Shippax Newsletter– week 8
DFDS reports challenging 2025 with revenue growth but sharp profit drop
DFDS RoRo vessels in Gothenburg © Søren Lund Hviid
DFDS released its 2025 Annual Report 2025, showing revenue up 4% to DKK 30.9 billion (from DKK 29.8 billion in 2024), driven by network adaptations and logistics improvements. However, EBIT fell 65% to DKK 0.5 billion (from DKK 1.5 billion), impacted by competitive pressures, cost issues, Mediterranean challenges (now turning profitable in Q4), and a slowdown in Channel volumes despite growing onboard spending.
Weakened 2025 for Tallink Grupp
BALTIC QUEEN and MEGASTAR © Dmitry Sumin
AS Tallink Grupp released its unaudited 2025 financial results. Revenue was EUR 765 million (down from EUR 786 million in 2024), EBITDA EUR 130 million (down from EUR 175 million), and net profit EUR 17.3 million (down from EUR 40.3 million). The company paid nearly EUR 113 million in loans and interest, contributed EUR 97 million in taxes to Estonia, and plans to propose a EUR 0.06 per share dividend.
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WHERE? GNV’S RHAPSODY
ROUTE? Genoa - Olbia and return
WHEN? 5-7 May 2026
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THEME
"OPTIMISING OPERATIONS, ENHANCING EXPERIENCES"
MAIN PROGRAMME SESSIONS
Moderators
Frederik Erdmann - Moderator and contributing correspondent Shippax
Alan Lam - Co-moderator and correspondent and analyst Shippax
RoPax executives panel debate 1
Matteo Catani - CEO GNV
Christophe Mathieu - CEO Brittany Ferries
Pierre Mattei - CEO and Owner of Corsica Ferries group
Kasper Moos - CEO P&O Ferries
Marcus Risberg - CEO Viking Line
More TBA
RoPax executives panel debate 2
More TBA
RoRo executives panel debate
Mohamed Badawy - Chairman UME Shipping
Elvir Dzanic - CEO Wallenius SOL
Euan Lonmon - Director Grendi
Dan Mikkola - Managing director Godby Shipping
More TBA
Keynote speakers
Tobias Billström - Former Swedish minister for foreign affairs, migration, deputy speaker of parliament, entrepreneur and advisor
Thomas P. Illes - Maritime business consultant and university lecturer
Bruce Peter - Professor of Design History at the Glasgow School of Art
More TBA
New ships & projects
Robert Clifford - Chairman Incat
Frederik Gerhardt - Lead Naval Architect RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden)
Nikias Ioannidis - Business Development LMG Marin
Victor Laravoire - Project Execution Director LMG Marin
Kristian Lind - Chief Technical Officer OSK Design
Ivana Melillo - Energy Efficiency Director GNV
Juan Pablo Molina - Corporate Technical Director Balearia
Roberto Prever - CEO NAOS Ship and Boat design
Per Westling - Managing Director Stena RoRo
Zhou Zhiyong - Vice President Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI)
Ferry industry performance and megatrends
Frederik Erdmann – Moderator and correspondent for Shippax
Alan Lam - Co-moderator and correspondent and analyst Shippax
New technologies and inspirations
Diego Caride - Business Development Director, Marine Division, Ingeteam
Giorgio Caviglia - Global Business Development Manager GF Piping Systems
Magne Ekerum - Chief Design Officer Seat Innovation
Manos Giakoumelis - Chief Technology Officer Liknoss
Konstantina Katachana - Product Manager Liknoss
Alex Rubio - Group Product Manager Quvia
Markus Tompuri - Account Director, Ferry (Global), Safety Solutions, NAPA
Oier Urrutia Madariaga - Key Account Manager Ingeteam
VID FIREKILL - Speaker TBA
Wärtsilä - Speaker TBA
Rules & Regulations Debate
Johan Roos - Director of Regulatory Affairs, Interferry
Tiina Tuurnala - CEO of the Finnish Shipowners' Association
More TBA
Designers' Talking Table
Thomas P. Illes - Maritime business consultant and university lecturer
Emelie Posniak Hansen - Architect and Sales Manager for Interior at OSK Design
Bruce Peter - Professor of Design History at the Glasgow School of Art
More TBA
Interferry update
Mike Corrigan - CEO Interferry
More TBA
Shippax Awards
Frederik Erdmann, Alan Lam
The world’s largest battery installation on a RoPax got its final approval from the class
Wasaline has successfully completed sea trials following a major battery upgrade on board AURORA BOTNIA, which now features the largest battery capacity ever installed on a RoPax vessel in service worldwide. The vessel's battery capacity has been expanded from 2.2 MWh to 12.6 MWh.
More complementary RoRo services for mixed cargo within CLdN
CLdN has announced an agreement with Samskip to purchase its quay-to-quay and door-to-door freight business between the Continent and UK & Ireland. The acquisition covers the container shipping services currently operated by Samskip between Rotterdam, Belfast, Blyth, Grangemouth, Hull and Tilbury and Cork, Dublin and Waterford.
Top executive at P&O Ferries’ owner forced to step down
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem has stepped down from his positions as Chairman and CEO of the multinational port operator DP World, which owns P&O Ferries. This follows reports linking him to the case involving the now deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Pioneer ferry offered on the second-hand market
AMPERE © Søren Lund Hviid
The ferry AMPERE, built in 2015, is now entering the second-hand market, reportedly as the first fully electric ferry ever. The Norwegian ship broker Truls Strandheim of J Gran & Co AS has been tasked by the ferry operator Norled with selling AMPERE when the vessel is replaced by new tonnage on the concession-based route between Lavik and Oppedal on 1 September this year.
Port Marlborough and StraitNZ Bluebridge sign long-term partnership agreement
Port Marlborough and StraitNZ Bluebridge have confirmed their long-term partnership through a new 39-year commercial agreement that secures the future of StraitNZ's Cook Strait ferry services through Waitohi Picton to 2064. The agreement provides long-term certainty for StraitNZ's operations in Picton and enables further coordinated planning for both businesses to support freight and passenger services across Cook Strait over the next four decades.
Record bookings for the third year in a row – Stena Line attracts Danish ski travelers to Sweden
Interest in ski trips to Sweden continues to grow strongly, and for the third year in a row, Stena Line is reaching new heights in terms of Danish guests wanting to experience the Swedish mountains. In 2026, Stena Line is recording its highest booking level to date, and demand for trips during this year's ski season is particularly strong. During this year's ski season, demand has been particularly high and booking levels are once again exceeding those of the previous year. The number of Danish bookings in January increased by 9 percent compared to the same period last year, which represents a new record for the company.
MacGregor to supply cargo access solutions and deck machinery for four New Major Vessels for BC Ferries
MacGregor has been selected to supply cargo access solutions and deck machinery for four New Major Vessels as part of BC Ferries’ historic fleet renewal plan. These next-generation, diesel-battery hybrid, all-electric ready vessels will be built at China Merchants Industry (CMI) Weihai Shipyard Co., Ltd. The order was booked to MacGregor’s first quarter 2026 orders received.
Royal Caribbean Group Appoints Christopher J. Wiernicki to Board of Directors
Royal Caribbean Group announced the appointment of Christopher J. Wiernicki, former Chairman & CEO, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Wiernicki brings more than four decades of commercial, government and international experience in marine and offshore design, along with operations, infrastructure and safety management, ports and bunkering, digitalization, cyber security, and clean energy transition expertise.
Godby Shipping orders two new RoRo vessels at CIMC Raffles
Godby Shipping announced the order, placed on 11 February 2026, for two Stream RoRo 1700 vessels, with options for two additional units, from CIMC Raffles shipyard in China. The vessels will measure 125 m in length overall, with a beam of 24 m and a trailer capacity of 1,700 lane metres.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June and November 2027, with launches planned for May and October 2028. Deliveries are expected in September 2028 and January 2029.
RoRo and project cargo Asia-Río de la Plata service launched by Grimaldi Lines
GRANDE TEXAS © Grimaldi Lines
Grimaldi Lines launched on 17 February a new monthly regular service between Asia and the Río de la Plata for RoRo and project cargo, using the port of Montevideo as a hub for cargo bound for Asunción, Paraguay.
The inaugural voyage departed Taicang (China) on 17 February, with an estimated transit time of 37 days. The service will offer a direct connection to Montevideo and Zárate, with the option of onward transit to Asunción. The vessel assigned to launch the service is the 7,724 CEU/5,400 lanemetre GRANDE TEXAS which later will be joined by a second vessel on the service.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings enters into agreement with Fincantieri for three new cruise ships
Fincantieri announces the acquisition of a significant order from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. for the construction of three next-generation cruise ships further consolidating the long-standing relationship between the two Groups. The value of this agreement, subject to financing and other typical terms and conditions, is considered very important.
The three vessels will be built respectively for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, each as a sister ship to the most recent newbuilds built by Fincantieri for their respective brands. All units will be constructed at Fincantieri's Italian shipyards, with deliveries scheduled between 2036 and 2037.
Hurtigruten opens a new route from Copenhagen to North Cape and Tromsø
TROLLFJORDEN © Kristian Dale
Hurtigruten is launching a new sailing from Copenhagen to Tromsø via North Cape as one of three new routes along Norway's coast. The new itinerary gives Scandinavians and international travelers the opportunity to journey from the continent to the Arctic, with stops in some of Norway's most iconic coastal towns and natural areas.
Demand from Scandinavia is growing strongly. The number of Danish customers has increased by 17 percent from 2024 to 2025, while the number of Swedish travelers has grown by 20 percent during the same period.
New Red Sea RoRo route introduced
The Egyptian company Rite Agency, in partnership with Dubai-based MarineNav Shipping, introduced a shortsea RoRo route in the Red Sea at the beginning of January. The route connects Port Tawfik (Egypt), Jebel Ali (United Arab Emirates), Djibouti (Djibouti), and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and, according to the two partners, in addition to RoRo units is also targeting project and heavy-lift cargo.
GNV ATLAS employed as an accommodation vessel in the Black Sea
GNV's GNV ATLAS, with 257 cabins, has been employed as an accommodation vessel in the Turkish Black Sea port of Filyos from the beginning of February and for a period of six months. The vessel will house personnel working on the development of Turkey's Sakarya oil field.
The GNV ATLAS, built in 1990, was most recently operated by GNV on routes between Spain/France and Morocco.
ROMANTIKA has returned from charter in the Mediterranean
ROMANTIKA outside Almeria © Frank Lose
Algerian Madar Maritime chose not to exercise the six-plus-six-month charter options on Tallink's ROMANTIKA. As a result, the nine-month charter period that began on 31 May 2025 has now expired, and on 2 February 2026 ROMANTIKA returned toward the Baltic Sea.
Major interior upgrades on Stena Lines Kiel ferries
Stena Line has during the planned overhaul dockings at the Remontowa Repair Yard in Gdansk in January refurbished and modernised large parts of the public spaces onboard STENA GERMANICA and STENA SCANDINAVICA on the Gothenburg–Kiel route. The renovation includes restaurant and bar areas as well as outdoor decks.
Stable results for Viking Line in 2025
Viking Line's turnover increased by 2.8% to EUR 112.6 million during 1 October–31 December 2025 (EUR 109.5 million for the same period in 2024). Operating profit was EUR 3.6 million (EUR 1.5 million). Passenger-related revenue increased by 3.2% to EUR 99.2 million (EUR 96.1 million), while freight revenue was EUR 12.8 million (EUR 12.9 million) and other revenue EUR 0.6 million (EUR 0.6 million).
CLdN will be present in Warrenpoint for the next 55 years
A new long-term contract between CLdN and Warrenpoint Port secures freight operations at Warrenpoint for the next 55 years. Under the new agreement, CLdN will continue operating its high frequency RoRo freight service between Warrenpoint and Heysham, moving approximately 125,000 freight units and trade cars each year.
Smyril Line’s first RoRo newbuilding has been launched
The first of Smyril Line’s two upcoming RoRo newbuildings has been launched. The ceremony took place on 12 February at the CIMC Raffles shipyard in China, where the keel for yard number H616 was laid back in September 2025. H616, which will later be named AKRANES, is expected to be delivered in May this year, while H617 will be delivered in July.
Grimaldi Group took delivery of GRANDE MICHIGAN
On 12 February 2026 Grimaldi Group took delivery of GRANDE MICHIGAN. Commissioned from China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu, the newbuilding is the eighth ammonia-ready PCTC in the fleet of the Italian shipping group, meaning GRANDE MICHIGAN is designed for future conversion to ammonia as a carbon-free alternative fuel.
Most read
Limited cabins left. Secure a seat now! (Upd.24 Feb)
feb 17 2026
Meyer Turku unveils new net zero cruise ship concept
feb 11 2026
DFDS reports challenging 2025 with revenue growth but sharp profit drop
feb 19 2026
HAFNIA SEA has commenced on the DFDS’ Italy–Turkey corridor
feb 11 2026
Aleson Shipping Lines face criminal charges after ferry disaster
feb 11 2026
GNV ATLAS employed as an accommodation vessel in the Black Sea
feb 16 2026
ROMANTIKA has returned from charter in the Mediterranean
feb 16 2026
Godby Shipping orders two new RoRo vessels at CIMC Raffles
feb 17 2026
