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

(Updated 31 July) Irish Ferries parent ICG to be taken private in EUR 1.2 billion management buyout

jul 31 2026

FinanceIrish Continental Group (ICG), parent of ferry operator Irish Ferries, is to be taken private in a management-led buyout that values the group at about EUR 1.2 billion. Four senior executives have offered EUR 8.00 per share, a premium of roughly 28%, to delist the company from Euronext Dublin and the London Stock Exchange and fund long-term fleet and terminal investment under private ownership. Backed by preferred equity and bank debt, the recommended acquisition is expected to complete in the fourth quarter of 2026.

World's largest battery-electric ship loaded for journey to South America

jul 31 2026

High-speedIncat has successfully completed one of the most complex maritime operations ever undertaken in Tasmania, with Hull 096 now loaded aboard the heavy lift vessel BLACK MARLIN ahead of its voyage to South America.
The successful loading of the world’s largest battery-electric ship marks the beginning of the next chapter for Hull 096, which will soon commence its journey to South America.

Strong half year result form Finnlines

jul 31 2026

FinanceThe Finnlines Group’s revenue in January–June 2026 amounted to EUR 412.4 (351.9 in 2025) million, representing an increase of 17%. Result before interest and taxes (EBIT) was EUR 55.8 (39.9) million. This represented an increase of 20%. Finnlines Group’s earnings before taxes (EBT) improved compared with the previous year, amounting to EUR 51.2 (33.8) million.

Wallenius SOL buys two RoRos from Wagenborg and gains a major customer

jul 31 2026

Ro-roConsolidation in the northern Baltic is well under way following the purchase by Wallenius SOL of two Wagenborg-owned StoRo vessels. The 12,635 GT and 9,003 dwt BOTHNIABORG and BALTICBORG have maintained a weekly sailing from the Swedish port of Piteå to Bremen, Terneuzen and Sheerness, transporting large reels of kraftliner paper under long-term contract with Smurfit Westrock, who operate Europe's largest kraftliner mill in Piteå with an annual capacity of 700,000 tpa.

Silverstream passes 160 air lubrication installations

jul 30 2026

Silverstream has surpassed 160 vessel installations of its air lubrication technology, taking the total number of vessels operating with the Silverstream® System to 164 globally.

Polaris acquires two feeder-size car carriers

jul 30 2026

Ro-roPolaris Autoliners has acquired two second-hand 2,000 CEU car carriers from Global Car Carriers. The vessels are the sister ships VIKING ODESSA and CITY OF OSLO, delivered by Japan’s Kyokuyo Shipyard Corp. in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The two feeder-size car carriers have now been renamed POLARIS STAR and POLARIS OSLO, respectively. Following the acquisition, Polaris Autoliners now operates a fleet of 10 car carriers, five owned and five chartered.

MANXMAN out of service in the middle of the high season

jul 30 2026

FerryA technical breakdown aboard Isle of Man Steam Packet’s RoPax MANXMAN in the middle of the high season in mid-July has proven more serious than first thought. After the 2023-built ferry arrived at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, wear on her propulsion shaft bearings was detected, parts which engineers couldn’t inspect until they'd been removed.

Molslinjen delivered strong financial results for 2025

jul 30 2026

FinanceDenmark’s largest ferry operator Molslinjen A/S, which is part of Oslo-based Nordic Ferry Infrastructure Holding AS, delivered a strong financial performance in 2025. Revenue in 2025 was a total of DKK 2.286 million, representing an increase of DKK 36 million compared to 2024. The income statement shows that earnings before interests and depreciation (EBITDA) were DKK 728 million which is an increase of DKK 49 million from 2024 to 2025.

Achieving the green transformation puts huge financial pressure on Norled

jul 30 2026

FinanceNorwegian domestic ferry operator Norled Group reported a loss of NOK 894 million in 2025. The substantial negative bottom-line result last year followed an even larger loss of NOK 907 million in 2024. Revenue at the company (branded as Norled), one of Norway’s largest ferry operators with an extensive portfolio of public service contracts, amounted to NOK 2,968 million in 2025, compared with NOK 2,808 million in 2024.

Sallaum Lines ups their PCTC tally in China

jul 30 2026

Ro-roIn addition to the two vessels recently ordered from Xiamen Shipbuilding, with an option for a further two, Sallaum has now contracted another 1+1 PCTCs from China Merchants Jinling shipyard, taking advantage of attractive delivery slots in 2029.

Bahri announces more details of ConRo order

jul 30 2026

Ro-roMore details have emerged of the recent order for two ConRos at China Merchants Jinling shipyard. Bahri, the national shipping company of Saudi Arabia, placed an order for two 54,476 GT ConRos with an option for two more.

GOLDEN CARRIER chartered for Trinidad & Tobago ferry connection

jul 30 2026

FerryThe 22,874 GT RoPax GOLDEN CARRIER, with a capacity of 1,950 lanem and 399 passengers, has arrived in Trinidad to temporarily replace the 1,925 lanem and 280-passenger capacity 22,986 GT BLUE WAVE HARMONY. The RoPax vessel will sail between Port of Spain and Scarborough while the BLUE WAVE HARMONY is under repair.

Royal Caribbean Group reports second quarter results above expectations and raises full year guidance

jul 29 2026

FinanceRoyal Caribbean Group has reported second quarter Adjusted Earnings per Share of USD 4.21 and net income of USD 1.1 billion, results that came in ahead of the company's own guidance and prompted an upward revision to its full year outlook. The group attributed the stronger-than-expected performance to robust close-in demand, lower costs and a favourable contribution from its joint ventures.

KRONPRINS FREDERIK en route to Esbjerg © Søren Lund Hviid

Former Great Belt ferry arrives in Esbjerg for scrapping

jul 28 2026

FerryScandlines' ferry KRONPRINS FREDERIK arrived in Esbjerg on 27 July, where the 1981-built former InterCity railway ferry from the Great Belt route is to be scrapped. The 16,071 GT ferry has been sold by Scandlines to the Esbjerg-based ship recycling company Smedegaarden A/S. In March this year, KRONPRINS FREDERIK was replaced as the freight ferry for accompanied trailers on Scandlines' Puttgarden–Rødby route by the fully electric THE BALTIC WHALE, which operates alongside the route's four double-ended RoPax ferries.

Magnetic Island Ferries Implements FerryHawk Booking System

jul 27 2026

Magnetic Island Ferries customers — from daily commuters to commercial freight operators — can now make and manage their bookings online for the first time, following the move to FerryHawk's cloud-based booking platform.

KiwiRail confirmed as operator of new Cook Strait ferries KUPE and COOK

jul 24 2026

FerryThe New Zealand Government has confirmed KiwiRail as operator of the country's two new rail-enabled Cook Strait ferries, which will be named KUPE and COOK. Minister for Rail Winston Peters made both announcements at Parliament on 17 July 2026.

STENA VINGA to become CORBIÈRE SEAWAYS following Jersey public vote

jul 24 2026

FerryDFDS has confirmed that STENA VINGA will be renamed CORBIÈRE SEAWAYS, the winning entry in a public naming competition run in Jersey.

Baleària Canarias acquires Transportes Intercanarios

jul 24 2026

Baleària Canarias has completed the acquisition of Transportes Intercanarios S.A. from the Armas family, adding a land transport and port services network to its Canary Islands operations. The company announced the deal on 23 July 2026.

Peep Jalakas, Chairman of the Management Board of AS Tallink Grupp

Tallink half year results: stable revenue and stronger cargo volumes in the second quarter

jul 24 2026

FinanceIn the second quarter of 2026, AS Tallink Grupp carried a total of 1,454,725 passengers, which is a 2.2% decrease compared to the same period last year. The number of cargo units carried increased by 2.9% to 68,986, while the number of passenger vehicles fell by 6.5% to 199,025. The quarter ended with a net loss of EUR 2.5 million, which includes EUR 12.5 million in dividend-related income tax.

ECSA welcomes proposed inclusion of two Indian yards on EU ship recycling list

jul 24 2026

European Shipowners | ECSA has welcomed the European Commission's proposal to add two Indian facilities to the updated European List of Ship Recycling Facilities. The association published its response on 23 July 2026.

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(Updated 31 July) Irish Ferries parent ICG to be taken private in EUR 1.2 billion management buyout

World's largest battery-electric ship loaded for journey to South America

Strong half year result form Finnlines

Wallenius SOL buys two RoRos from Wagenborg and gains a major customer

Silverstream passes 160 air lubrication installations

Polaris acquires two feeder-size car carriers

MANXMAN out of service in the middle of the high season

Molslinjen delivered strong financial results for 2025

Achieving the green transformation puts huge financial pressure on Norled

Sallaum Lines ups their PCTC tally in China

Bahri announces more details of ConRo order

GOLDEN CARRIER chartered for Trinidad & Tobago ferry connection

Royal Caribbean Group reports second quarter results above expectations and raises full year guidance

Former Great Belt ferry arrives in Esbjerg for scrapping

Magnetic Island Ferries Implements FerryHawk Booking System

KiwiRail confirmed as operator of new Cook Strait ferries KUPE and COOK

STENA VINGA to become CORBIÈRE SEAWAYS following Jersey public vote

Baleària Canarias acquires Transportes Intercanarios

Tallink half year results: stable revenue and stronger cargo volumes in the second quarter

ECSA welcomes proposed inclusion of two Indian yards on EU ship recycling list

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STENA VINGA to become CORBIÈRE SEAWAYS following Jersey public vote

TROLLIUS SOYA launched

KiwiRail confirmed as operator of new Cook Strait ferries KUPE and COOK

Former Great Belt ferry arrives in Esbjerg for scrapping

ECSA welcomes EUR 10 billion ETS earmark, warns of gaps on competitiveness

Tallink half year results: stable revenue and stronger cargo volumes in the second quarter

MOL introduces 'Skater' device to shift disabled vehicles on car carriers

Fincantieri delivers EXPLORA III, third of six Explora Journeys vessels