Casualties – New probe into ferry ESTONIA sinking reveals construction flaws – Jan 2023
A new investigation into the sinking of ferry ESTONIA that claimed 852 souls in 1994 revealed flaws in her bow visor construction missed during her certification, officials said on Monday 23rd January 2023. Built at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, West Germany as yard number 590 she was launched on 26th April,1980 and in service on […]
Ferry – 1975 built ELEGANT I
One of the Dover – Ostend route ferry, the PRINCESS MARIE CHRISTINE was scrapped in December 2011 and was seen as ELEGANT I. She was launched by Belliard Hoboken as the PRINCESSE MARIE CHRISTINE in 1975 as yard no 878 for Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT), Belgium on their Ostend to Dover route. In 1987 she was repainted in […]
Ferry – 1980 built SHERBATSKIY
One of the last remaining ships built for Townsend Thoresen for the Dover – Calais route as the PRIDE OF FREE ENTERPRISE was scrapped in December 2015 and was seen as SHERBATSKIY. She was launched on 31st May 1980 by Schichau Unterweser AG, Germany as yard number 2281 as PRIDE OF FREE ENTERPRISE for Townsend Thoresen […]
Ferry – 1966 built GREEN SALINA
One of the landing craft type ferry still around is the 1966 built ferry GREEN SALINA She was built at Bekris & Eleftheropoulos Shipyard at Perama, Greece as AGIOS SOSTIS trading until 1977, then renamed REGIUM for a short time and acquired by Fratelli Costanzo SpA in Catania, Italy and renamed her as PASQUALINA CATANIA […]
Ferry Service – Grandi Navi Veloci calling to Malta with different ships – 17.05.2021 to 07.07.2021
Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) started a connection of ferry service linking Malta with Palermo with first ship calling on Saturday 16th January, 2021 – Read our article – https://maltashipnews.com/2021/03/15/ferry-service-grandi-navi-veloci-calling-to-malta-with-different-ships-16-01-2021-to-15-03-2021/ On Monday 17th May the 1999 German built and owned ro/ro ELISABETH RUSS called at Grand Harbour, Malta berthing at Flagstone Wharf. Also called on Monday 31st May. On […]
Virtu Ferries – High Speed Passenger Service Malta – Gozo – June 2021
After last March, 2021 the Hon Minister Ian Borg, and the Hon Minister Clint Camilleri announced the liberalisation of the High Speed Passenger Ferry Service between Gozo and Malta, Virtu Ferries welcomed the news and given the green light by Transport Malta to operate on the new route. Given the short notice between the announcement […]
Ferry Service – Grandi Navi Veloci calling to Malta with different ships – 16.01.2021 to 15.03.2021
Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) started a connection of ferry service linking Malta with Palermo with first ship calling on Saturday 16th January, 2021 at 1515 hrs – the 1994 built ropax AF MARINA which entered Grand Harbour, Malta for the first time coming from Palermo via Messina Straits. Within a week we saw the German built ropax GNV […]
Palumbo Malta Shipyard – 225m sisters CRUISE OLYMPIA and CRUISE EUROPA drydocked within a month – Feb/March 2021.
On the morning of Friday 5th February, 2021 the 2010 built 225metre ropax CRUISE OLYMPIA entered Grand Harbour, Malta bound to Palumbo Malta Shipyards for drydocking at Dock 6. The ship has a maximum capacity of 2,850 passengers and 963 cars (or 610 cars and 180 trucks/trailers). The vessel was operating on the Greece Italy […]
Virtu Ferries – Applies for licence to operate Malta – Gozo fast ferry – March 2021.
On Monday 8th March, 2021 Virtu Ferries has applied for a licence to be able to provide a fast ferry service between Malta and Gozo after Transport Minister Ian Borg said that multiple ferry operators will be able to provide a fast service between Malta and Gozo by June on Friday 26th February, 2021. The […]
Ferry – GNV AZZURRA
One of the GNV’s (Grandi Navi Veloci) ferries around is the 1981 built ropax GNV AZZURRA. In the late 70s the Swedish shipbuilding industry was suffering from a downturn, with little to no ships in order from Swedish shipyards. To help the industry the Swedish Prime Minister Ola Ullsten persuaded Rederi AB Gotland to order new ferries from Öresundsvarvet […]
