Shippax Designs 24 - out now!

Shippax Designs is the annual publication presenting all newbuilt or converted ferries, cruise liners and ro-ro vessels. This issue covers the 1 July, 2023 - 30 June, 2024 period. All vessels delivered during the period are included, although some may have a little less data.

Theme in this issue: Polferries' VARSOVIA

Presentations:

Ferries:

ALA’SUINU, BOYANG 1, ESPERANZA HOPE ANDRADE, FERRY OSUMI 11, FINNSIRIUS, JAMBO XI, JIAN ZHEN HAO, MWANZA HAPA KAZI TU, NEREA, PENGHU, SUNNYLVSFJORD, UHURU II

Cruise:

ADORA MAGIC CITY, AMERICAN EAGLE, EXPLORA I, ICON OF THE SEAS, QUEEN ANNE, SILVER NOVA, SUN PRINCESS

Ro-ro:

BYD EXPLORER NO. 1, CERULEAN ACE, EMDEN, FERRYMAR, FUGAKU MARU, FUTURE WAY, GLOVIS SOLAR, GREEN OCEAN, JFE KOKURYU, LAKE HERMAN, SAIC ANJI SINCERITY, SWEET PEA LEADER

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FINNCANOPUS has been operating for a year on the route between Finland and Sweden – passenger figures have doubled

FINNCANOPUS © Janne-Petteri Kumpulainen

Finnlines' Superstar-class vessel FINNCANOPUS celebrates its first anniversary on 16 February 2025. The two new Superstar vessels have significantly reduced the carbon footprint of the route, and the number of passengers on the Naantali-Långnäs-Kapellskär route has more than doubled during the past year.

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DFDS January volumes

DFDS' freight total volumes in January 2025 were 3.3m lane metres, 1.4% below 2024. The number of passengers in January 2025 was 12.4% below 2024 and down 4.7% adjusted for the sale of Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen.

For the last twelve months 2025-24, the total number of passengers increased 42.7% to 6.6m compared to 4.6m for 2024-23. The increase was 2.9% adjusted for route changes.

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T&E, shipping and aviation industry jointly call for urgent action to ramp up clean fuel production

European Shipowners (ECSA), Airlines for Europe (A4E), which represent the shipping and aviation sector at European level, along with the green transport group Transport & Environment (T&E) issued a joint statement calling on the Commission and the EU member states to ramp up the production of clean shipping and aviation fuels in Europe.

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President and CEO, Mark Wilson, becomes new owner of Bay Ferries Limited and Northumberland Ferries Limited

Mark Wilson

Bay Ferries Limited and Northumberland Ferries Limited announced that President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Wilson, is the new owner. The sale to Wilson from the previous ownership group, comprised of the family of the late Mark MacDonald, Danny Bartlett, Don Cormier and Gerry Stevenson, was completed last week.

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Wagenborg invests millions in fast ferry service to Ameland with building contract for new ‘Wadden Ferry’

Wagenborg Passagiersdiensten and Next Generation Shipyards have signed a contract for the commissioning of a new 'Wadden Ferry' for the fast ferry service. This multi-million euro investment in the connection between Ameland and Holwerd was announced last summer and is an important step towards improving the accessibility of Ameland.

The new ferry will have room for 75 passengers. It meets the growing demand and pressure on the accessibility of the Wadden Island. With the commissioning of this new vessel, Wagenborg Passagiersdiensten is investing in a reliable, safe and future-proof connection between Ameland and Holwerd.

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Viking Line 2024 financial results

Viking Line had sales amounting to EUR 480.2 million (EUR 491.4 million) in 2024. Operating income totalled EUR 26.7 million (EUR 55.0 million, including the EUR 8.6 million gain on the sale of ROSELLA). Income before taxes totalled EUR 19.8 million (EUR 45.4 million, including the EUR 8.6 million gain on the sale of ROSELLA). Investments mainly in VIKING CINDERELLA and BIRKA GOTLAND totalled EUR 24.6 million (EUR 36.9 million).

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Acquisition of Hurtigruten completes with new capital for growth ambitions

NORDNORGE © Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten Group AS announced the completion of its acquisition by a consortium of investors. The closing of this transaction concludes the process to separate Hurtigruten from Hurtigruten Expeditions Holdings Ltd (together with its subsidiaries, "HX") – both were previously part of one corporate group.

The consortium consists of existing investors led by Arini Capital Management, AlbaCore Capital and Barings. At transaction completion, long-term capital investment of approximately EUR 400m resulting from the transaction will enable Hurtigruten to explore future growth and development opportunities.

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Jaakko Eskola appointed Executive Chair of the Board of Directors for Meyer Turku Oy

Jaakko Eskola

Jaakko Eskola has been appointed Executive Chair of the Board of Directors for Meyer Turku Oy. Jaakko Eskola has worked for Wärtsilä for 23 years, most recently as the Group CEO. He has also held various positions of trust, such as Chairman of the Board at Varma (since 2022), Kalmar Oyj (since 2024), Suominen (2021-2024) and Cargotec (2022-2024). Jaakko Eskola holds a Master of Science in Engineering.

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New passenger ferry for US Virgin Islands to British Virgin Islands tourist route

Incat Crowther has designed a new 24-metre passenger fast ferry for Caribbean operator Smith's Ferry Services. Built by Australian shipyard Aluminium Marine in Brisbane, the new ferry will transport 149 passengers at speeds of up to 28 knots, has been designed for the busy Charlotte Amalie (U.S Virgin Islands) to Road Town (British Virgin Islands) tourism route.

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Gotlandsbolaget places order at Austal for Horizon X hydrogen-ready catamaran

Gotland Horizon X © Austal

Austal has been awarded a contract valued between AUD 265 and AUD 275 million by Gotlandsbolaget of Sweden, for the design and construction of a 130-metre combined cycle, 'hydrogen-ready' vehicle passenger ferry. Part of Gotlandsbolaget's 'Horizon X' program, the high-speed ro-pax catamaran will be the largest vessel ever constructed by Austal, and feature a unique, highly efficient combined cycle propulsion system that includes both gas and steam turbines – a first for high-speed craft, worldwide.

With a capacity to transport up to 1,500 passengers, cargo and 400 vehicles at 29 knots, the 'Horizon X' multi-fuel catamaran will be designed by Austal with construction at the Austal Philippines shipyard commencing the first half of CY2026; utilising "green aluminium", produced using energy efficient processes and technologies that use less carbon, resulting in lower emissions.

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Gotlandsbolaget presents the new name for the line between Oslo and Copenhagen

On 1 November, Gotlandsbolaget took over the line between Oslo and Copenhagen from DFDS. Now the new name is being announced: Go Nordic Cruiseline. The name is designed to reflect the line's proud Nordic heritage and more than 150 years of history, but also Gotlandsbolaget's roots and ambitions for the development of the line. The focus going forward is to develop high-quality onboard experiences with, among other things, newly renovated ships, Nordic entertainment and gastronomy, and more time to explore the Nordic capitals.

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World's first test operation of large-bore low-speed ammonia dual fuel engine and ammonia fuel supply system commercial unit starts

MITSUI E&S Co., Ltd. announced that the test operation of the MITSUI-MAN B&W 7S60ME-C10.5-LGIA-HPSCR large-bore low-speed ammonia dual fuel engine started at its Tamano Factory. The project builds on R&D work by their licensor, MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES), that has taken a strong position by running both single-cylinder and full-engine ammonia-fuelled tests at its Copenhagen-based two-stroke research centre.

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CLdN to expand service between Zeebrugge and Teesport

CLdN route network

CLdN announced an increase in frequency and freight capacity on its Zeebrugge-Teesport route. This increase is driven by growing customer demand for the service which provides direct and reliable access for freight units to and from the North East England and Scotland.

The increase will come into effect from the end of February and will be achieved through a combination of adding an additional round trip sailing per week and by deploying higher capacity ships on the route. The addition of two very large ro-ro newbuilds to CLdN's extensive and modern fleet later this year, allows for this rapid response to customer requirements.

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TUI Cruises takes delivery of MEIN SCHIFF RELAX

MEIN SCHIFF RELAX © Fincantieri

Fincantieri and TUI Cruises celebrated the delivery of MEIN SCHIFF RELAX, the first of two new LNG dual-fuel InTUItion-class cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for this shipowner. The sister ship will set sail in mid-2026.

With approximately 160,000 gross tonnes and 330 metres, this unit will be the backbone of the new TUI Cruises fleet, based on a new-generation project developed by Fincantieri that enhances the characteristics of modernity and sustainability of the shipowner. The ship is capable of using LNG propulsion and is future-proof, with the possibility of using low-emission fuels, such as bio- or e-LNG, marking a significant step towards climate-neutral cruising.

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Port of Trelleborg has received co-financing from EU for onshore power to the vessels

Port of Trelleborg has submitted an application regarding installation of onshore power supply in ferry berths 10 and 11. The application has now been granted co-financing in EU:s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the EU funding programme supporting European transport infrastructure.

The EU project aims to deploy onshore power supply to the vessels at the quay in the ports of Trelleborg in Sweden and Lübeck-Travemünde in Germany. A large part of the supplied energy in Port of Trelleborg will be produced through the port's two wind turbines.

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Over 350 delegates booked and less than two months left. Limited cabins left

It is now less than two months left until the 2025 Shippax Ferry Conference, and over 350 delegates are booked. Several cabin categories are sold out and we have limited cabins left. Secure a seat now!