Polferries: The active start of the year

Polferries became involved in helping refugees from Ukraine, offering, among others, free transport of citizens of this country to Sweden. The shipowner also began preparations for the upcoming tourist season, finalising the renovation of the ferry "Cracovia".

Due to invasion Russia to Ukraine, in late February Polferries decided to organize an aid action for refugees from Ukraine. Ukrainian citizens wishing to get to Sweden can use free ferry transport from Gdańsk and Świnoujście to Ystad and Nynashamn. On board ferryThis Polferries has transported more than 8800 Ukrainian citizens and about 850 passenger cars since the start of the relief action to Sweden.

The shipowner also transported dozens of tons of humanitarian aid collected by Swedish aid organisations and institutions. Last week, the carrier informed about the involvement of entities from Sweden, including the "Her Majesty Queen Silvia's Care About the Children Foundation" Foundation, which its assistance to Ukrainian refugees is carried by the organization "Ukraine Aid-Children in Need" in cooperation with Polferries.

In recent times, other food and clothing trucks have come to the needy. On board ferryThis Polish shipowner also carried medical vehicles, which eventually went to Ukrainian services, as reported on Twitter. Polferries workers are involved in the collection and selection of humanitarian aid.

The action was also supported by the LOTOS Foundation, which financed the purchase of fuel for voyage 300 thousand PLN will allow to replenish the ferry tanks with additional 66 thousand liters of fuel.

CRACOVIA READY FOR THE TOURIST SEASON

The shipowner is also preparing for an increased layover during the holiday period, and is therefore working intensively to prepare the fleet properly. At the beginning of the week, ferry "Cracovia" from the Polferries fleet ended the stop at the Gdynia Nauta Repair Shipyard. "Cracovia" purchased by PB in 2017 has 123 cabins with a total of 382 seats. Ferry can take 64 cars, 126 trucks and 640 passengers aboard.

The unit spent the last dozen days in a dry dock, where a number of works were carried out in the submarine part of the ferry, including primarily anti-corrosive and anti-fouling coatings. The scope of the renovation also included the capital renovation of main engines No. 1 and No. 2, the review and repair of adjustable screws and stream rudders.

Energy modernization of the ship air conditioning system and power generator were also carried out. Passenger deck spaces were also refreshed. 25 bathrooms were renovated and carpets were listed in the corridors. In the catering section, in order to increase energy efficiency, the food cold store was upgraded.

The coatings were replaced with parts of the cargo space. The unit will return to the Świnoujście-Ystad route later this week. This is another unit of the Polish shipowner, after Wawel and Nova Star, who was thoroughly prepared for the upcoming tourist season. In the following months work will begin in Mazovia and Baltivia.

DEVELOPMENT OF FLOTS

It is worth reminding that Polferries began 2022 with the announcement of very ambitious plans for the company's development. At the end of last year, the share of PŻB in the new construction project was confirmed ferrythe company Polskie Promy S.A., a company owned by the State Treasury, which will receive PLN billion to build three in Gdańsk Shiprepair Yard and in option four ferrys. One and a version of four ferryThese two units will run in Polferries colours.

In addition, during a conference with Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Marek Gróbarczyk, which took place in mid-January, a grant was announced for Polish Baltic Shipping amounting to PLN 140 million, which had already entered into the company's account and was tasked with filling the investment gap as part of the tonnage replenishment in 2023 until new units entered into operation.

Written by Jan Siemiński