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

Dublin's MP2 project gets MacGregor linkspan

aug 14 2026

PortA major step forward in Dublin's MP2 port plans has been taken with the delivery of a new double-level linkspan for the new Berth 53, which will be the easternmost RoRo berth in the port. This is the largest linkspan so far in Dublin, designed to service future generations of RoPax vessels.

SUPERFAST V returns to service after repairs at Viktor Lenac in Rijeka

aug 14 2026

FerryThe Visentini-class RoPax, the 32,581 GT SUPERFAST V, delivered in 2021 and recently long-term chartered by Superfast Ferries for their Patras – Venice route, was sent to the Viktor Lenac Shipyard in Rijeka for engine repairs at the end of June.

New Türkiye–Russia route apparently suspended

aug 14 2026

Ro-roIn cooperation with logistics company Geo Grand Line Global, Turkish RoRo operator Lider Shipping launched a RoRo freight service between Trabzon, Türkiye, and Novorossiysk, Russia, on 14 July. However, the service, which was to be operated by Lider Shipping’s RoRo SAMPIYON TRABZONSPOR, appears to have been suspended.

Ferry disaster on Lake Kariba

aug 14 2026

FerryAs of 13 August, 44 of the 153 people on board, including five crew members, had been confirmed dead following a ferry disaster 11 August in the Zimbabwean part of Lake Kariba. The vessel involved was the non-IMO-registered passenger ferry MBUYA NEHANDA, operated by RIDA (Rural Infrastructure Development Agency) under the Zambian government.

Illustration of SEAROAD I (Fresh new photos will be added during the weekend)

SEAROAD I on sea trials

aug 14 2026

Ro-roThe long-delayed RoRo ship under construction at Flensburger Shipyard for the Australian Searoad Shipping has finally left the yard for sea trials. The 43,080 GT SEAROAD I was launched last November and is on track to be delivered later this year if all goes to plan.

Viking Line first-half income falls as associated companies weigh on result

aug 14 2026

FinanceViking Line reported a first-half 2026 marked by an unusually severe ice winter, with group sales down 0.8% to EUR 214.0 million and income before taxes falling to EUR -18.6 million, largely on weaker earnings from associated companies. Second-quarter trading was steadier, with sales up 0.7% to EUR 129.3 million, passenger market share rising to 31.8% on strong car-segment growth, and no full-year forecast issued amid continued energy-price uncertainty.

WW Q2 as expected with capacity sold out

aug 14 2026

FinanceWallenius Wilhelmsen have reported their Q2 results, which were in line with market expectations. Revenue increased by 4% to USD 1,305 million but EBITDA dropped by 9% to USD 349 million QoQ. EBIT was down 18% to USD 175 million and profit to USD 138 million.

DFDS chair to step down as Q2 profit surges and July volumes soften

aug 14 2026

FinanceDFDS is to reshape its Board of Directors, with long-serving Chair Claus V. Hemmingsen stepping down. The governance move was disclosed minutes ahead of DFDS reporting Q2 2026 revenue up 10% to DKK 8.6 billion and EBIT nearly tripling to DKK 454 million, prompting an upgraded full-year outlook and confirmation from new CEO Michael Hansen that a strategy review is under way. DFDS also reported that July 2026 ferry volumes were soft across most corridors, with freight lane metres down 3.2% and passenger numbers down 1.6% year-on-year.

Ukrainian military unit reports further attacks on Russian Kerch ferries

aug 13 2026

FerryFerry capacity across the Kerch Strait between Russia and the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula has fallen to around 25% of its original level following further Ukrainian attacks. This was reported by the Ukrainian drone unit USF Unit 414 “Magyar’s Birds” on social media.

Scandlines latest addition, THE BALTIC WHALE © Søren Lund Hviid

More than one million passengers travelled with Scandlines in July

aug 13 2026

FerryIt has been a busy summer for Scandlines, which operates the Rødby-Puttgarden and Gedser-Rostock routes. In July alone, 1.173 million passengers travelled on the company’s ferries between Denmark and Germany, slightly more than the 1.152 million recorded last year.

NEOLINER ORIGIN on coffee charter with Café William

aug 13 2026

Ro-roThe sail-powered 13,278 GT RoRo NEOLINER ORIGIN has taken a short break from its transatlantic service to transport a load of coffee for Canadian specialist, Café William. The vessel loaded over 1,000t of organic Fairtrade green coffee in Santa Marta, Colombia and Puerto Cortés in Honduras.

Former STENA NAUTICA arrives on new route

aug 13 2026

FerryAfter three months laid up in Frederikshavn, the former STENA NAUTICA departed on 10 August under its new name, ECKERÖ LINK. Its first stop was a trial call at Långnäs in the Åland Islands on 12 August, before arriving at Naantali, Finland, later that evening. The 1986-built STENA NAUTICA was placed on the second-hand market by Stena Line following the closure of the Halmstad–Grenaa route on 30 April this year.

Second serious ferry fire in Indonesia within 10 days

aug 13 2026

FerryOne person has been confirmed dead, and 212 people were rescued alive from the Indonesian ferry PUTRI YASMIN after a fire broke out on board at 04:39 local time on 12 August. The ferry was off Lombok while sailing from Bali, according to Indonesian authorities cited by several media outlets.

Further delay to FuelEU Maritime entry into force in Norway

aug 12 2026

Regulation (EU) 2023/1805, better known as FuelEU Maritime, will not enter into force under the EEA Agreement and in Norway before 1 January 2028, the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment has announced. The regulation had previously been expected to take effect in Norway during 2026, but the incorporation process into the EEA Agreement will now take additional time, the Norwegian Maritime Authority (Sjøfartsdirektoratet) said on 11 August 2026.

Karlshamn officially welcomes new ferry route from Gdansk

aug 12 2026

FerryThe official opening of POLSCA Baltic Ferries' new ferry route between Karlshamn and Gdansk took place on 12 August 2026 at the Port of Karlshamn. The ceremony, which included a symbolic ribbon-cutting, provided an opportunity to officially welcome the new route to Karlshamn and highlight its importance for the development of connections and cooperation between Poland and Sweden.

TRICA back in service for Netherlands MOD

aug 12 2026

Ro-roThe Spliethoff owned ConRo, the 28,289 GT 2,963 lane metres and 643 TEU TRICA, has entered service for the Netherlands Defensie Verkeers en Vervoerorganisatie (DVVO) following the retrofitting of a container jib crane, intended to serve the forward cellular hold and on-deck container slots.

Weidong Shipping starts construction on first of two RoPax newbuilds at CMS Weihai

aug 12 2026

FerryThe first of two RoPaxes for Weidong Shipping have begun construction at the China Merchants Shipbuilding Weihai shipyard. The vessel, which will replace the ageing 1997 Mitsubishi-built 29,554 GT NEW GOLDEN BRIDGE V on the 3x weekly Incheon – Weihai route, will have a capacity for 400 passengers and 318 TEU.

OPE 26 Southbound peak ends below 2025 record

aug 12 2026

FerryThe first phase of Operation Crossing the Strait 2026 has been completed with 3,897 roundtrips transporting 1.14m passengers and 287,225 passenger vehicles. Algeciras and Tarifa account for the lion’s share in the period from June 15th to August 10th, with Algeciras recording 2982 vessel rotations, 861,686 passengers and 238,116 vehicles. Compared with 2025, 6.3% fewer vessel departures have been made, transporting 3.1% fewer passengers and a reduction of 2.3% in passenger vehicles.

EU–Georgia routes expand with the return of the DIOSCURIA

aug 11 2026

FerryThe 17,790 GT RoPax DIOSCURIA, formerly the Polish BALTIVIA, which was built by Kalmar Varv in 1981, is back on the Black Sea connection between Constanta in Romania and Poti in Georgia. The 1,404 lane-metre RoPax, with a 238 passenger/driver capacity, has been off the route for many months after repair work was undertaken in Turkey.

Grimaldi takes delivery of the GRANDE PACIFICO

aug 11 2026

Ro-roThe GRANDE PACIFICO was delivered on 10 August 2026, becoming the 13th Ammonia Ready vessel in the Grimaldi Group fleet and the first of five sister PCTC vessels ordered from China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu. An evolution of the design behind the first five 9,000 CEU vessels already delivered by the same yard, the new units offer greater cargo capacity while maintaining the high standards of energy efficiency, technological innovation and environmental sustainability that distinguish the class.

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Getting access to our website

Dublin's MP2 project gets MacGregor linkspan

SUPERFAST V returns to service after repairs at Viktor Lenac in Rijeka

New Türkiye–Russia route apparently suspended

Ferry disaster on Lake Kariba

SEAROAD I on sea trials

Viking Line first-half income falls as associated companies weigh on result

WW Q2 as expected with capacity sold out

DFDS chair to step down as Q2 profit surges and July volumes soften

Ukrainian military unit reports further attacks on Russian Kerch ferries

More than one million passengers travelled with Scandlines in July

NEOLINER ORIGIN on coffee charter with Café William

Former STENA NAUTICA arrives on new route

Second serious ferry fire in Indonesia within 10 days

Further delay to FuelEU Maritime entry into force in Norway

Karlshamn officially welcomes new ferry route from Gdansk

TRICA back in service for Netherlands MOD

Weidong Shipping starts construction on first of two RoPax newbuilds at CMS Weihai

OPE 26 Southbound peak ends below 2025 record

EU–Georgia routes expand with the return of the DIOSCURIA

Grimaldi takes delivery of the GRANDE PACIFICO

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Irish Ferries parent ICG to be taken private in EUR 1.2 billion management buyout

Turkish RoRo ship struck by drones in the Black Sea

CNMC approves DFDS acquisition of Armas activities in the Strait of Gibraltar

Tallink to charter cruise ferry ROMANTIKA to Italy

47-year-old ferry with Irish Sea origins arrives at Aliaga scrapyard

Naikai Zosen bags orders for seven RoRo vessels

DFDS' Head of Ferry Division Mathieu Girardin to leave

Ferry fire in Indonesia claims five lives