• SeaWind, the last rail ferry operating between Finland and Sweden, was sold in April to Marshall Islands-registered Rudniki Shipping, ostensibly bound for Turkey under the Liberian flag as A Wind, possibly for scrapping. However, while she was anchored off Istanbul the flag changed to Cameroon’s colours and she set sail for the Black Sea. As Russia is under multiple sanctions, it is suspected the purchase was a sleight of hand, as the 1972-built ship has been tracked to Kavkaz port on the isthmus between Crimea and Russia. SeaWind Line was a subsidiary of Silja Line, and later Tallink. JS
• Hurtigruten will introduce two new cruise itineraries in 2023. Trollfjord will operate the Svalbard Express, a 16-night round trip between Bergen and Svalbard between June and September, then from September to March she will serve the North Cape Express from Oslo to Honningsvag. WM