JEAN NICOLI renamed SEAFRANCE MOLIERE

Yesterday, the H/S/F JEAN NICOLI was renamed SEAFRANCE MOLIERE, the ship will be handed over to SEAFRANCE on tuesday for a departure from Marseille on thursday at 10:00 am, to arrive in Les ARNO Dunkerque for rebuilding 4 days later, according to ferries of southern europe.

Regarding the current fleet, it seems that now the SEAFRANCE MANET is for sale and must leave the fleet in april or may, however regarding SEAFRANCE RENMOIR, it was reported that she will leave the fleet after the whole fleet overhaul, in other words, by spring 2009.

photo: Julien Imbert

EUROSTAR ROMA SOLD

After LA SUPERBA/LA SUPREMA story, it's Eurostar Roma time to be sold.

It was reported she had been sold to Polsteam(also known as UNITY LINE) to be used on Swinoujscie line, together with the ferry Polinia from this summer.

Currently on Civitavecchia-Barcelona line, she will be moved on Salerno-Palermo-Tunis line after Eurostar Barcelona annual refit. Her last sailing from Salerno is expected on may 5.

I think it was something quite expected with the arrival of new tonnage, namely Cruise Roma this month and Cruise Barcelona in june, in other words just after Eurostar Roma left the fleet for the latter.

photo: Julien Imbert

GEORGIOS EXPRESS sold for scrapping

A very sad news for the greek shipping world. The mythic Georgios Express(Ex Roi Baudoin) built in 1965 by Cockerill yards in Hokeben, Belgium was sold for scrapping.

The ship sailed firstly under RMT banner on Oostende-Dover and then under ventouris sea lines colors,nearly on all cycladic routes.

After her successful career, Georgios Express was laid-up in 2001, probably to her age and the express samina tragedy on september 26, 2001.

The new came to my ears yesterday from a fan of this ship. According to him, the ship was sold to indian breakers, and although some belgians fans are trying to bring her back in Belgium to convert her into a maritime museum, their chances are probably too small.

photo: Antonis Lazaris

BALTIC PRINCESS CHRISTENED

The latest TALLINK CRUISE FERRY, namely the BALTIC PRINCESS was christened on march 6, 2008 in Helsinki

She is a GALAXY sistership, this way she is 212 m long, has 935 cabins. A section (40% of the hull actually) was built at les Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St Nazaire France(now AKER YARDS FRANCE SA), and then towed to Helsinki shipyards about 1 year ago.

Baltic Princess is due to start operations on summer 2008 on Tallinn-Helsinkin run, replacing her sistership which will be moved on Turku-Aland-Stockholm line replacing the SILJA FESTIVAL which is to sail on Stockholm-Riga line.

The Superstar, a fast daily cruise ferry is also to be delivered next month for the Tallinn-Helsinki line and third cruise ferry will be delivered to TALLINK in 2009.

photo: Aleksi Lindstrom

Negociations between Aker Yards and Rccl for a fourth Freedom

It was reported this morning that Royal caribbean cruise Line and Aker Yards are currently negociating for another freedom of the seas sisters. The ship couldd be delivered in second half of 2011. This would be the fourth 158 000 GT, 339 m long and 36.8 m wide and probably the last one of this class.

If is new order is confirmed, I guess some older tonnage are too leave Rccl fleet bound for pullmantur or the new Tui joint venture maybe.

Aker Yards has currently three ships on order or under contruction in their finnish shipyard of Turku. Namely the Liberty of the seas(to be delivered next month), and the Genesis I and II.

photo: Aker Yards

A NEW SHIP FOR TUNISIA FERRIES

It was reported on ferries of southern europe that CoTuNav was going to buy a ship. She would have a capacity for 3000 passengers and 500 passengers. In addition it was said they wanted a new ship due to the high costs of el venizelos charter.

Something rang me a bell when I learnt that, as the specifications are exactly the same that ones of El Venizelos. Futhermore, when Elyros will be ready, I don't think it will be worth for anek to keep the El Venezilos, although they should before sell some real old tonnages like Lissos and Lato. I don't say my supposition is right, so let's see.

What future for the Ariadne

It seems quite unclear about hsw's flagship Ariadne which is currently on charter to MINOAN LINES. She was expected to resume sailings on Piraeus-Chania line on march 31st but timetables were removed.

Maybe as ANEK and Hellenic seaways are in Sea Star consortium, the group wants to avoid competion problems, but in my opinion the Ariadne was well suited for Chania line, she could even replace one of the old anek's tonnage like Lissos or Lato.

Futhermore, the duo Elyros-Ariadne for Chania could be perfect in replacement of Lissos/Lato one, but that said, we can wonder another: how long sea star will keep anek and hsw seastar ?

Photo: Apostolos Kaknis

La Suprema and La Superba

It was reported that the two GNV's flaghips, namely La Superba and La Suprema were both sold to Vinashin; a vietnamian shipowners that already owns the former Cartour.
According to GNV, it was a need to sell these two ships due to financial difficulties(In my opinion due to the size of the ship hard to fill during the winter season, and this way totally unprofitable).

It is not very clear about their future use. Rumours said they will sail on Hon Gai, Chan May and Sai Gon. La Superba and La suprema keep sailing on GNV's line until the end of the high season 2008, after that, they will be prepared to leave Europe.
This sale was totally unexpected, I would have thought that GNV wanted to give away some ships like the very ageing Majestic or even the Splendid.

Big loss for the med as it was said on ferries of southern europe