Shippax Newsletter– week 42
We've started adding more news to the website and hope you appreciate it. Make sure to check the website frequently, as new articles are added daily.
Please find below the news added to the website this week, listed by publication date — so be sure to scroll all the way down so you don't miss anything.
Enjoy the read
ASCO implements new solutions in their third RoPax from Baku Shipyard
Construction of the third RoPax, Yard No. H114, in a series of three next-generation RoPax ferries for ASCO (Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping) at the Baku Shipyard (BSY) is progressing on schedule. 70% of the project has been completed, ASCO says in a public update.
The two already delivered units in the series are AZERBAIJAN (2021) and ZARIFA ALIYEVA (2022), both approx. 8,500 GT, with a length overall of 154.5 metre, a beam of 17.5 metre and a capacity of 860 lanemetres/728 rail-lanemetres, and 100 passengers with access to night accommodation in 40 cabins.
Vision for an electric transformation of one of Åland’s archipelago ferries
© Foreship
AxFerries (Ålands Skärgårdsrederi Ab), owned by the Government of Åland and FinFerries, presents a development concept for the archipelago ferry ALFÅGELN. The vision illustrates how the vessel can be rebuilt into a modern, fully electric, and emission-free ship with higher capacity and improved operational efficiency.
The plans include extending ALFÅGELN by six metres and widening the car deck. This would make it possible to maintain the same vehicle capacity as today, even without the current side platform decks. A port-side platform deck will be retained to provide extra capacity during peak season operations.
NEOLINER ORIGIN takes off on first voyage
On the 16th of October, NEOLINER ORIGIN will commence its first voyage to Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Baltimore. Built by RMK Marine for Neoline Armateur, it is equipped with 66-metre carbon fibre masts and a total sail area of 3,000 m². NEOLINER ORIGIN is a 136m-long sailing commercial ship capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 80% compared to conventional ships of equivalent size by reducing energy needs and using wind as the main propulsion energy.
Moby has sold its last “Tor Line sister” to China
MOBY OTTA © Frank Lose
Moby Lines has sold MOBY OTTA to Hoiyu International Group Ltd in China for further operations. The 1976-built ferry has been laid up in Livorno since 1 October, and has now been renamed ELPIS and reflagged from Italy to St. Kitts & Nevis.
Disney Cruise Line takes delivery of DISNEY DESTINY
MEYER WERFT delivered its latest cruise ship, the 340-metre and 4,000-passenger DISNEY DESTINY. The handover to Disney Cruise Line took place on schedule in Eemshaven, the Netherlands. The first passengers will board in November.
Summer 2025: Mediterranean ferry travel insights
US, UK, and EU bookings surged, with ferry demand up by around 20% year-on-year. Italy held its crown, led by Capri, Amalfi, and Sorrento, which topped international demand. Croatia's appeal strengthened, with Split, Dubrovnik, and Bol leading the way despite modest growth in the wider market. Greece saw a mixed performance — Paros and Naxos advanced, while Santorini and Mykonos softened slightly. In Spain, ferry bookings to the Balearics cooled, but demand increased for the Canary Islands, Tarifa, and Tangier.
Attica has published financial and volumes figures for 1st half of 2025
Attica Holdings S.A. (Attica Group) has announced its financial results for the 1st half of 2025, which reflect an increase in consolidated revenue across both geographical segments of operation (in Greek domestic and international routes). Overall, compared to the corresponding period in 2024, revenue increased by 2.96%, reaching EUR 326.6 million from EUR 317.2 million.
Baleària recorded an 11% increase in freight volumes - fresh products now account for 35% of its cargo
Refrigerated products, such as fruits and vegetables, make up 35% of the cargo transported by Baleària, a volume that consolidates the shipping company as a key player in the logistics distribution of fresh and perishable foods in the regions where it operates. Refrigerated cargo thereby represents the largest share by type of goods for Baleària, although this varies by route.
GNV has extended the charter of its two Sietas-RoRos for another year
CAROLINE RUSS in Genoa © Frank Lose
Starting from September this year, GNV has extended the charter of the two RoRo vessels CAROLINE RUSS and ELISABETH RUSS for an additional 12 months. Both ships were also chartered to GNV on a 12-month agreement in September last year, and prior to that, they had likewise been employed by GNV for a longer cumulative period.
Torpoint “Bridge to Zero” to deliver UK’s first zero-emission chain ferry plan
A project to cut carbon emissions from the world's busiest chain ferry service is underway in Cornwall and Devon. The Torpoint "Bridge to Zero" initiative aims to create a practical, fully costed plan to convert the Torpoint Ferry fleet from diesel power to 100% shore-supplied renewable electricity.
CRACOVIA to spend another 12 months in the Mediterranean
CRACOVIA © Richard Seville
Nouris el Bahr Ferries is extending its charter of the RoPax CRACOVIA from Polferries, effective from November. The extension is for an additional 12 months.
The CRACOVIA, built in 2002 and capable of carrying 550 passengers and 2,196 lanemetres of cargo, 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.
New Zealand Government confirms double ferry order at GSI
The New Zealand Government, through its procuring company Ferry Holdings Limited, has secured GSI (Guangzhou Shipyard International) as the builder of two new ferries for the state-owned, KiwiRail-operated Interislander, New Zealand Rail Minister Winston Peters confirmed today, thereby confirming Shippax’s earlier report.
"...we have secured major components including a fixed price, completion in 2029, and full delivery of our ship specifications for 200-metre-long ferries with 2.4km of lanes for trucks, cars and 40 rail wagons aboard each ship, and room for 1,500 passengers each."
SMYRIL is returning to the Faroe Islands after extensive upgrade
SMYRIL arriving at Torshaven © Søren Lund Hviid
After seven weeks in dock at the repair yard Fayard in Denmark, and following extensive retrofit and installation work, Strandfaraskip Landsins' flagship, SMYRIL, has now set course for the Faroe Islands. Major work has been completed. The most significant tasks included rebuilding the aft section, installing two new stern thrusters, and fitting three new auxiliary engines - each more than twice as powerful as the previous ones.
Smyril Line extends charter of RoRo from Siem
Smyril Line has extended its charter from Siem Shipping of the 3,660 lanemetre RoRo LISTA for 11 months starting from September 2025. The 2011-built LISTA was brought in while the 1,600 lanemetre GLYVURSNES - which on 2 January 2025 suffered a serious engine room fire in Hirtshals that claimed the life of a crew member - was out of Smyril Line's network, the route between Tórshavn, Hirtshals, and Þorlákshöfn, for repairs.
Fatal accident on the RoRo vessel ELMES during shipyard stay
An apparently sudden and severe list caused a fatal accident on 9 October around 14:30 local time at the Turkish Yildiz repair yard in Tuzla. The vessel involved is the 1997-built, 570 lanemetre heavy-lift/multi-purpose RoRo ELMES. The list to port side occurred while the ship was moored alongside at the yard with a large number of shipyard workers on board, and it caused, among other things, one of the ship's hatches to slide overboard.
KiwiRail sells 26-year-old ferry for scrapping as newbuild contract moves one step closer
ARATERE © Interislander
KiwiRail has entered into an agreement to sell the aged and out of service Interislander ferry ARATERE to a buyer which will deliver it to a specialist recycling shipyard in India. ARATERE was delivered as a newbuild 26 years ago to KiwiRail from Spanish shipyard Barreras and was retired from service in August to make way for port infrastructure needed for the arrival of two brand new rail-enabled ferries arriving in 2029, for which it is now believed a Letter of Intent (LOI) has been signed with the GSI Shipyard in China.
EU Entry/Exit System (EES) goes live across the Schengen area
The European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) officially kicked off on the 12th of October, marking a transformative step in border management across 29 Schengen countries. The automated digital platform will replace traditional passport stamping with biometric registration, aiming to enhance security and streamlining travel for non-EU visitors; however, concerns are raised about potential significant delays at ports and IT systems not properly prepared.
Finnlines launches weekly Bilbao–Gdynia service
Finnlines has introduced a new weekly freight service between the Port of Bilbao and the Polish port of Gdynia. Departing every Saturday and represented in Bilbao by Consignaciones Toro y Betolaza, the service enhances the port's strategic role within the Grimaldi Group's intermodal network — combining efficiency, sustainability, and global connectivity.
Operating since late June, the service employs three next-generation hybrid RoRo vessels — FINNECO I, II, and III — designed for multiple cargo types including rolling, breakbulk, containers, vehicles, and project cargo. Each ship can carry up to 420 trailers or 2,500 vehicles and features lithium-ion batteries, solar panels, optimized hulls, and air-bubble lubrication systems to minimize emissions and fuel consumption.
Candela secures 10-ship deal in Thailand
At a ceremony in Bangkok, Swedish hydrofoil ferry manufacturer Candela and Thai operator Seudamgo by Leopard Transportation Co., Ltd. signed an agreement for ten Candela P-12 electric hydrofoil ferries to operate between the mainland and Koh Kood in Trat province.
Each ferry can carry 20 passengers and cruise at over 25 knots, completing the 20-nautical-mile crossing in about 40 minutes. Powered by twin electric motors and large battery packs, the P-12 consumes up to 80% less energy than conventional vessels and can be charged using solar power.
AYK Energy wins battery contract for Baleària’s all electric fast ferries
Marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy has won a contract to power the world's first fully electric intercontinental fast ferries between Europe and Africa. Spanish ferry operator Baleària will operate the twin catamarans solely on electric propulsion throughout the 18-nautical mile voyage between Tarifa in the south of Spain and Tangier, Morocco at speeds of up to 26 knots.
Montenegro Shipping Lines acquires RoRo vessel in China for Marina Ferries
Philippine operator Montenegro Shipping Lines has expanded its fleet with a second-hand purchase in China by taking over the LING XING 9. The 2022-built RoRo (Deck Cargo Vessel) has now been renamed BINIBINING JOLO for deployment under the company's Marina Ferries brand.
The vessel has an overall length of 106.3 metres, a beam of 20.5 metres, and a deadweight of 4,996 tons. Montenegro Shipping Lines already operates the sister ships BINIBINING MATNOG and BINIBINING SURIGAO, which also dates from 2022.
SANTA CRUZ is being put up for sale at auction
SANTA CRUZ © Richard Seville
The 1978-built ferry SANTA CRUZ (formerly MOBY CORSE) is now being put up for auction after a long period of lay-up in Genoa, following the bankruptcy of its previous owners as far back as January, declared at the request of several creditors.
German TT-Line signs LOI with Jinling Shipyard for next-generation RoPax vessels
NILS HOLGERSSON © Christian Costa
An LOI has been signed between German TT-Line and CMI Jinling Shipyard for 1+1 new next-generation RoPax vessels which will be larger in both terms of size and capacities compared to the NILS HOLGERSSON and PETER PAN delivered from the same yard in 2022.
The new vessels will measure approximately 240 metres (+10m) in length, accommodate up to 1,000 passengers (+200), and feature LNG-hybrid propulsion.
Grimaldi resumes activity in Syria after lift of sanctions
GRANDE SICILIA © Marc Ottini
Grimaldi Lines' 4,300 CEU/3,100 lane metre GRANDE SICILIA carrying cars, machinery and heavy equipment docked at the Syrian port of Latakia 4 October, reopening Grimaldi Lines' route between Syria and Italy after more than seven years of suspension due to western sanctions.
Mixed picture for DFDS’ freight numbers during September
DFDS RoRo vessels in Gothenburg © Søren Lund Hviid
DFDS' total freight volumes in September 2025 counted 3.5 million lanemetres, which were 0.8% above 2024 and 1.2% lower adjusted for route changes. YTD growth rates were 0.2% and -1.2%, respectively. North Sea volumes were on level with 2024 following stable volumes on most routes. Mediterranean volumes were below 2024 following a continued slowdown in Turkish automotive manufacturing and domestic demand as well as reduced capacity on one route in response to the competitive situation.
Finferries signs agreement for 14 new electric ferries, built with re-used hulls
Finferries' MERGUS in the Turku archipelago © Søren Lund Hviid
The Finnish domestic ferry operator Finferries (Finlands Färjetrafik Ab) has signed an agreement with the ELY Centre for Southwest Finland concerning the procurement project "Road Ferry Service for Lake Finland 2026–2047". The company has developed an environmentally friendly transport concept for 12 cable ferry routes in Inland Finland, which will increase the transport capacity on these routes to 90 tonnes.
Corvus Energy receives USD 60 million growth investment
Corvus Energy, a supplier of energy storage systems (ESS) for the maritime industry, announced it has secured USD 60 million in growth capital from a group of international investors. The consortium is led by Morgan Stanley Investment Management and includes Just Climate and J. Lauritzen.
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