Incat launched CHINA ZORRILLA, the world’s largest battery-electric ship

CHINA ZORRILLA © Incat

Hundreds gathered at the Incat shipyard in Hobart to witness as Incat Hull 096 - the world's largest battery-electric ship - was officially launched.

Constructed for South American ferry operator Buquebus, Hull 096 is the most significant vessel ever built by Incat. When it enters service between Buenos Aires and Uruguay, it will operate entirely on battery-electric power, carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate.

The ship is equipped with over 250 tonnes of batteries and an Energy Storage System (ESS) boasting 43 megawatt-hours of installed capacity.

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Hovertravel announces new director-level appointments

Hovertravel announced two new key appointments. Cindy Peche as Managing Director, and Captain Steve Attrill Director of Operations. Cindy Peche has been appointed Managing Director of Hovertravel. Cindy first joined the Hovertravel community in 2022 as a daily commuter before taking on the role of Head of Finance in 2024. The company also confirmed the appointment of Captain Steve Attrill as Director of Operations.
Captain Attrill brings a depth of experience to the board. A Hovercraft Master, Mariner, and Commercial Pilot, Steve originally joined Hovertravel in 1988 and has logged over 25,000 hours piloting hovercraft across the Solent and internationally.

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Stena Line in 2024: 6.3 million pax and more than two million freight units

Dan Sten Olsson at this year's Shippax Ferry Conference, accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award © Shippax / Jonas Persson

With 44 vessels, 20 ferry routes and five ports, Stena Line was one of the world's largest ferry companies in 2024. During 2024 around 6,200 employees working in eleven countries. Over 25,000 crossings were made during the year carrying 6.3 million passengers and more than two million transport freight units. The non-listed, family-owned ferry operators' total income (revenue) in 2024 was SEK 19,535 million (SEK 18,892 million), equalling a 35% share of the total Stena Group income, the 2024-annual report for the Stena Group shows.

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GALAXY returns to the Faroe Islands

GALAXY © Frank Lose

Faroese Strandfaraskip Landsins charters GALAXY from Greek A-Ships Management. The GALAXY, with a capacity of 900 passengers and 520 lanemetres, was originally delivered as SILESIA in 1979 from Stocznia Szczecinska to Polska Zegluga Baltycka (Polferries), and will, for a 10-week period, replace Strandfaraskip Landsins's 2005-built SMYRIL. This is due to SMYRIL undergoing its 20-year class docking at Fayard in Odense, Denmark, and thus being absent from its route between Tórshavn and Tvøroyri - which, with a crossing time of 125 minutes, is Strandfaraskip Landsins's longest route.

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Royal Bodewes shjpyard delivered HAWAIKINUI 2 for the Polynesian Navigation Company (SNP)

HAWAIKINUI 2 © Cjarphoto

Royal Bodewes shjpyard in the Netherlands delivered HAWAIKINUI 2, an 87m long ro-ro ship for the Polynesian Navigation Company (SNP). The 2,000 dwt and 12-knot ship will replace the Tahitian operator's 1980-built 70.31m HAWAIKINUI serving between Papeete and the islands of Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a and Bora Bora.

HAWAIKINUI 2 is built to transport a wide variety of cargo, including containers, pallets, trucks, cars and construction equipment. Access to the main deck is via a stern ramp/door. A side-mounted crane will be used to load containers on the weather deck. Groot Ship Design are responsible for the design.

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Royal Caribbean Group boosts 2025 outlook with strong Q1 results

Royal Caribbean Group reported a robust first quarter in 2025, with Earnings per Share (EPS) of USD 2.70 and Adjusted EPS of USD 2.71, surpassing guidance due to strong pricing and lower costs. The company raised its full-year Adjusted EPS forecast to USD 14.55–USD 15.55, driven by better-than-expected revenue, favourable currency exchange rates, and reduced fuel costs. Total revenues reached USD 4.0 billion, with Net Income and Adjusted Net Income at USD 0.7 billion. The company achieved a 109% load factor, served 2.2 million guests, and saw a 13.9% increase in Gross Margin Yields. Record bookings and strong demand continue to support growth, with capacity expected to rise 5.5% for the year.

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Mitsubishi Shipbuilding holds christening and launch ceremony of ro-pax KEYAKI in Shimonoseki

KEYAKI © Yoshiho Ikeda

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding held a christening and launch ceremony for the first of two large ro-paxes ordered by Shin Nihonkai Ferry and Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency. KEYAKI will operate on a route between the city of Otaru in Hokkaido and Maizuru in Kyoto Prefecture, replacing the larger 2004-built HAMANASU.

The ship's handover is scheduled for December 2025 following completion of outfitting work and sea trials. The KEYAKI is the ninth ferry built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding for Shin Nihonkai Ferry.

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Scandlines enjoys a successful easter with smooth operations

FUTURA is expected to be delivered in June this year © Cemre Shipyard

Easter 2025 was a triumph for Scandlines, with thousands of passengers and vehicles traveling seamlessly between Germany and Denmark. Despite high traffic, the ferries operated without major disruptions, marking a significant improvement over last year. Car numbers surged by over 26%, and passenger numbers rose by 18% during the two-week Easter period.

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Wärtsilä expands methane slip reduction capabilities by introducing NextDF technology for third engine

Wärtsilä has introduced its NextDF technology for a third engine, the Wärtsilä 46TS-DF dual-fuel engine. While operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG), the Wärtsilä 46TS-DF engine with NextDF feature reduces methane emissions to less than 1.4 percent of fuel use across all load points, achieving as low as 1.1 percent in a wide load range. This is nearly three times lower than the default methane slip factor of 3.1 percent, specified in the FuelEU Maritime and IMO Lifecycle Guidelines for Otto-cycle four-stroke dual-fuel engines. Through improvements made to the combustion control, and through optimising engine performance, the new feature also minimises nitrogen oxide (NOx) and CO2 emissions. emissions.

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New managing director at Fjord1

Dagfinn Neteland and Geir Bruvik Mjelde

Dagfinn Neteland steps down as chief executive of the company, with his last working day on 31 May. The new managing director is Geir Bruvik Mjelde, who will assume the position on 1 June. After 10 years as chief executive of Fjord1, Dagfinn Neteland is stepping down at his own request. The process of finding a successor has been planned over an extended period in close dialogue with the chairman and owners. As Neteland now departs, he looks back with pride on the company's performance in recent years.

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AURORA BOTNIA to receive the largest marine battery installation to date

AURORA BOTNIA © Wasaline

Wasaline is expanding the onboard battery capacity of AURORA BOTNIA to 12.6 MWh from the current 2.2 MWh, making it the largest marine battery installation when delivered in autumn 2025, surpassing the 12 MWh SAINT-MALO and GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE of Brittany Ferries. The battery supplier is AYK Energy, and the batteries will be in operation in January 2026. The batteries are of the LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) type, known for their safety and long lifespan.

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Heysham Port set for GBP 10m investment in freight infrastructure by owners

Peel Ports Group is investing GBP 10m in Heysham Port to further increase capacity and efficiencies at the site, which is a key trade link between the UK mainland, the Island of Ireland and the Isle of Man. The project will include the port's trailer park being reconfigured, as well as a new multi lane smart gate operating system, and a new state-of-the-art terminal operating system for the facility.

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Members of the Meyer Turku Board of directors appointed

Earlier this spring Meyer Turku announced the appointment of Jaakko Eskola as Executive Chair of the Board and Tim Meyer's transition from the position of CEO to Vice Chair of the Board at the beginning of May. Additionally, three experienced members with diverse backgrounds have been nominated. Kaori Uehigashi (officially starting from 02.05.2025), Martti Ala-Härkönen and Pekka Timonen.

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