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FINNSIRIUS © Frank Lose

Finnlines day cruise traffic up 23 per cent as FINNSIRIUS marks three years on the Sweden–Finland route

sep 17 2026

FerryFinnlines carried 23 per cent more day cruise passengers on its Långnäs–Naantali route this summer. The rise came as its hybrid RoPax FINNSIRIUS completed three years on the Kapellskär–Långnäs–Naantali route on 15 September. Since her maiden voyage in 2023, Finnlines says the vessel has helped more than double passenger volumes on the route. Over the same period, she has also improved energy efficiency and emissions performance.

SCOTTISH VIKING has just departed Rosyth, bound for Zeebrugge. © Søren Lund Hviid

Plans to relaunch Scotland’s continental ferry route shelved

sep 17 2026

FerryDespite the prospect of GBP 6 million in funding from the Scottish and UK governments to re-establish a RoPax route between Scotland and continental Europe, the plans have reportedly now been abandoned for good.

MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA

MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA enters service with Yokohama maiden voyage

sep 17 2026

CruiseMitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) will put MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA into service on 19 September, when the ship sets out on its maiden voyage from Yokohama. The naming ceremony took place on 16 September at the Yokohama Shinko Pier Cruise Terminal. The ship was built as SEABOURN SOJOURN by T. Mariotti in Genoa in 2010 and sailed for Seabourn for 16 years. MOL announced the purchase in March 2025, and the ship's last Seabourn cruise ended in May 2026.

Save the date: Shippax Ferry Conference, 20–22 April 2027!

sep 17 2026

Next spring the ferry world goes to sea again. The Shippax Ferry Conference 2027 takes place on board VIKING CINDERELLA on a Stockholm–Helsinki–Stockholm cruise, welcoming almost 500 ferry professionals from all over the world. That's two days of sharp insight, open debate and the kind of networking you only get on board.

TUSTUMENA © Alaska Marine Highway

23 ferry-related projects across the USA receives public fundings

sep 17 2026

FerryFederal Transit Administration under The U.S. Department of Transportation’s has awarded of a total of USD 664,764,382 for a total of 23 ferry-related projects across the USA. This includes USD 103,487,896 under the Fiscal Year 2026 Passenger Ferry Program for eight projects, USD 107,312,982 under the 2026 Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot (Low-No Ferry) Program for five projects, and USD 453,963,504 under the 2026 Ferry Service for Rural Communities (Rural Ferry) Program for 10 projects.

BALTIC STRENGTH © Kontor 17 MPM GmbH

W.D.R. diversifies into cargo shipping as INSEL FÖHR is delivered by Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry

sep 17 2026

FerryWyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei Föhr-Amrum GmbH (W.D.R.), one of Germany's leading domestic ferry operators, has diversified into cargo shipping with the investment in a 5,200 dwt dry bulk carrier, which has now reached Europe following her repositioning voyage from China. Under the charter name BALTIC STRENGTH, the vessel will enter into a seven-year time charter with Danish interests.

Sandefjord municipality

Sandefjord opens market dialogue on ferry slots from 2031

sep 16 2026

FerrySandefjord municipality has invited the ferry market to give its views before it sets the terms for allocating sailing slots at the Port of Sandefjord from 1 January 2031. Responses are due by 15 October 2026. The process follows a decision by Sandefjord city council to keep the port open to ferry traffic after 2030. The decision depends on measures that give acceptable traffic flow and road safety along Strandpromenaden, the road ferry traffic uses to pass through the town centre.

SUPERSTAR II © Seajets

CTMA looks to Greece for replacement tonnage

sep 16 2026

FerryThe Canadian ferry operator CTMA (Cooperative for Maritime and Air Transport) has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency for a temporary licence to operate the Greek-owned RoPax ferry SUPERSTAR II in Canadian coastal waters.

The wreck of the burnt-out ferry JUNE ASTER © The Philippine Coast Guard

Death toll rises sharply following Philippine ferry fire

sep 16 2026

FerryThe Philippine Coast Guard has continued to update the casualty figures following the ferry disaster on 9 September, when the ferry JUNE ASTER caught fire while sailing from Manila to Palawan Province. The ferry was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when the fire broke out at around 18:00 local time.

ELSA LAULA RENBERG © Brødrene Aa

Boreal set to keep Nordland's express boat routes for another decade

sep 15 2026

High-speedBoreal Sjø has been recommended as the winner of Nordland County Council's new ten-year contract for Nordlandsekspressen and Helgelandspendelen, keeping the Norwegian operator on two of the region's key high-speed passenger services.
The contract, announced on 10 September, is worth around NOK 2.5 billion over its term and combines what were previously two separate assignments into a single operation.

DFDS to expand in Egypt with second weekly sailing

sep 15 2026

Ro-roA second weekly sailing from Trieste to Damietta in Egypt is due to start in October, when DFDS adds a newly chartered RoRo to its Mediterranean fleet. At present, the 26,525 GT GALLIPOLI SEAWAYS, with a capacity of 3,214 lanem, operates the route, arriving at and departing from Trieste on Mondays. It is understood that a sister ship will be added to the line, as the current sailings are full both south- and northbound.

Rendering of NorthLinks new freight-flex RoPax newbuildings © naValue

Public invited to name the new NorthLink vessels

sep 15 2026

FerryCaledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) is calling for the public’s help to name the two new freight-flex vessels being built for Scotland’s Northern Isles, which will serve the Aberdeen to Kirkwall/Lerwick route, operated by Serco NorthLink Ferries.

NORRÖNA © Smyril Line

NORRÖNA saves up to 26 tonnes of CO2 per week using shore power in Iceland

sep 15 2026

FerrySmyril Lines North Atlantic RoPax NORRÖNA connected to shore power at its Icelandic port of call Seyðisfjörður for the first time 10 September.

Russian RoRo ship attacked by drones in the Mediterranean

sep 15 2026

Ro-roThe Russian-owned and operated multipurpose RoRo ship LADY MARIIA was reportedly struck by several aerial drones in the Mediterranean on 6 September. At the time of the attack, the vessel was heading east, reportedly from Algeria towards Syria.

Fire-damaged MIN JIANG KOU now in Panamanian waters

sep 15 2026

Ro-roOn 9 September, a Panamanian television station broadcast newly recorded footage of the PCTC MIN JIANG KOU in Panamanian waters, assisted by three tugs. The footage showed relatively heavy smoke coming from the aft section of the 7,500 CEU, 2024-built LNG dual-fuel vessel.

Rendering of La Méridionales new cruise ferries © La Méridionale

Bookings open for La Méridionale’s new cruise ferries

sep 15 2026

FerryLa Méridionale is now promoting its two forthcoming cruise ferries, ALBANOVA and AZURA, on its website, with the two newbuildings also integrated into the online booking system for routes between Marseille and Corsica. According to the French ferry operator, ALBANOVA will serve the Marseille–Ajaccio route, while AZURA will be deployed between Marseille and Porto-Vecchio.

FIFI4MARINE first battery fire-suppression system to receive RINA Type Approval

sep 15 2026

SupplierFIFI4MARINE has become the first battery fire-suppression system to receive RINA Type Approval, marking a milestone for fire protection as lithium-ion battery installations rapidly expand across the maritime industry.

CIUDAD DE IBIZA © Kai Ortel

Arab Bridge Maritime acquires RoPax ferry from Trasmediterranea

sep 15 2026

FerryTrasmediterranea has sold the freight-oriented RoPax ferry CIUDAD DE IBIZA to Arab Bridge Maritime. The 2003-built CIUDAD DE IBIZA, which has a capacity of 1,600 lane metres and accommodation for up to 200 drivers and passengers, is currently chartered to Baleària for services in the Canary Islands.

Construction on Royal Caribbean’s fifth Icon Class vacation begins at Meyer Turku shipyard

sep 14 2026

CruiseRoyal Caribbean celebrated the start of physical construction of the fifth Icon Class ship (TBN: CHAMPION OF THE SEAS) with a keel-laying ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. Set to debut in 2028, the fifth vacation in the Icon Class will deliver a revolutionary combination of thrills, relaxation, family experiences and entertainment to be announced in the coming months.

Sandeep Shahi

DFDS appoints Sandeep Shahi as new Chief Digital & Information Officer

sep 14 2026

DFDS has appointed Sandeep Shahi as Chief Digital & Information Officer and member of the Executive Management Team. He will join the company on 16 November 2026, succeeding Rune Keldsen. Sandeep joins DFDS from FedEx, where he currently serves as Chief Information Officer for Asia Pacific, the Middle East, India and South Africa, while also leading Global Field IT worldwide.

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