Shippax Newsletter– week 7
Meyer Turku unveils new net zero cruise ship concept
The net zero cruise ship concept developed under Meyer Turku’s AVATAR project has been completed. The project achieved its set emissions reduction target: the vessel’s lifecycle carbon footprint was successfully reduced by more than 90 percent compared to the baseline defined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The results provide a solid foundation for continuing development and innovation work in sustainable shipbuilding.
HAFNIA SEA has commenced on the DFDS’ Italy–Turkey corridor
HAFNIA SEA © Kai Ortel
HAFNIA SEA entered DFDS’ Italy–Turkey shortsea corridor at the end of January. At the same time, Transfennica extended its charter of CORONA SEA - one of HAFNIA SEA’s three sister ships - by 12 months, also with Admare Ship Management.
Aleson Shipping Lines face criminal charges after ferry disaster
The Philippine ferry operator Aleson Shipping Lines will face criminal charges for its negligence and safety lapses involving its passenger ferry TRISHA KERSTIN 3. The 1995-built 621 GT. RoPax carrying 372 passengers and crew sank 26 January off the waters in Basilan during a crossing between the Philippine islands Mindanao and Jolo Island, claiming the lives of 52 passengers, crew, and a Philippine Coast Guard personnel.
Over 1 million passengers travelled with Finnlines in 2025
FINNCANOPUS © Janne-Petteri Kumpulainen
Finnlines total number of passengers in 2025, including professional drivers and private travellers, was 1,021,000, which is an increase of 9 per cent compared to 2024. The number of private passengers increased by over 13 per cent.
CalMac celebrated 175 years anniversary
On 10 February, CalMac marked a remarkable milestone - 175 years since the origins of what would become Caledonian MacBrayne first set sail. On that date in 1851, Hutcheson & Co. launched their very first sailing, laying the foundations of the network that continues to serve Scotland's west coast today. In 1878, David MacBrayne - one of the company's original partners - took sole ownership and renamed the business David MacBrayne.
A NEPITA replaced by DANIELLE CASANOVA while awaiting CAPU ROSSU
DANIELLE CASANOVA outside Marseille © Frank Lose
On January 24, Corsica Linea withdrew A NEPITA from service on the route between Marseille and Propriano in Corsica, after which the Stena RoRo-owned RoPax vessel sailed to Perama, Greece. There, the ferry is currently undergoing a series of modifications ahead of a charter to Marine Atlantic, with expected arrival in Canada in summer 2026.
P&O Ferries strengthen Zeebrugge–Tilbury route with long-term charter
LISMORE is a sister to LONGSTONE © Peter Therkildsen
P&O Ferries is strengthening its North Sea freight offering with the long-term charter of the RoRo vessel LISMORE, which has now joined the fleet. Sister ship to the LONGSTONE, also chartered by P&O, LISMORE will be deployed on the Zeebrugge–Tilbury route, increasing capacity for unaccompanied freight and offering customers greater guaranteed space across P&O Ferries' North Sea network.
Austal starts production of Gotlandsbolaget's multi-fuel capable Horizon X at its Philippines Shipyard
Austal has marked a significant milestone in the construction of Horizon X, the next-generation multi-fuel and hydrogen-ready high-speed ferry for Sweden's Gotlandsbolaget, with a plate cutting ceremony held at the Austal Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu.
DFDS’ CAESAREA TRADER suffers major engine room fire off the coast of the Isle of Wight
CAESAREA TRADER © John Bryant
The DFDS-owned freight RoRo CAESAREA TRADER suffered a major engine room fire off the coast of the Isle of Wight while on her regular run between St. Helier, Jersey and Portsmouth in the afternoon of 9 February. All 23 crew and one passenger are reported accounted for and well.
First of three new purpose-built RoRo’s for Airbus was launched
LD Armateurs is set to welcome the first ship of its next generation RoRo vessels chartered to Airbus. The SPIRIT OF TOULOUSE was launched in the start of February at Wuchang Shipyard (CSSC Group). Two other vessels – SPIRIT OF MOBILE and SPIRIT OF MIRABEL - are under construction.
Viking Line marks two years of green shipping corridor between Turku and Stockholm
VIKING GLORY © Viking Line
Viking Line, Port of Turku and Ports of Stockholm are running a joint project with the aim of establishing a fossil-free shipping corridor between Stockholm and Turku by 2035. Two years into the project, concrete progress has been made on biofuel, onshore power and zero-emission targets in ports.
Operators launch common Kristiansand-Kirkenes freight corridor
Nor Lines Agder AS will launch a pilot project in February 2026 to extend sea-based cargo transport from Kristiansand to Kirkenes, with the aim of shifting more freight from road to sea in Norway. The route is a collaboration between Nor Lines Agder AS, Fjord Line, and Nor Lines.
New names for further two former Moby ferries
MOBY ALE DUE © Frank Lose
MSC-owned GNV has selected names for the last two of a total of five former Moby ferries that have been transferred to MSC Group and will be operated by GNV going forward. According to Italian media, MOBY ALE DUE will be renamed GNV PEGASUS, while ATHARA will take the name GNV PHOENIX.
DFDS reports strong rise in Jersey passenger numbers
TARIFA JET © Frank Lose
DFDS has reported a strong increase in passenger numbers across its Jersey sailings, with demand continuing to build ahead of the 2026 season. Passenger figures on the Jersey–St Malo route for January 2026 are up 31% compared with the same period last year.
Overall bookings across DFDS's Jersey services are up by an even greater margin, outpacing growth seen elsewhere in the Channel Islands sea travel market.
Wasaline is now officially part of Stena Line
A ceremony in Umeå marked the official completion of Stena Line's acquisition of Wasaline.
As of now, Wasaline is part of Stena Line and its European ferry network and port operations, which comprise a total of 20 routes and 40 vessels. Wasaline will continue its operations with its brand retained, subject to minor adjustments, going forward.
Isle of Man Steam Packet considers conventional ferry as replacement for MANANNAN
MANANNAN © Alan Blunden
Following a customer survey, Isle of Man Steam Packet now indicates that a future replacement for the 1998-built high-speed ferry MANANNAN, with a capacity of 850 passengers and 200 cars, could very well be a conventional ferry. This was stated by the company's CEO, Brian Thomson, in an interview with Manx Radio.
SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I and II offered on the second-hand market
SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I © Dale Crisp
TT-Line Tasmania has told Australian media that its two current operational ferries, the 1998-built SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I and SPIRIT OF TASMANIA II, each have a book value of AUD 50 million. It is further stated that the vessels have been offered on the second-hand market through international brokers for several months.
Tallink Shuttle will soon run entirely on renewable energy
Bunkering of MYSTAR at the Port of Tallinn © Karl-Robert Kurm
Tallink's shuttle ships on the Tallinn–Helsinki route will soon be fully powered by renewable energy. In January, 74% of the fuel used by MEGASTAR and MYSTAR was liquefied biomethane (LBM). The company aims to replace its entire LNG demand with liquefied biomethane in the near future.
Keel laying of OCEANIA SONATA in Marghera
Fincantieri and Oceania Cruises, a brand of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., celebrated the keel laying of OCEANIA SONATA™, the new next-generation luxury cruise ship, at the Marghera shipyard. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2027.
At 86,000 GT, OCEANIA SONATA will be able to accommodate 1,390 guests.
Sallaum Lines takes delivery of OCEAN LEGACY
Sallaum Lines reveals the delivery of the LNG dual-fuel-capable OCEAN LEGACY, the latest PCTC to join its Ocean Class fleet, arriving just one month after putting OCEAN EXPLORER into service.
Constructed at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu) co. ltd., OCEAN LEGACY measures approximately 199.90 metres in length and 37.7 metres in breadth, with a car-carrying capacity of 7,400 units distributed across 13 cargo decks.
Total travel to and from Gotland increased in 2025
In total, 1,758,481 passengers travelled with Destination Gotland during 2025, representing an increase of 1.6% compared with 2024. During the year, 1,335,045 visitors travelled to and from the island, an increase of 0.8% compared with 2024. The growth was primarily seen on the Nynäshamn route, while traffic on the Oskarshamn route remained at a stable level.
Slight increase in ferry passengers through Helsinki
Port of Helsinki's total volume of passenger traffic on ferries in 2025 was 9.5 million passengers, 0.9% more than the previous year. The busiest route is between Helsinki and Tallinn. It carried 7.5 million passengers, slightly more than the previous year. The Stockholm route carried 1.7 million passengers and the route between Helsinki and Travemünde transported 167,000 passengers.
There are now less than three months left until the 2026 Shippax Ferry Conference. We strongly recommend registering soon to secure your participation since we are likely to sell out.
Secure your participation now to 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 from all over the world.
WHERE? GNV’S RHAPSODY
ROUTE? Genoa - Olbia and return
WHEN? 5-7 May 2026
Most read
Less than three months left – likely to sell out (Upd.10 Feb)
feb 07 2026
Auckland’s first plug-in hybrid electric fast ferry set to enter service
feb 05 2026
Stena Line to discontinue the Halmstad–Grenaa ferry route
feb 03 2026
DFDS’ CAESAREA TRADER suffers major engine room fire off the coast of the Isle of Wight
feb 10 2026
POLSCA Baltic Ferries expands its route network with a new Gdansk–Karlshamn service
feb 04 2026
Meyer Turku unveils new net zero cruise ship concept
feb 11 2026
SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I and II offered on the second-hand market
feb 06 2026
HAFNIA SEA has commenced on the DFDS’ Italy–Turkey corridor
feb 11 2026
