Ferry news, cruise, ro-ro and high-speed

Austal starts production of Gotlandsbolaget's multi-fuel capable Horizon X at its Philippines Shipyard

feb 10 2026

High-speedAustal has marked a significant milestone in the construction of Horizon X, the next-generation multi-fuel and hydrogen-ready high-speed ferry for Sweden’s Gotlandsbolaget, with a plate cutting ceremony held at the Austal Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu.

DFDS’ CAESAREA TRADER suffers major engine room fire off the coast of the Isle of Wight

feb 10 2026

Ro-roThe DFDS-owned freight RoRo CAESAREA TRADER suffered a major engine room fire off the coast of the Isle of Wight while on her regular run between St. Helier, Jersey and Portsmouth in the afternoon of 9 February. All 23 crew and one passenger are reported accounted for and well.

First of three new purpose-built RoRo’s for Airbus was launched

feb 10 2026

Ro-roLD Armateurs is set to welcome the first ship of its next generation RoRo vessels chartered to Airbus. The SPIRIT OF TOULOUSE was launched in the start of February at Wuchang Shipyard (CSSC Group). Two other vessels – SPIRIT OF MOBILE and SPIRIT OF MIRABEL - are under construction.

Viking Line marks two years of green shipping corridor between Turku and Stockholm

feb 10 2026

FerryViking Line, Port of Turku and Ports of Stockholm are running a joint project with the aim of establishing a fossil-free shipping corridor between Stockholm and Turku by 2035. Two years into the project, concrete progress has been made on biofuel, onshore power and zero-emission targets in ports.

Operators launch common Kristiansand-Kirkenes freight corridor

feb 10 2026

Ro-roNor Lines Agder AS will launch a pilot project in February 2026 to extend sea-based cargo transport from Kristiansand to Kirkenes, with the aim of shifting more freight from road to sea in Norway. The route is a collaboration between Nor Lines Agder AS, Fjord Line, and Nor Lines.

New names for further two former Moby ferries

feb 10 2026

FerryMSC-owned GNV has selected names for the last two of a total of five former Moby ferries that have been transferred to MSC Group and will be operated by GNV going forward. According to Italian media, MOBY ALE DUE will be renamed GNV PEGASUS, while ATHARA will take the name GNV PHOENIX.

DFDS reports strong rise in Jersey passenger numbers

feb 10 2026

FerryDFDS has reported a strong increase in passenger numbers across its Jersey sailings, with demand continuing to build ahead of the 2026 season. Passenger figures on the Jersey–St Malo route for January 2026 are up 31% compared with the same period last year.

Wasaline is now officially part of Stena Line

feb 09 2026

FerryA ceremony in Umeå marked the official completion of Stena Line’s acquisition of Wasaline.

Less than three months left – likely to sell out (Upd.10 Feb)

feb 07 2026

There are now less than three months left until the 2026 Shippax Ferry Conference. We strongly recommend registering soon to secure your participation since we are likely to sell out.

Isle of Man Steam Packet considers conventional ferry as replacement for MANANNAN

feb 06 2026

FerryFollowing a customer survey, Isle of Man Steam Packet now indicates that a future replacement for the 1998-built high-speed ferry MANANNAN, with a capacity of 850 passengers and 200 cars, could very well be a conventional ferry. This was stated by the company’s CEO, Brian Thomson, in an interview with Manx Radio.

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I and II offered on the second-hand market

feb 06 2026

FerryTT-Line Tasmania has told Australian media that its two current operational ferries, the 1998-built SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I and SPIRIT OF TASMANIA II, each have a book value of AUD 50 million. It is further stated that the vessels have been offered on the second-hand market through international brokers for several months.

Bunkering of MYSTAR at the Port of Tallinn © Karl-Robert Kurm

Tallink Shuttle will soon run entirely on renewable energy

feb 06 2026

FerryTallink's shuttle ships on the Tallinn–Helsinki route will soon be fully powered by renewable energy. In January, 74% of the fuel used by MEGASTAR and MYSTAR was liquefied biomethane (LBM). The company aims to replace its entire LNG demand with liquefied biomethane in the near future.

Keel laying of OCEANIA SONATA in Marghera

feb 05 2026

CruiseFincantieri and Oceania Cruises, a brand of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., celebrated the keel laying of OCEANIA SONATA™, the new next-generation luxury cruise ship, at the Marghera shipyard. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2027.

Sallaum Lines takes delivery of OCEAN LEGACY

feb 05 2026

Ro-roSallaum Lines reveals the delivery of the LNG dual-fuel-capable OCEAN LEGACY, the latest PCTC to join its Ocean Class fleet, arriving just one month after putting OCEAN EXPLORER into service.

Total travel to and from Gotland increased in 2025

feb 05 2026

FerryIn total, 1,758,481 passengers travelled with Destination Gotland during 2025, representing an increase of 1.6% compared with 2024. During the year, 1,335,045 visitors travelled to and from the island, an increase of 0.8% compared with 2024. The growth was primarily seen on the Nynäshamn route, while traffic on the Oskarshamn route remained at a stable level.

Slight increase in ferry passengers through Helsinki

feb 05 2026

PortPort of Helsinki’s total volume of passenger traffic on ferries in 2025 was 9.5 million passengers, 0.9% more than the previous year. The busiest route is between Helsinki and Tallinn. It carried 7.5 million passengers, slightly more than the previous year. The Stockholm route carried 1.7 million passengers and the route between Helsinki and Travemünde transported 167,000 passengers.

First Northern European ferry newbuilding launched at Özata Shipyard

feb 05 2026

FerryÖzata Shipyard in Turkey launched NB101 (TBN MISTERØY) on 3 February. The vessel is expected to be delivered to Torghatten in June this year. MISTERØY will be the first of a total of three 76.8-metre ferries, each equipped with a 1,960-kWh battery pack, to be built by the yard for Torghatten.

Second hull for Norleds new Træna contract left Turkey

feb 05 2026

FerryThe hull of RISVÆR, the second of a total of four 84.5-metre ferries for Norled, left Tersan Shipyard, Turkey, under tow on 1 February, bound for Tersan Havyard in Norway, where the hull will be fully outfitted. SØHOLMEN, the first vessel in the series, which is equipped with 8 MWh battery packs, is in the final stages of outfitting in Norway.

Auckland’s first plug-in hybrid electric fast ferry set to enter service

feb 05 2026

High-speedAuckland city’s first plug-in hybrid electric fast ferry has completed sea trials and will soon enter service on the busy Auckland to Devonport commuter route. The vessel achieved a top speed of 36 knots on all-electric mode, surpassing expectations. Designed by Incat Crowther, built by Q-West Boat Builders with systems integration by Hamilton Jet, the operationally flexible 32-metre vessel is the first in a fleet of two new electric hybrid fast ferries that will be operated by Fullers360 for Auckland Transport.

Strategic joint-venture to establish a RoRo terminal in Singapore

feb 04 2026

Ro-roMitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and PSA Singapore (PSA) have announced the formation of a joint-venture RoRo terminal in Singapore. The joint-venture terminal is currently subject to regulatory approval and is expected to commence operations in the first half of this year. As Southeast Asia's largest automotive transhipment hub, Singapore is a key gateway connecting Asia to major global markets.

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Austal starts production of Gotlandsbolaget's multi-fuel capable Horizon X at its Philippines Shipyard

DFDS’ CAESAREA TRADER suffers major engine room fire off the coast of the Isle of Wight

First of three new purpose-built RoRo’s for Airbus was launched

Viking Line marks two years of green shipping corridor between Turku and Stockholm

Operators launch common Kristiansand-Kirkenes freight corridor

New names for further two former Moby ferries

DFDS reports strong rise in Jersey passenger numbers

Wasaline is now officially part of Stena Line

Less than three months left – likely to sell out (Upd.10 Feb)

Isle of Man Steam Packet considers conventional ferry as replacement for MANANNAN

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I and II offered on the second-hand market

Tallink Shuttle will soon run entirely on renewable energy

Keel laying of OCEANIA SONATA in Marghera

Sallaum Lines takes delivery of OCEAN LEGACY

Total travel to and from Gotland increased in 2025

Slight increase in ferry passengers through Helsinki

First Northern European ferry newbuilding launched at Özata Shipyard

Second hull for Norleds new Træna contract left Turkey

Auckland’s first plug-in hybrid electric fast ferry set to enter service

Strategic joint-venture to establish a RoRo terminal in Singapore

Most read

Less than three months left – likely to sell out (Upd.10 Feb)

Auckland’s first plug-in hybrid electric fast ferry set to enter service

Stena Line to discontinue the Halmstad–Grenaa ferry route

POLSCA Baltic Ferries expands its route network with a new Gdansk–Karlshamn service

Stena RoRo places order for two new C-Flexer design RoRo ships

VIKING GRACE returns to service following EUR 7 million refurbishment

Isles of Scilly's new freight vessel begins sea trials in Vietnam

State of Alaska goes out to tender for the replacement ferry for AMHS’ veteran TUSTUMENA