Shippax Newsletter– week 51
Shippax Designs 25 - out now!
Shippax Designs is our annual publication presenting all newbuilt or converted ferries, cruise liners and RoRo vessels. This issue covers the 1 July, 2024 - 30 June, 2025 period.
Theme in this issue: STENA FUTURA
Articles:
- STENA FUTURA: Not just ready – but capable for the future
- Fourth and fifth newbuild secure Stena Line’s pure RoRo corridor far into the future
- A third take on a new maximum
- A 2025 status of the RoRo and RoPax market in the Irish Sea
Presentations:
All vessels delivered during the 1 July, 2024 - 30 June, 2025 period are included, although some may have a little less data. Most ferry presentations also include GA plans, together with a few RoRo ships. For cruise ships, deck plans are mostly included.
Ferries:
AL SAADIYAT, ANNTHER 8, ANTONIA 2, DALOM 1, GLEN SANNOX, GNV POLARIS, HINNØY, JAZIRAT DALMA, LADY OF GOOD FORTUNE, LITE FERRY TEN, LONG ISLAND, MARGARITA SALAS, MPUNGU, NERTHUS, PANSTAR MIRACLE, SAINT-MALO, SANTA FAUSTINA, SHODOSHIMA MARU NO 3, SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV, SUNFLOWER KAMUY, VARSOVIA, XIAO DAO NI HAO, YUI LINE KOSHIKI, ZHONG YUAN HAI YUN ZHI XING, ZHOU QIAO 7
Cruise:
ASUKA III, ILMA, MEIN SCHIFF RELAX
RoRo:
ANJI ANSHENG, BYD SHENZHEN, CHAUMINE, HAWAIKINUI 2, HÖEGH AURORA, LUYUAN NO 1, MANOLING 6, ROTRA FUTURA, SOUMEI, SOUTH ENABLER, TRANS HARMONY GREEN
PolSca Baltic Ferries takes delivery of JANTAR UNITY
JANTAR UNITY © Søren Lund Hviid
Remontowa Shipbuilding has delivered newbuilding No. 101, JANTAR UNITY, to PolSca Baltic Ferries. The 195.6-metre-long, 32.2-metre-wide, 47,626 GT vessel has a capacity of 4,100 lane metres for freight and 400 passengers and will take up service on the Swinoujscie - Trelleborg route.
Windstar Cruises takes delivery of STAR SEEKER
STAR SEEKER © MysticInvest
MysticInvest announced the delivery of the 126-metre long and 224 passenger STAR SEEKER, the fifth expedition vessel of the Explorer Series, built by Mystic Cruises at the West Sea - Viana Shipyard in Viana do Castelo.
Mikki Koskinen takes the helm as ES|ECSA President, with Nikolas Veniamis elected Vice-President
Mikki Koskinen and Nikolas Veniamis
Mikki Koskinen from Finland has been elected the next European Shipowners | ECSA President, starting on 1 January 2026 for a two-year term, with Nikolas Veniamis from Greece, joining as the new Vice-President. Mikki succeeds Karin Orsel, who has held the position since January 2024.
Construction of seven small vessels for CMAL at Remontowa Shipbuilding moves ahead
Work to build seven new loch-class electric ferries for Scotland's island communities is progressing, following the keel laying of the first vessel being built under the project at Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdansk and steel-cutting of the second vessel. The vessels are part of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme (SVRP), which will deliver seven fully electric ferries in this first phase. The vessels will provide improved reliability and resilience for lifeline ferry services across the Clyde and Hebrides network.
CLdN and DFDS extend Zeebrugge-Gothenburg space charter agreement
CLdN and DFDS have agreed to extend their space charter agreement on the Zeebrugge-Gothenburg route for an additional five years, whilst in parallel increasing freight capacity. This will enable both companies to better serve customer demand and continue to develop the route, while reducing environmental impact.
Emanuele Grimaldi appointed honorary member of Malta’s National Order of Merit
Mr Emanuele Grimaldi and the President of Malta, H. E. Myriam Spiteri Debono
On 13 December, Malta's Republic Day, Grimaldi Group Managing Director Emanuele Grimaldi was appointed honorary member of Malta's National Order of Merit. The Investiture Ceremony took place in the Grand Council Chamber at the President's Palace, Valletta.
The National Order of Merit pays tribute to personalities who distinguish themselves in different fields of endeavour.
Electrification of HAMLET takes longer than expected
Öresundslinjen's ambition to have three battery-powered passenger ferries operational by Christmas needs adjusting. The ferry HAMLET is currently at the shipyard for conversion to battery propulsion, but is not yet fully ready to serve the Sound.
MSC Cruises and Meyer Werft sign landmark agreement for up to six next-generation “New Frontier” class cruise ships
MSC Cruises announced a major new order for four next-generation cruise vessels and two additional options from MEYER WERFT in Papenburg, marking the launch of its new "New Frontier" platform - a brand-new class of ships. The order will secure full capacity at the shipyard well into the next decade.
With a maximum passenger capacity of 5,400 and approximately 180,000 GT, the “New Frontier” ships will be delivered annually starting in 2030.
Rolls-Royce supplies mtu on-board power generators for Baleària’s upcoming electric ferries on the route between Europe and Africa
Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division is supplying a total of eight mtu emergency power generators for two fully electric fast ferries for Baleària. From 2027, the ships will cover the 18 nautical miles between Tarifa in Spain and Tangier in Morocco using electric power, thereby opening up the first "green corridor" between Europe and Africa.
CORSICA Linea and Elyse Energy team up to accelerate decarbonisation and launch Corsica–Mainland Green Corridor
CORSICA Linea and Elyse Energy, a French supplier of sustainable fuels, have signed a memorandum of understanding to boost e-methanol production and develop the Corsica–Mainland Maritime Green Corridor.
Cavotec signs order for MoorMaster systems in Denmark worth about EUR 2 million
Cavotec MoorMaster NxG
Cavotec has signed an order valued at approximately EUR 2 million for its MoorMaster NxG automated vacuum mooring technology from Danish ferry operator Molslinjen A/S. The systems will be delivered to the ports of Odden and Aarhus, supporting the operation of high-capacity battery-powered catamarans on one of Denmark's busiest ferry routes.
Russian missile strike hits CENK T
A Russian missile and drone assault on Ukraine's Odesa ports damaged the Cenk RoRo-owned RoRo vessel, CENK T on the 12th of December. The Panama-flagged CENK T, operating on the Karasu-Odesa route, caught fire while docked at Chornomorsk after being struck. Firefighters contained the blaze with no crew injuries, though one port worker was wounded elsewhere; two other Turkish ships were also damaged.
Carus partners with Hovertravel
Carus has announced a new cooperation agreement with Hovertravel, the unique cross-Solent operator connecting the English mainland with the Isle of Wight.
The partnership will see Hovertravel implement Carus Engage, allowing the company to advance its digital sales and marketing capabilities.
DP World launches 36-hour Dubai-Iraq route
DP WORLD EXPRESS
DP World has launched a new 36-hour maritime service between Dubai's Mina Rashid and Iraq's Umm Qasr Port, providing a faster alternative to overland trucking and accommodating up to 145 accompanied trailers per sailing.
In a separate announcement, DP World announced that it unified its Marine Services brands—Unifeeder, P&O Ferrymasters, and P&O Maritime Logistics—under the single DP World brand.
DFDS November volumes
DFDS's November 2025 ferry freight volumes fell 1.8% to 3.6 million lane metres (3.8% adjusted for route changes), with YTD at -0.4% unadjusted. North Sea and Mediterranean declined; Channel stable via Jersey gains; Baltic and Gibraltar up. LTM freight rose 0.1% to 41.5 million. Passengers dropped 10.5% adjusted to 195,000; LTM down 19.7% to 5.3 million.
We are heading towards a record-breaking conference with well over 200 delegates already registered and few available sponsorships left.
You'll meet:
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, etc.
Where:
GNV’s RHAPSODY, 5–7 May 2026, sailing between Genoa–Olbia and return
Most read
VIKING GLORY to make evening voyages from Turku when VIKING GRACE is dry-docked
dec 29 2025
EXPRESS 5 to sail more in 2026
dec 29 2025
Brittany Ferries secure prime 8:15am slot at Port of St Malo
dec 29 2025
Marine Atlantic charters A NEPITA from Stena RoRo
jan 07 2026
Second-to-last Searunner arrived in Aliaga
jan 05 2026
GNV adds significantly more capacity on the Naples-Palermo route
jan 05 2026
TYRFING gets further delayed
jan 05 2026
ADNOC will introduce a remotely operated unmanned RoRo vessel
jan 07 2026
