Winners of the 2026 Shippax Awards

The 2026 Shippax Awards were handed out at the Shippax Ferry Conference, onboard GNV’s RHAPSODY between 5-7 May, and the winners were: TRANS HAV, STENA FUTURA, NEOLINER ORIGIN, GRANDE SHANGHAI, THE BALTIC WHALE, PANSTAR MIRACLE, MPUNGU, CHINA ZORRILLA and Adolfo Utor Martínez.
The Shippax Awards were launched in 1996 as a means to award innovative solutions on newly-delivered RoPax ferries, RoRo vessels and high-speed ferries. The Shippax Award jury tries to assess qualifications based on experience, personal visits, GA-plan examinations as well as collecting research material.

Shippax RoRo Awards:

TRANS HAV

Owner / Operator: Sea-Cargo
Shipyard (conversion): Western Shipyard
Naval architect (conversion): Marine Design & Consulting

"TRANS HAV illustrates the enormous potential that existing vessels offer for conversions aimed at reducing energy consumption and emissions. Through a holistic approach, Sea-Cargo, together with the naval architect and shipyard, succeeded in fitting the TRANS HAV with an integrated platform that combines battery, wind, and solar technology. Rotor sails, solar panels, optimised propellers, and battery storage systems help to cut fossil fuel consumption by up to 50 percent. With this outstanding result, the TRANS HAV serves as an encouraging example for other RoRo and RoPax vessels undergoing lifecycle upgrades".

STENA FUTURA

Owner / Operator: Stena Line
Shipyard: CMI Jinling Weihai
Naval architect: NAOS Ship & Boat Design

"STENA FUTURA represents the latest and most forward-thinking design standards for a RoRo vessel. Equipped with a multi-hybrid solution, the vessel is able to operate on battery, biofuel, and methanol, thus combining several technologies currently available on the road to net-zero emissions in shipping. Additionally, the STENA FUTURA has built-in technologies that prepare her to utilise both battery propulsion and shore power when available. Her flexibility will contribute to a long operational lifespan – something that further enhances the vessel’s overall sustainability."

NEOLINER ORIGIN

Owner / Operator: Neoline
Shipyard: RMK Marine
Naval architect: Mauric

"NEOLINER ORIGIN is one of the first modern merchant vessels to use wind as the main source of propulsion, marking a significant milestone on the road towards green and climate-neutral shipping. Tailored to operate a monthly service between Saint-Nazaire and Baltimore, Halifax, and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, this RoRo vessel is capable of transporting general cargo of all sizes and shapes while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 percent. Moreover, the NEOLINER ORIGIN will help the industry gain valuable expertise in wind propulsion, paving the way for wider adoption of this technology on more ships in the future."

GRANDE SHANGHAI

Owner: Grimaldi Group
Operator: Grimaldi Line
Shipyard: China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu
Naval architect: Knud E. Hansen

"GRANDE SHANGHAI is a milestone in terms of Pure Car & Truck Carrier design standards, reducing the fuel consumption per transported CEU by up to 50 percent through the combination of an enormous capacity with various other sustainable technologies, including a battery pack, shore power connection and a silicon-based hull coating to reduce resistance. Moreover, her ammonia-readiness enables the GRANDE SHANGHAI to apply even more sustainable fuel solutions once they become available during her lifespan."

Shippax RoPax Awards:

THE BALTIC WHALE

Owner / Operator: Scandlines
Shipyard: Cemre Shipyard
Naval architect: LMG Marin

"THE BALTIC WHALE constitutes an important milestone in the decarbonisation of short-range ferry services in the Baltic. Moreover, she is one of the most flexible short-range ferries for international operation built to date, able to carry a broad range of cargoes including dangerous goods as well as large and heavy transports, along with a limited number of passengers. THE BALTIC WHALE is also highly flexible with regard to her performance, able to operate either in pure electric mode at 10 knots or, if traffic volumes demand it, in diesel-assisted hybrid mode at 16 knots. She can be characterized as one of the most thought-out short-range ferry designs in existence."

PANSTAR MIRACLE

Owner / Operator: PanStar
Shipyard: Dae Sun Shipbuilding

"PANSTAR MIRACLE takes ferry operations in Asia to a new dimension while at the same time transferring the cruise ferry concept to the Far East. With over 100 cabins in nine categories, including balcony cabins, an outdoor infinity pool, jogging track and sauna, the PANSTAR MIRACLE provides a lot of amenities rarely seen on Far Eastern ferries so far. This not only turns her regular operation into a cruise-like experience, but also gives her the potential to operate even as a pure cruise vessel beyond scheduled service."

PANSTAR MIRACLE © Yoshiho Ikeda

MPUNGU

Owner: East Africa Marine Transport (EAMT)
Operator: Grindrod
Shipyard: SECO Marine Uganda
Naval architect: OSK Design

"MPUNGU is Lake Victoria’s first RoRo vessel in scheduled operation and a major achievement for the improvement of transport in this part of Africa. Tailored for her specific operational environment, she is able to carry up to 1,000 tons of containerised cargo across the Lake in about 18 hours, compared with a three- to four-day journey around Lake Victoria. The fuel-efficient MPUNGU does not only help prevent spoilage of fresh produce; she also helps to cut CO2 emissions in the region by moving a lot of trucks from congested road networks to much more sustainable ship transportation."

Shippax High-Speed ferry Award:

CHINA ZORRILLA

Owner / Operator: Buquebus
Shipyard: Incat
Naval architect: Incat (Revolution Design)

"CHINA ZORRILLA constitutes a milestone in the fast-ferry segment as the largest electric ship built worldwide to date, with a 40 MWh battery Energy Storage System. At the same time, this fully battery-powered vessel boasts an enormous capacity for 2,100 passengers and up to 225 vehicles, turning it into a revolutionary large-scale, low-emission transportation solution for the trade between Argentina and Uruguay across the Río de la Plata."

Shippax Lifetime Achievement Award:

Adolfo Utor Martínez

“Adolfo Utor has made an essential contribution to the development of RoPax operations in Spain as well as between Europe and Africa over more than four decades. Already in his period as GM of Fletamentos de Baleares (Flebasa) in the 1990s, he made an important contribution to the evolution of Spanish RoPax designs and to the establishment of new routes within the Balearic archipelago. As from 1998, he has been vital in the creation and development of Baleària as a Mediterranean and European leader in terms of sustainability, digitalisation and operational excellence, as well as social commitment. By encouraging even senior executives to gain ”front-line experience” in day-to-day ferry operations, Adolfo Utor helped develop a special leadership culture in Baleària which has significantly contributed to the company’s lasting excellence and success.”