Canary Islands News

Shipbuilding group Austal said its Austal Philippines arm has a 109-meter high-speed catamaran ferry to Fjord Line of Norway.The vehicle-passenger ferry, named FSTR, is said to be the largest aluminum vessel ever constructed in the Philippines. It is currently the largest ferry (by volume) to be constructed by Austal, at any of the company’s shipyards worldwide.Austal CEO, Paddy Gregg, said, “It’s impressive to see a large high speed ferry like this delivered in the best of times…

AIDA Cruises said Tuesday it would open its 2021 cruise season starting March 20 with AIDAperla ship sailing around the Canary Islands, "a favorite "fly and cruise" vacation for German travelers looking to enjoy the region's "eternal spring" weather and unique destinations." However, trips planned for earlier in March will not be taking place.The German federal government has extended the lockdown to contain the pandemic until March 2021. Many of AIDA's cruise destinations have also implemented measures that significantly restrict international holiday travel through early spring…

The United States is urging European allies and private companies to halt work that could help build the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline and is preparing wider sanctions on the Russian project in coming weeks, senior Trump administration officials said on Wednesday.The outgoing Trump administration is readying a fresh round of congressionally mandated sanctions “in the very near future” that it believes could deal a fatal blow to the Russia-to-Germany project led by state gas company Gazprom…

At least eight people were drowned after a boat carrying more than 35 migrants from the Maghreb region of North Africa and heading towards the Canary Islands capsized on Tuesday, emergency services said on Wednesday.Four people were found dead late on Tuesday and another four bodies were rescued on Wednesday morning. The emergency services said they were searching for any more missing persons.One of the 28 migrants rescued had to be transferred to a hospital.A Reuters reporter…

Seven neighbors from a village in western Senegal boarded a fishing boat crammed with migrants just after midnight on Oct. 26. Their destination: Europe, 1000 miles away over open ocean.Two of them are now missing, presumed dead, after the boat carrying dozens of people capsized in a collision with the Senegalese coastguard.One can barely walk from his injuries. Another is haunted by the memory of clinging to a piece of flotsam while others around him flailed and sank into the black ocean."You see people die in front of you and you cannot do anything…

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft shipyard last Friday delivered to P&O Cruises the cruise ship Iona, dubbed the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market.Apart from being the largest, with 185,000 tonnes, 345 meters in length with 17 guest decks, Iona is also the first British cruise ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). It features four low-emission dual-fuel engines from Caterpillar, which can be operated 100% with LNG at seaand in port.The cruise ship had…

Carnival Corp’s shares surged 11% on Thursday after its Italian brand Costa Cruises said two of its ships would resume sailing this weekend, with more to follow.Cruise companies, among the worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, were forced to halt voyages for months after ships in Japan, Australia and California made headlines because of large numbers of infections onboard.So far this year, Carnival’s shares have lost nearly two-thirds of their value, while peer Royal Caribbean Cruises Group has lost about 45% and Norwegian Cruise Line Holding Ltd about 67%.Shares of Royal Caribbean were up 6% an

A new Australian-built passenger ferry bound for service in the Canary Islands was escorted by EU anti-piracy forces as it made its way through one of the world's top piracy hot spots.The first of two new ferries built by Austal Australia for operator Fred. Olsen Express, the 118-meter trimaran fast ferry Bajamar Express requested support of EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta for its along transit the International Recommended Transit Corridor through the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab Strait…

Two high-speed trimaran ferries built by Austal Australia recently sprinted side-by-side off the coast of Perth, Western Australia.As the 118-meter Bajamar Express was departing Australia on her delivery voyage to the Canary Islands, she was joined by the 83-meter Queen Beetle undergoing sea trials, in an historic moment capturing two Austal trimaran ferries.The two vessels are the latest designs of a proven hull form first developed for Fred. Olsen Express’ 127-meter Benchijigua Express in 2005.Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said…

Shipbuilder Austal Australia has delivered a new 118-meter fast ferry to Fred. Olsen Express.The high-speed trimaran ferry Bajamar Express is the first of two identical vessels ordered by Fred. Olsen Express in a €126 million ($142.8 million) contract in October 2017. The second vessel, Bañaderos Express, is under construction at Austal Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu, and is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2021.Capable of transporting 1,100 passengers and 276 cars at a cruising speed of more than 37 knots, the new trimaran ferries for Fred.

Spain is to uphold a ban on cruise liners from docking at its ports to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to a ministerial order published on Saturday.Cruise liners carrying thousands of passengers regularly stop off at ports in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Barcelona and Malaga, but were prohibited when Spain went into lockdown on March 14.With their crowds of often elderly passengers, cruise ships have been especially vulnerable to outbreaks of the virus and…

The first of two Austal Auto Express 118 trimarans under construction for Fred. Olsen Express of the Canary Islands has completed sea trials in Western Australia. Launched in February, the Bajamar Express (Austal Hull 394) is scheduled to be delivered this month.Over the past weeks, Bajamar Express has achieved an average speed of 37.6 knots at 85% MCR (power), carrying 80% from maximum deadweight (cargo capacity), shipbuilder Austal said.Austal CEO David Singleton said the results of the Bajamar Express sea trials…

Austal Limited announce that Austal Australia has launched Hull 394, the first of two 118-meter high-speed trimaran ferries currently under construction for Fred. Olsen Express of the Canary Islands.The aluminum vehicle-passenger ferry, to be known as Bajamar Express, was launched at Austal’s Henderson, Western Australia shipyard on February 4, and is now in the final stages of fit out, prior to scheduled delivery in the second trimester of CY2020, Austal said.The vessel will operate on Fred.

Australian-based global ship building company Austal Limited announced that its Henderson, Western Australia, shipyard has successfully launched Bajamar Express, the first of two 118-meter, high-speed trimaran ferries under construction for Fred. Olsen Express of the Canary Islands.The ferry is now in the final stages of fit-out. She is scheduled for delivery in spring 2020, said a press note from the shipbuilder.“With the launch of Bajamar Express, our internationally competitive Australian team has again demonstrated an inherent capability to design and construct advanced, cutting-edge vessels efficiently and cost effectively,” said David Singleton, CEO of Austal.“This latest trimaran will provide Fred.

Austal Australia has rolled out the hull (No. 394) and attached the superstructure for the first of two 118 meter trimarans under construction for Fred. Olsen Express of the Canary Islands.Bajamar Express was rolled out onto the hardstand at Austal Australia’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia on December 14, in preparation for final fit out before launch in February 2020.Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton highlighted the vessel’s significance as one of nine trimarans currently under construction by Austal…

Kalmar, the provider of the cargo handling solutions and services to ports, has concluded an agreement to supply comprehensive preventive and corrective maintenance services to Operaciones Portuarias Canarias S.A. (OPCSA) at their Las Palmas container terminal.The Cargotec subsidiary said in a press note that the order, which comprises a Kalmar Complete Care service contract covering the terminal's ship-to-shore (STS) and rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, was booked in Cargotec's 2019 Q3 order intake with the contract coming into effect at the start of Q1 2020.Established in 1986, OPCSA operates the largest and most modern terminal in the Port of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, a strategic enclave for traffic between Europe, Africa and South America.

Incat Tasmania’s newest 111-meter ferry has been handed over to her new Spanish operator  Naviera Armas and departed Hobart late last night (16 July) for Spain.The ship, named Volcan de Tagoro (Incat Hull 091) is impressive in her distinctive red Naviera Armas livery. 091 completed sea trials over the past few days, loaded fuel and supplies yesterday for the delivery voyage to Spain, and has now left Australia.The delivery will be via Auckland, across the Pacific Ocean to Tahiti and the Panama Canal before crossing the Atlantic on her way to Spain.

AIDA Cruises, the German brand of Carnival Corporation & plc, informed that it is planning to commission two more LNG-powered ships with low-emission propulsion by 2023.AIDA has already been engaging in research into and development of the use of LNG in the cruise industry for over 10 years.With AIDAnova's launch at the end of 2018, the company commissioned the world's first cruise ship that can be operated entirely with low-emission LNG both at sea and in port.Two more of these innovative AIDA ships will be commissioned in 2021 and 2023 respectively."Thanks to the use of LNG, emissions of particulates and sulfur oxides are eliminated almost completely…

Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with Spain-based major ferry operator Baleària for the delivery of a Stan Tug 1606 E3.The contract was signed by Mr. Ettore Morace and Mr. Guillermo Alomar, executive director of operations and fleet director of Baleària respectively and Carlos Gonzalez Martin on behalf of Damen. The vessel is an answer to increasing demands for sustainability in the maritime industry. It will be the first IMO Tier III compliant tug to operate in the…

Incat Tasmania launched a 111-meter ferry -- Volcan de Tagoro (Incat Hull 091) -- from the shipyard at Hobart’s Prince of Wales Bay on June 15.Naviera Armas SA will operate the vessel on Spanish routes, including the Canary Islands. The company has an extensive fleet of vessels, and Volcan de Tagoro will be the fifth Incat vessel operating in the Armas fleet, however is their first newbuild from Incat Tasmania. The ship’s crew will soon arrive from Spain to observe the vessel…

Gibraltar’s Gibdock shipyard has completed a major conversion project so that the Baleària ferry Napoles can operate using LNG as fuel. The 186m long Napoles, which has capacity for 1,600 passengers and 1,430 lane metres of cargo, is the first of five ships that Baleària plans to convert to dual fuel operations to comply with IMO sulphur cap regulations. Gibdock has already secured a contract to convert a second vessel, Sicilia, which is due to arrive at the yard later this year.Richard Beards…

Australian-based global ship building company Austal Limited has commenced construction of the second of two 118 metre high-speed passenger trimaran ferries for Fred. Olsen Express in the Company’s Philippines shipyard.The vessel is due to be delivered by the end of 2020 as part of an A$190 million contract with Fred. Olsen Express for two 118 metre trimarans, which was awarded to Austal in October 2017.A metal cutting ceremony for the future “Bañaderos Express” was held in the Philippines shipyard, where the official names for the new vessels were officially announced by Fred. Olsen Express.The next generation designs for the Bañaderos Express…

Boluda Corporación Marítima, a shipping company operating in Mediterranean ports, said that its towage division Boluda Towage and Salvage has added a new azimuth tractor tugboat in the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.The VB TAMARAN joins ten other tugs operating in the Canarian port to facilitate ships’ entry and exit from the port area.With this new tug Boluda Corporación Marítima has expanded the fleet in the port of Las Palmas to ensure maritime safety in the Canary archipelago. The investment is in line with the company’s commitment to increase the operational capacity of vessels providing towage and marine salvage services.The VB TAMARAN…