Cracovia

Nouris el Bahr Ferries has extended its charter of the 'Cracovia' from Polferries, effective from November 2025. The extension was for an additional 12 months. The ferry was introduced last year by Nouris el Bahr Ferries on routes from Algeria to Alicante and Marseille, after the vessel became surplus to Polferries’ Baltic Sea network following the introduction of the newbuild 'Varsovia'..

The shipping company Nouris El Bahr has experienced a difficult situation with the temporary blockage of the 'Cracovia' at the port of Marseille on Dec 13, 2024. The incident involved 600 passengers who were due to reach the port of Algiers on the evening. The French authorities subjected the ferry to a prolonged security check, a process that the company vigorously contested. The company denounced what it considered to be arbitrary treatment, stating that the safety certificate issued by the Spanish authorities normally allowed it to sail without constraints for six months. Despite these complications, the ship was finally able to resume its route to Algiers after several hours of waiting. The French maritime authorities justified the check by the need to verify compliance with European safety standards. For their part, Nouris El Bahr representatives considered the action illegal, stressing that a similar inspection had already been carried out in October and should not be repeated. They denounced an "obstruction of European rules", indicating that repeated inspections are unusual and harm their commercial activities. The ship arrived in Algiers on Dec 14 with a slight delay.

Polska Zegluga Baltycka (Polish Baltic Shipping Co. – Polferries) has purchased DRUJBA, a Bulgarian ro-pax ferry with a capacity of 2,196 lanemetres and 550 passengers.