We have decided to copy our sister blog CruiseView by introducing a ferry version of their ‘CruiseView Compass‘ bulletin. Ours will be known as ‘FerryView Log‘ and will follow a similar pattern of providing periodic updates of news in a quick to read report. Updates will be announced on our Facebook groups.

NORTHLINK

The three companies tendering for the next Northern Isles ferry contract have been revealed by the Scottish government. However, the procurement is facing a legal challenge from Orkney-based commercial operator Pentland Ferries.

The contract for routes between mainland Scotland and Orkney and Shetland – worth an estimated £370m – is expected to be awarded in the summer. It will run for eight years.

The three potential bidders who have been invited to tender for the contact are CalMac Ferries Ltd, Förde Reederei Seetouristik GmbH & Co. KG (FRS), and Serco NorthLink Ltd.

It will be remembered that the current contract is operated by Serco NorthLink Ltd having previously been operated by CalMac. The tender does not require a change in the vessels operated which are owned separately.

MOLSLINJEN

After a 11,000 nautical mile journey the EXPRESS 4 has arrived in Denmark ready to take up service for Molslinjen. Built at a cost of AUS$109 million the ship was delivered last month.

The 109 metre vessel can carry up to 1,000 tonnes, and is capable of transporting more than 1,000 passengers and 425 cars. It will operate at speeds up to 40 knots and during testing achieved a top speed of 47.8 knots (88km/hour), powered by four MAN engines that produce more power combined (36mW) than the Ord River hydro power plant (30mW).

PENTLAND FERRIES

Pentland Ferries ALFRED has been launched in Vietnam on 22nd February

At 3pm Vietnam time on Friday, well-wishers, invited guests, shipyard workers and Pentland Ferries team members lined the slipway as the completed hull of the ship rolled down the slipway and into the warm waters of where the vessel was built, Vung Tau, Vietnam.

Since the keel was laid, approximately 1,050 tonnes of steel hull and aluminium superstructure have been welded together in a large workshop to create the flagship vessel for Pentland Ferries operations, named after Pentland Ferries managing director Andrew Banks’ father Alfred Banks.

The ship will carry 430 passengers and up to twelve lorries combined with 54 cars, or 98 cars in total. She has a breadth of 22m, and a draft of 2.7m, has a top speed of 16 knots.

Handover is due at the end of March and the ship should enter service in June. At the present time their is no official word about what will happen to the Pentalina, the vessel she replaces.

STENA RORO

It was announced on 18th February that Stena RoRo had acquired the Japanese ferry YAMATO which was built in 2003. Handover will be in 2020 and the ship will be placed on the charter maret after repositioing and rebuild in Europe to suit European standards.  The 195 metre long ship has freight capacity for 2,350 lane metres

QUEBEC PROVINCIAL FERRY

Ferry service between Quebec’s Gaspe region and the north shore of the St. Lawrence River is suspended following an incident with the Papenburger APOLLO which was purchased in December from Woodward Group.

Alexandre Lavoie, spokesman for the Societe des traversiers du Quebec, said the cause of the crash and the extent of the damage had not yet been determined. Investigators will interview the ferry’s captain and crew, he said.

A 1m x 2m hole has appeared in the ships bow visor.