Shippax Newsletter– week 47
New Zealand Government signs NZD 596 million fixed contract with GSI for two new rail-enabled ferries
The New Zealand Government, through its procuring company Ferry Holdings Limited, has now signed a firm contract with GSI (Guangzhou Shipyard International) for the construction of the two new rail-enabled hybrid Interislander ferries. The ferries, built at a NZD 596 million fixed price, will enter Cook Strait service in 2029.
Each vessel will be 200 metres long and 28 metres wide, accommodating up to 1,530 passengers, 70 crew, and 2,400 lane metres of vehicles, including full rail capability.
Gotlandsbolaget Q3 revenues jump 41% after Go Nordic Cruiseline acquisition
NORDIC CROWN © Frank Lose
Gotlandsbolaget reported a sharp rise in third-quarter revenues to SEK 1,416 million (2024: SEK 1,003 million), driven primarily by the inclusion of Go Nordic Cruiseline, acquired at the end of October 2024. Adjusted operating profit for July–September increased to SEK 353 million from SEK 318 million a year earlier, helped by a solid high-season performance from the newly integrated Oslo–Copenhagen cruise-ferry operation.
NOW UPDATED WITH ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND BATTERY CAPACITIES!
QUEEN JENUVIA II runs aground off South Korean Coast; all 267 aboard rescued
© Mokpo Coast Guard
A total of 267 people, including 246 passengers and 21 crew, were successfully rescued after the ferry QUEEN JENUVIA II ran aground on rocks off South Korea's southwest coast late on Wednesday. The vessel was traveling from the southern island of Jeju to the southwestern port city of Mokpo when the incident occurred.
Fincantieri secures decades-long Ancona port concession and launches EUR 40 million shipyard development plan
Fincantieri has signed a multi-decade concession agreement with the Port System Authority of the Central Adriatic Sea to expand its Ancona shipyard. As part of the agreement, Fincantieri will invest EUR 40 million into a modernization and development plan to increase the shipyard's capacity to build larger vessels.
Fossil-free fuel-pooling-initiative launched by Gotlandsbolaget
GOTLAND © Kai Orten
Gotlandsbolaget has launched a new initiative to reduce emissions from their existing fleet called "Gotland Carbon Solutions". Two of the vessels operating in the Gotland service are fitted with modern dual fuel LNG engines, which make it possible to run on nearly 100% fossil-free fuels in terms of bioLNG.
Former Moby ferry launched under the brand “World Cruises”
As reported by Shippax earlier this year, Moby Lines' 1982-built RoPax ferry MOBY ZAZA was sold in March this year to the Marshall Islands-based company Atlantis Maritime SA, and two months later resold to the Singapore-based Dragon 1 Pte. The new owner renamed the vessel ZAZA before it departed via the Suez Canal for Malaysia in mid-May.
The ferry has now arrived in Singapore under the name WORLD LEGACY, registered in Liberia, painted entirely in dark blue with gold stripes, and bearing the name World Cruises along its hulls.
Havila Voyages secures long-term financing
HAVILA CASTOR in Trollfjorden © Marius Beck Dahle
Havila Kystruten AS (Havila Voyages) has entered into a comprehensive agreement to refinance the company's outstanding debt totaling EUR 456 million. The agreement provides 15-year financing that ensures predictability and room for maneuvering for the continued operation and development of the coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes.
Port of Oslo rewards green shipping initiatives that cut emissions
Port of Oslo is introducing new incentives to promote green shipping and meet the city's ambitious climate goals. The port is using a "bonus-malus" system: zero-emission ships will be exempt from quay fees, while others using shore power or achieving high environmental scores will receive discounts. Ships that do not adopt green solutions will pay more.
The port has invested NOK 225 million in zero-emission infrastructure since 2018, installing shore power for various vessel types and fast-charging stations for heavy vehicles. These efforts have already reduced emissions from port activities by 26%.
Changes may be underway at Corsica Ferries
MEGA EXPRESS FIVE © Frank Lose
Corsica Ferries is selling yet another ferry to the Saudi Arabian company Tarco Marine. At the same time, a ferry from Stena Line is on its way into the Corsica Ferries fleet.
According to Shipping Italy, it is the RoPax MEGA EXPRESS FIVE, built in 1993, that is heading to Tarco Marine - a shipping company that already operates two former Corsica Ferries vessels, CORSICA MARINA SECONDA and CORSICA VICTORIA, under their current names AL JABARA and QUEEN RINAS, on a route between Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Digna in Sudan.
MacGregor secured order for nine new RoPax vessels for Finnlines, Grimaldi and Minoan Lines
MacGregor has been selected to supply cargo access solutions for nine new RoPax vessels as part of the Grimaldi Group's major fleet renewal plan. This significant order includes cargo access equipment for three vessels for Finnlines, four for Grimaldi Euromed, and two for Minoan Lines. The vessels will be built at China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard Co., Ltd.
STENA FORERUNNER cargo increase conversion complete
STENA FORETELLER was redelivered in June this year © Stena RoRo
Stena RoRo has taken delivery of the STENA FORERUNNER from the Chinese shipyard CMI Weihai, marking the completion of the vessel's cargo-increase conversion. The ship is now ready to enter service following the same successful upgrade programme previously carried out on its sister vessel, STENA FORETELLER.
Everllence Introduces two-stroke ammonia engine to global maritime industry
Everllence has unveiled its new, dual fuel ME-LGIA (Liquid Gas Injection Ammonia) engine. Using the Diesel principle and the well-known, dual fuel Liquid Gas Injection concept, the ME-LGIA engine has many of the same merits as Everllence's existing ME-LGIM and ME-LGIP units that, respectively, run on methanol and LPG.
HAMLET becomes Öresundslinjen’s third fully electric ferry
With the conversion of the third ferry to battery power, Öresundslinjen is continuing its aim to establish a green maritime corridor between Sweden and Denmark. The ferry HAMLET has now arrived in Landskrona, where its traditional diesel propulsion is being replaced with modern battery systems.
When HAMLET leaves the Oresund DryDocks yard in Landskrona in early December, after a three-week docking period, the ferry will have been converted from fossil fuels to fully electric operation using sustainable energy from wind, water, and solar sources.
Vestlandske is converting two ferries to fully electric operation for use in famous UNESCO fjord
The Norwegian ferry operator Vestlandske is now converting two ferries to zero-emission operation on the Geirangerfjord. The project takes place in one of Norway's most famous UNESCO areas and aligns with national goals for emission-free domestic shipping.
The ferries are being fitted with battery packs totalling 17 MWh, providing sufficient capacity for normal operations in an area with limited power supply. With support from Enova, the aim is for 1978-built JOTUNHEIM and the 1990-built HJØRUNGAVÅG to be ready for zero-emission operation from the start of the 2026 season.
Strategic Marine delivers two 550-passenger catamaran ferries to the Government of Bermuda
Strategic Marine has delivered two 40-metre, 550-passenger catamaran ferries, WARBABY FOX and JL CECIL SMITH, to the Government of Bermuda. The vessels were completed ahead of the contracted schedule and within the agreed budget.
Each vessel accommodates up to 550 passengers, including designated wheelchair spaces. According to project specifications, the ferries are expected to achieve approximately 25% lower CO2 emissions on a passenger-mile basis compared to the existing fleet.
North Sea Handling to supply RoRo equipment for CMAL’s seven small vessels
North Sea Handling AS is through its subsidiary NSH Ships Equipment AS awarded the contract to equip Scotland's Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) seven new all-electric vessels being built by Remontowa Shipbuilding with cargo and passenger access equipment.
Shin Nihonkai Ferry launches new RoPax vessel KEYAKI on the Otaru–Maizuru route
KEYAKI © Tsuyoshi Ishiyama
At midnight on 14 November 2025, KEYAKI, the latest RoPax of Shin Nihonkai Ferry, departed from the port of Otaru, Hokkaido, to the port of Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.
KEYAKI was built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Shimonoseki Shipyard, and the 199.0 m–long vessel has about 14,300 GT (Japanese domestic gross tonnage) and a capacity for 286 passengers, about 150 trucks, and about 30 cars.
Echandia selected to supply new battery system for the world’s first long-range all-electric ferry ELLEN
ELLEN © Peter Therkildsen
Echandia has been selected to deliver a new battery system for ELLEN, operated by Ærøfærgerne in Denmark. Echandia will supply a 3.2 MWh LTO battery system to replace the previous 4.3 MWh NMC system. The new system is designed for a 15-year lifetime and features multiple daily fast-charging cycles at high efficiency.
TT-Line sign bio-LNG supply agreement with EnviTec Biogas
A successful trial bunkering of 40 tonnes of bio-LNG from EnviTec Biogas AG has been completed for TT-Line's PETER PAN in Travemünde, marking a joint step toward cleaner logistics powered by renewable biogas.
Likely to sell out - book in time!
Join the league of RoPax, RoRo and High-Speed ferry operators and shipowners, shipyards, ports, shipbrokers, naval architects, designers, classification societies, trade associations, interest groups, regulators, banks, financial institutions and suppliers at the Shippax Ferry Conference, held on board RHAPSODY, sailing between Genoa - Olbia and return, 5-7 May 2026!
Current booking levels signal we are likely to become sold out, so make sure you book in time to secure a seat. More than 500 delegates and 240 unique companies are expected!
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