Smyril Lineis aFaroeseshippingcompany, linking theFaroe IslandswithDenmark,Iceland,theNetherlandsandLithuania.It previously also servedNorwayand theUnited Kingdom.Smyrilis theFaroeseword for themerlin.
| Company type | A/S(Aktieselskab) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Tórshavn,Faroe Islands |
Area served | North Sea North Atlantic Norwegian Sea |
| Services | Passenger transportation Freight transportation |
 DKK5.513 million(2009)[1] | |
| DKK407,000(2009)[2] | |
| Total assets | DKK483,000(2009)[3] |
| Total equity | DKK122 million(2011)[4] |
History
editThis section needs to beupdated.The reason given is: Shetland Development Trust doesn't exist anymore.(March 2020) |
Since 1983, the company has operated a regular international passenger, car and freight service using a multi-purpose ferry,MSNorröna.The original vessel was a Swedish-built ferry formerly namedGustav Vasa(built in 1973). This was replaced by theNorröna,built inLübeck,Germanyin 2003. The purchase price of €100 million caused the company financial difficulties, and Smyril line eventually had to receive public support from theFaroese Governmentto stay afloat.
In 2010 the holding company was owned by Framtaksgrunnur Føroya (Faroese Development Trust) 33.6%, the Faroese Government 23.6%, TF Holding 20.7% and theShetlandDevelopment Trust6.8%, and the rest of the shares were owned by several minor stakeholders.[5]
Passenger operations
editThe weekly service servesTórshavnin theFaroe Islands,SeyðisfjörðurinIceland,andHirtshalsinDenmark.As of 2022, there is no sailing to Iceland during winter time, between mid-November and mid-March. The crossing between Hirtshals and Tórshavn takes 38 hours in winter and 30 hours during the summer schedule. The onwards journey to Seyðisfjörður takes another 15 hours.[6]
Until the end of the summer 2007 timetable, Smyril Line also servedLerwickin theShetland Islands.On 11 November 2008 Smyril Line announced that it would end services toScrabster,Scotland andBergen,Norway.[7]On 1 September Smyril Line announced that it would end services toHanstholm(summer) andEsbjerg(winter) in Denmark and move all its Danish ferry operations toHirtshals.
Cargo
editSmyril Line Cargo operates a fleet of five RoRo vessels:Eystnes,Hvítanes,Akranes,Mykines and Glyvursnes.[8]Cargo is also shipped on theNorröna.EystnesandHvítanesconnectSeyðisfjörðurinIcelandwithKlaipedainLithuaniaand from there throughHirsthalsandTórshavn,[9]withAkranesconnecting Rotterdam withTórshavnandÞórlakshöfnports.[10]
The MVMykineswas added to the fleet in April 2017. Built at the Norwegian UMOE Sterkoder shipyard in 1996, it was previously operated as Auto Baltic for Bore shipping company in Finland. It measures 138.5 metres in length and 22.6 metres in width. As aRoRo shipit also takes unaccompanied cars as freight, providing an alternative to the Norröna. It sails fromRotterdamvia Tórshavn (stopping there northbound only) toÞorlákshöfnin Iceland.[11]
TheGlyvursnesis the newest vessel, added in December 2023, taking over from the charteredMistral.The vessel was bought from the Finnish companyBore Ltd.,and was renamed fromM/S SeagardtoGlyvursnes.The vessel is 153.5 metres long and 20.6 metres wide, and it was built by the German shipyardJ.J. Sietasin 1999. It sails betweenTórshavn,Þórlakshöfn,andHirtshals.[12]
In 2024 February, Smyril Line signed a contract with the Chinese shipyardCIMC Rafflesfor two new cargo vessels. The delivery date is set for 2026, and both vessels will be 190 meters long and 3300 lane meters wide. The vessels are designed byKnud E. Hansen.The vessels will be equipped with a battery system, connection to shore power, and will be able to run on methanol.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Smyril Line Travel A/S - Hirtshals - Regnskab".
- ^"Smyril Line Travel A/S - Hirtshals - Regnskab".
- ^"Smyril Line Travel A/S - Hirtshals - Regnskab".
- ^"Um okkum".Archived fromthe originalon 9 September 2010.Retrieved23 June2011.
- ^"Um okkum".Archived fromthe originalon 9 September 2010.Retrieved23 June2011.
- ^"Sailing Schedule".Retrieved9 April2024.
- ^"Summer ferry sailings cancelled".11 November 2008.
- ^http://www.smyrillinecargo.com/Smyril Line Cargo: Homepage, accessed: 2024-04-09
- ^"Timetable MS Eystnes/MS Hvitanes"(PDF).Symril Line Cargo.
- ^"Smyril Line Cargo Schedules".Retrieved9 April2024.
- ^"Smyril Line: Smyril Line is expanding its fleet".20 December 2016.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^"Smyril Line expands fleet".Retrieved9 April2024.
- ^"Smyril Line has signed contracts for two modern and environmentally friendly RoRo cargo ships".Retrieved9 April2024.