Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2020

has decided that state-owned TT-Line should not proceed with the proposed vessel replacement contract with Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), “due to Covid-19 and its economic implications for the state.” TT-Line had signed a memorandum of understanding with RMC and commenced contract negotiations and agreed final design specifications. The TT-Line Board submitted a business case following a unanimous board recommendation that TT-Line sign a new ship construction contract with RMC. That recommendation was considered and subsequently not endorsed by the shareholder ministers. However, RMC is currently building the ro-pax Auroria Botnia for Wasaline, scheduled for delivery in April 2021. In addition, the yard started production of Tallink Grupp’s shuttle ferry MyStar in April. “The situation is naturally unfortunate for RMC, but we are pleased to say that the withdrawal does not cause any immediate restructuring at RMC,” says Jyrki Heinimaa, the company’s CEO. Stena Line says the construction of its two new larger E-Flexer ferries has begun in Weihai, China. The vessels were ordered in 2018 and the delivery is expected in 2022. They are the last of five vessels of the E-Flexer series Stena Line ordered from sister company Stena RoRo, that are being built at the CMI Jinling Weihai Shipyard. The first two vessels, Stena Estrid and Stena Edda, entered service on the Irish Sea in early 2020. The third, Stena Embla, is in the final stages of construction and is expected to go in to service on the Belfast-Liverpool route according to plan in January 2021. “We continue to build on our successful ro-pax concept with a mix of freight and passengers,” says Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line. “By modernising and standardising our vessel fleet, we ensure a reliable operation can, in an even better way, support and grow with our customers.” German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) announced in June that Brittany Ferries had terminated its contract for the construction of Honfleur, its new LNG ro-pax ferry. Honfleur was scheduled to enter service in June 2019 but delivery was postponed due to the continued financial problems faced by the yard’s management. In a statement, Brittany Ferries said: “The change of the main shareholder in September 2019 with the arrival of Lars Windhorst and the Tennor group did not allow the yard to return to growth and competitiveness.” If, and when, the ship will be finished is so far unclear. Irish Continental Group, owner of Irish Ferries, has also cancelled its order for FSG to build a second vessel, which had been due for delivery in September. The company has now started the process of finding another yard to build the vessel. CFR “By modernising and standardising our vessel fleet, we ensure a reliable operation can, in an even better way, support and grow with our customers” Rauma Marine Constructions started building Tallink Grupp’s new shuttle ferry MySta in April Image: Tallink Grupp AS FERRY ORDER BOOK 1 3 0