safely towed to Glasgow on 9th November for the first time since1977. The vessel departed Greenock at 11.30am and arrived at Glasgow Science Centre shortly before 3pm. The historic vessel, built near the Clyde in the 1930s, is being restored by a charity patroned by Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane. The charity needed to find a safe place to berth the ship over the winter months as her short-term berth in Greenock was required for other commercial marine work. The TS Queen Mary is expected to remain in Glasgow, moored adjacent to the Waverley, until early 2017.

Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland has received a new ferry that was undergoing trials in late October/early November. The 28 vehicle/260 passenger capacity Strangford 2 arrived on Strangford Lough in October to operate between Strangford and Portaferry. She has been built by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead and joins the 2001 built Portaferry 2.