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Gothenburg-based Stena Line will take over Oslo-based Color Line starting next year. © Søren Lund Hviid

ANALYSIS: Color Line is currently the larger operator in their shared market – both companies serve the same long corridor

okt 28 2026

FerryStena Line, owned by Stena AB, is a significantly larger player on the Northern European ferry scene than Olav Sunde-owned Color Line. Stena Line’s 18 routes across Northern Europe – from the Irish Sea in the west, through the north–south corridors between the UK and continental Europe, via the Kattegat and on to routes both along and across the Baltic Sea – generated revenue of EUR 1.82 billion in 2025. By comparison, Color Line generated revenue of EUR 645 million in 2025 from its four routes across the Kattegat, Skagerrak and outer Oslofjord.

WAWEL © Kai Ortel

Polferries to move Swedish terminal to Stockholm Norvik on 8–9 November

okt 28 2026

FerryPolferries' Gdansk–Nynäshamn service will move from the ferry terminal in Nynäshamn to Stockholm Norvik Port on 8–9 November, Camilla Strümpel, director of strategy and communications at Ports of Stockholm, told the local newspaper Nynäshamns Posten. The move was planned for September but was postponed because of delays in the delivery of glazing for the passenger check-in booths at Norvik. Passengers who had already booked autumn crossings were also taken into account.

HAVILA CAPELLA © Tom Gulbrandsen

Havila Kystruten puts investments on hold over shorter coastal route contract

okt 28 2026

CruiseHavila Kystruten has put planned investments for the next Bergen–Kirkenes coastal route contract on hold after the Norwegian government proposed cutting the contract period from 10 years to four–five years, the company announced. The investments include modifications that would allow private cars to be handled at all ports.

VOYAGER © Brittany Ferries

Brittany Ferries’ Saint-Malo–Guernsey passenger traffic up 56.5% on 2024

okt 28 2026

FerryBrittany Ferries carried 102,094 passengers between Saint-Malo and Guernsey from November 2025 to September 2026. The company said this is an increase of 56.5% compared with the same period in 2024.
That is 36,852 more passengers than in 2024, the last year Condor Ferries operated the route. Brittany Ferries resumed the Saint-Malo–Guernsey service in 2025. It serves the island under a 15-year agreement with the States of Guernsey.

Close sister, ARCTIC TERN © WWL

WWL confirms new contracts with CMS Jinling

okt 28 2026

Ro-roWallenius Wilhelmsen has revealed that four firm orders have been placed with China Merchants Shipbuilding Jinling, with the vessels to be built at its Yizheng yard in Jiangsu province. Deliveries will start in mid-2030. The contract also includes two options for four vessels each, for delivery in 2031 and 2032 respectively, potentially extending the series to 12 ships.

European Shipowners call for SMAP allowances to be tripled in EU ETS revision

okt 27 2026

European Shipowners | ECSA has urged the European Parliament and the Council to triple the number of emission allowances set aside for shipping’s energy transition, as the two institutions work on the European Commission’s proposal to revise the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).
The Commission’s proposal, published on 17 July, introduces a Sustainable Maritime Alternative Propulsion (SMAP) mechanism that would reserve up to 110 million allowances between 1 January 2028 and 31 December 2040 for shipping companies using low- and zero-emission fuels or propulsion technologies.

Royal Caribbean Group raises full-year guidance after third quarter exceeds forecast

okt 27 2026

FinanceRoyal Caribbean Group has raised its full-year earnings guidance after third-quarter results came in above its own forecast, driven by strong close-in demand and lower costs due to timing. Net income for the July–September quarter was USD 1.7 billion, or USD 6.45 per share, compared with USD 1.6 billion, or USD 5.74 per share, in the same period of 2025. Adjusted net income rose to USD 1.8 billion, or USD 6.57 per share, from USD 1.6 billion (USD 5.75 per share), while adjusted EBITDA reached USD 2.5 billion. Total revenue increased 9% year on year to USD 5.6 billion.

ISLE OF ISLAY © CalMac Ferries

CalMac's profit falls as reliability drops

okt 27 2026

FinanceCalMac Ferries made a pre-tax profit of GBP 2.15 million in the year to 31 March 2026, down from GBP 5.7 million the year before, according to its latest annual report. Revenue rose by 11% to GBP 365.1 million, of which fares and associated services accounted for GBP 92.7 million and government funding for GBP 271.7 million.

Seven Japanese companies to build four ammonia-fuelled car carriers

okt 27 2026

Ro-roNYK, K Line, JERA, Imabari Shipbuilding, Shin Kurushima Dockyard, Nihon Shipyard (NSY) and Kyokuyo Shipyard have agreed to build and operate four ammonia-fuelled car carriers and to commercialise ammonia bunkering in Japan's Chubu region, the companies announced on 27 October. The ships, scheduled for delivery in 2030, will be Japan's first ammonia-fuelled car carriers.

COLOR HYBRID © Søren Lund Hviid

Waves injure passengers and crew on Color Line's Sandefjord–Strömstad crossing

okt 27 2026

FerrySeveral passengers and crew members were injured when Color Line's COLOR HYBRID was hit by three large waves on the crossing from Sandefjord to Strömstad on 26 October, VG reports. The ferry left Sandefjord at 10:00, and the waves struck at about 10:45.

Louisa Bell

P&O Ferries' Louisa Bell to lead Hullo Ferries

okt 27 2026

High-speedVancouver Island Ferry Company (VIFC), which operates the Hullo fast passenger service between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo, has appointed Louisa Bell as chief executive from January 2027.
Bell has been chief commercial officer for P&O Ferries' passenger business for the past three and a half years.

Brian Anderson and Nicolas Jimenez

BC Ferries replaces CEO and launches system review

okt 27 2026

FerryBC Ferries' board has replaced chief executive Nicolas Jimenez and launched what it calls a Revitalization Review of the company. Brian Anderson, vice-president of strategy and planning, has been appointed interim chief executive with immediate effect, BC Ferries announced on 26 October.

Sister, EXPLORA III © Explora Journeys

Explora Journeys and Fincantieri celebrate float out and coin ceremony for EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI

okt 27 2026

CruiseExplora Journeys, the luxury ocean travel brand of MSC Group, today marked two important milestones in the construction of its fleet at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The double ceremony celebrated the float out of EXPLORA V and the coin ceremony of EXPLORA VI, the fifth and sixth ships in the brand’s fleet.

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA V © Mitchell Bruce

Spirit Quay opens in Devonport as SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I and II leave service

okt 26 2026

FerryTasmania's Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Kerry Vincent officially opened Spirit Quay, the new berth for SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV and V at East Devonport, on 22 October. The two new RoPax ships are running in freight-only mode across the Bass Strait until 31 October, when they make their first passenger crossings, SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV from Geelong and SPIRIT OF TASMANIA V from Devonport. The new ships can carry up to 470 more passengers per sailing than the old ones, and have more freight capacity and more than three times the caravan capacity.

© Søren Lund Hviid

Stena signs agreement to acquire Color Line

okt 26 2026

FerryStena AB, owner of the Swedish ferry operator Stena Line, has entered into an agreement to acquire the Norwegian shipping company Color Line, subject to regulatory approval. The transaction will bring together two companies with complementary operations in Europe and passenger and freight transport, creating added value and benefits for both companies’ customers.

RUWI at its builders in Batam, Indonesia. © SeaLink

RUWI departs Indonesia for South Australia as Kangaroo Island ferry transition progresses

okt 26 2026

FerryThe Australian ferry operator SeaLink’s second of its two new Kangaroo Island ferries, RUWI, has departed its builders in Batam, Indonesia, and is now making its way to South Australia.

SNOWDROP © Frank Lose

Mersey Ferries out of service until early November as SNOWDROP engine repairs continue

okt 26 2026

FerryMersey Ferries has not run any sailings across the Mersey since 10 October because of an engine problem on SNOWDROP, currently the only vessel in service. The operator now expects services to resume in early November, according to a notice on its website.

(Upd. 26 Oct) Save the date: 20–22 April 2027

okt 26 2026

The Shippax Ferry Conference 2027 sets sail on 20–22 April on board VIKING CINDERELLA, on a Stockholm–Helsinki–Stockholm cruise.
Come and join us and almost 500 ferry professionals from around the world for two days of sharp insight, open debate and the kind of networking that only happens at sea.

FINLANDIA halfway between Tallinn and Helsinki. © Søren Lund Hviid

Eckerö Line enjoys successful summer season as investment in energy efficiency continues

okt 26 2026

FerryEckerö Line, which operates on the Helsinki–Tallinn route, recorded stable development in its passenger business during January–September 2026. The company carried more than 1.5 million passengers aboard FINLANDIA and FINBO CARGO during the period. Passenger numbers were affected by FINLANDIA’s drydocking in early 2026, which kept the vessel out of service for around three weeks.

Rendering of the new hydrogen-powered ferries. © Torghatten

First of two heavily delayed hydrogen ferries to enter service in summer 2027

okt 26 2026

FerryMOSKENES, the first of Torghatten Nord’s two pioneering new hydrogen-powered ferries, will not enter service until summer 2027. RØST, the second vessel, is not expected to be delivered until November that year.

Most read

© Søren Lund Hviid

Stena signs agreement to acquire Color Line

okt 26 2026

SOMERSET

Stena Line confirms purchase of SOMERSET for Birkenhead–Dublin

okt 15 2026

GNV AZZURRA. © Selim San

Oldest ferry in GNV’s fleet sold for recycling

okt 15 2026

CIUDAD DE VALENCIA. © Frank Lose

DFDS’ new Baltic charter vessel leaves the Mediterranean

okt 16 2026

Baleària to refurbish three ferries to improve comfort and onboard services

okt 19 2026

Arab Bridge Maritime acquires third RoPax from Europe in quick succession

okt 21 2026

The installation of rotor sails on SPIRIT OF TOULOUSE has now been completed. © LD Lines

World’s Largest wind-propelled RoRo now fitted with rotor sails

okt 15 2026

Stora Enso signs up for Finnlines’ Green Lane low-carbon service

okt 15 2026

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