News

Stena Line has been awarded a charter for the 'Stena Vinga' from March 2025 and the end of the year. The vessel will enter a contracted service in England for DFDS between Portsmouth and Jersey from March 28, and operate evening departures from Jersey and morning departures from Portsmouth and make five rotations per week during the high season.At the beginning of December it was clear that DFDS had won a tender for the service for the next 15 years, which means the end of Condor Ferries' 60-year history of service to the island. DFDS will operate the service with three vessels, one ro-ro vessel and two high-speed vessels. DFDS also plans to invest in three new vessels over the next six years. However, the 'Stena Vinga' will occasionally make a comeback in Stena Line's network and replace other ships, that are scheduled for maintenance. In return, DFDS will provide replacement ships during the periods when the 'Stena Vinga' is not operating the route. The 'Stena Vinga' has a regular position on the route between Gothenburg and Fredrikshamn, but has acted as a substitute within the shipping company's line network since the shipping company began traffic with the ship in 2018.

The Moroccan company Africa Morocco Link (AML) has started a roll-on/roll-off service on the Tangier Med-Algeciras line on Sep 16, operated by the “Kaunas”. The ship is owned by the company Agalink Investment Co., and is sub-chartered to UKR Ferry and belongs to the same series as the ship “Vilnius”, which is in the service of InterShipping.

The Directorate General of the Spanish Merchant Navy has authorized the change of name of the “Vittorio M” to “Barlovento Express”, and it is thus registered in the naval registry of Santa Cruz de Tenerife —which is its original registry, since its debut as “Milenium Dos”— in the new stage of this ship, chartered on a long-term basis by Fred. Olsen Express to the Italian company Liberty Lines. The ship is berthed at the Astican Yard since Dec 2, 2024, where it arrived from Algeciras painted with the corporate image of Trasmediterránea and where it is undergoing various works to adapt it to the standards of Fred. Olsen Express, as well as the replacement of the stern ramp.

Gotlandsbolaget has received a new charter for the 'Visborg' from the Spanish shipping company Balearia. Initially, the 'Visborg' will operate between Valenica, Palma and Ibiza, among others. The new charter is over a longer period of time.In May 2023 Gotlandsbolaget rent the ship to Balearia for traffic on a route between Almeria and Nador. In September, the charter ended, and after a short stopover for DFDS between Klaipeda and Karlshamn and a shipyard visit in Landskrona, the 'Visborg' arrived in Almería on Jan 1, 2024, en route from Landskrona. Gotlandsbolaget has signed a contract with Balearia for the charter. The ship management on the vessel will continue to be handled by Wallenius Marine. The 'Visborg' has had several charter assignments in recent years, including in DFDS Brexit traffic between Dunkirk and Rosslare. Through the charter mission, Wallenius Marine has started a recruitment for several positions on the vessel.

On Sep 30, 2024, the “Finnhawk" arrived at the port of Las Palmas on its positioning voyage from Zeebrugge for delivery to the Fred. Olsen Cargo Express, to be renamed “Bahía Cargo" after the registration procedures. It will enter the Fred. Olsen Cargo Express service in October in a combined schedule with the “Bentayga Cargo” for cargo services between Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.