Ferry Shipping News & Ferry Shipping Summit

Our editor took a dive into his photo archive and resurfaced with a unique snapshot of ferry operations in the English Channel—taken in 1992. What do we see? A mix of vessels, brands, and solutions from another era. Some companies have changed names or disappeared entirely. Some ferries are gone, others still successfully operate (elsewhere). Some ships marked the end of shipbuilding at once-renowned yards—NORD PAS-DE-CALAIS, built at Dunkerque Shipyard in France, and PRINS FILIP, from Boelwerf in Belgium. All the ferries were built in Europe. We also see routes that no longer exist, and operational choices that reflect a very different time. What else stands out to you as being different from today’s ferry landscape? Thomas P. Illes Bruce Peter Philippe Holthof Marko Stampehl Dr Bill Moses M.B.E. MA Photos Mike Louagie #ferry #channel #dover #calais #shipbuilding #vintage

NB1091 HINNØY sets sail! CEMRE SHIPYARD announced the departure of HINNØY, Norway’s largest zero-emission ferry, built for Torghatten Nord. Developed by The Norwegian Ship Design Company and constructed at Cemre, HINNØY marks a new chapter in sustainable ferry transport. Operating on the Bognes–Lødingen route, she stands out with a record one-hour battery-powered crossing. This double-ended ferry features a cutting-edge battery-electric propulsion system and shore charging support, with two independent propulsion setups for optimal reliability—even in Norway’s harsh northern waters. ✅ DNV-classed ✅ 399 passengers ✅ 120 cars ✅ Built for comfort, efficiency, and Arctic resilience. #ferry #cenre #norway #zeroemission

Time flies when... you're having a good ship. This week, NORMANDIE (1991) is doing her final crossings for Brittany Ferries. This old photo shows her in her previous livery and with the original pre-scrubber funnel. She has been acquired by La Méridionale. #ferry #ropax #portsmouth #bretagne #normandie

A recent government call for tenders to lease a new ferry for Gozo Channel operations concluded without receiving any bids, as confirmed by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri. The tender, which opened on February 16 and closed on April 2, aimed to replace the aging MV Nikolaos—a Greek-flagged vessel over 30 years old, chartered in 2019, and reportedly costing the government €14,000 per day in rental and staff expenses, excluding fuel.   Nationalist MPs Alex Borg and Ivan Castillo had previously expressed concerns about the tender, with Borg describing it as “a tender set to fail.” In response to the lack of interest, Minister Camilleri indicated that a new call for tenders might be issued. Additionally, he mentioned plans to issue a tender by mid-year for the construction of a new ferry tailored to Gozo Channel's specifications.   Currently, Gozo Channel operates three other ferries built in Malta to its specifications.   Source: Times of Malta https://lnkd.in/eZKpP_5D #malta #ferry #gozo

Thank you, Mark Prummel (*), for these great photos of the HAWAIKINUI 2, under construction for the Société de Navigation Polynésienne - SNP.   The vessel has reached another milestone. She is on her way from the Royal Bodewes yard in Hoogezand, via Groningen and Delfzijl, to eventually start sea trials on Tuesday.   Vessel type: RoRo Passengers: 12 LOA: 86.98m Capacity: 2,000 DWT Propulsion: 1 x CPP shaft line Service Speed: 12 knots Route: Iles sous le Vent   The Îles Sous-le-Vent, or Leeward Islands, are a group of islands in the Society Islands archipelago of French Polynesia, located in the South Pacific. They lie to the west of the Windward Islands (which include Tahiti) and are known for their stunning lagoons, lush mountains, and traditional Polynesian culture.   More photos on Mark Prummel’s website: https://lnkd.in/dAtAvHJd #polynesie #roro #shipbuilding ALWENA SHIPPING

SOUTH ENABLER, the new RoRo for MANN LINES / WALLENIUS SOL has reached the sea for the first time on Saturday 12 April.   The vessel was built by the Visentini shipyard and designed by NAOS Ship and Boat Design. Main data of SOUTH ENABLER: 3,000 lane metres plus 200 cars | LOA 203m | 2 Wärtsilä engines of 7200 kw each | 22 knots speed | RINA Class | Ice Class 1A | methanol ready Photos courtesy of Visentini #roro #shipping #shipbuilding  

IMO approves net-zero regulations for global shipping   The International Maritime Organization has achieved another important step towards establishing a legally binding framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships globally, aiming for net-zero emissions by or around, i.e close to 2050.    The IMO Net-zero Framework is the first in the world to combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing across an entire industry sector.     Approved by the Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 83rd session (MEPC 83) from 7–11 April 2025, the measures include a new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.    These measures, set to be formally adopted in October 2025 before entry into force in 2027, will become mandatory for large ocean-going ships over 5,000 gross tonnage, which emit 85% of the total CO2 emissions from international shipping.    https://lnkd.in/eQJcM5Vf

BIG NEWS: Today, Grimaldi Group has commissioned the construction of nine RoPax vessels from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai), a China Merchants Group company.   The agreement for these cutting-edge new builds, worth $1.3 billion, was signed this morning in Hong Kong. All nine will be equipped with engines capable of running on methanol, making them ready to achieve the "Net Zero Emission" goal.   ➡️ “Next Generation Med” class 4 for Grimaldi Lines, Italian flag 2 for Minoan Lines S.A., Greek flag   ➡️ “Hansa Superstar” class (evolution of the “Superstar” series) 3 for Finnlines, Finnish flag   To be delivered between 2028 and 2030.   Ground-breaking, green technology innovations. Optimized hull and propeller designs, energy-efficient onboard power management systems (both at sea and in port), shore power readiness and the application of silicon-based hull coatings will reduce CO₂ emissions per transported cargo unit by more than 50% compared to vessels currently operating on the same routes. More in Friday's news. Photo: Emanuele Grimaldi (Grimaldi Group) and Miao Jianmin (China Merchants Group) #ferry #ropax #shipbuilding #shipping KNUD E. HANSEN

2024: A Historically Strong Year for Color Group Color Group – the parent company of Color Line – delivered results in 2024 on par with its record-breaking 2023, despite ongoing inflation and geopolitical uncertainty. This underlines the strength and resilience of Color Line’s business model, based on continuous improvement and operational efficiency. Highlights from 2024: 🌈 EBITDA reached NOK 1.4 billion, only marginally lower than in 2023 🌈 Operating profit (EBIT) came in at NOK 808 million, compared to NOK 819 million in 2023 🌈 Carried 3.7 million passengers and 160,000 freight units (12-m equivalent) 🌈 Nearly 4,700 sailings across four international routes and five ships 🌈 Maintained robust performance despite weaker Norwegian currency and softer freight markets Accelerating the Green Transition: 🌈 2024 marked the inclusion of shipping in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) 🌈 Color Line is actively preparing for future requirements: 🌈 Route optimisation and energy efficiency initiatives 🌈 Increased use of biofuel and silicone-based hull coatings 🌈 Deployment of digital support systems for optimised sailing Looking ahead to 2025: Despite an intensive docking programme to meet new environmental standards, Color Line expects another solid year of operations in 2025. https://lnkd.in/eW6QZpSx

Although this is about a cruise terminal, it's fascinating to see how technology is being used to streamline passenger flow on an unprecedented scale. In Miami, MSC Cruises unveiled the world's largest and most innovative cruise terminal — capable of handling up to 36,000 guests daily. With space for three ships simultaneously, the real game changer lies in the biometric check-in journey. 🔹 Digital identity verification 🔹 Facial recognition at 18 self-service kiosks 🔹 22 biometric gates before the gangway 🔹 Pre-registration via app or website The result? A seamless, stress-free embarkation experience that starts before you even step onboard. Food for thought: how might these innovations inspire the next generation of ferry terminals? #Ferry #PassengerExperience #MaritimeInnovation #Biometrics #CruiseTerminal #DigitalTransformation