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Tallink Grupp: strong summer quarter despite higher costs

By 2026 Newsletter week 43
  • Q3: Revenue reached EUR 246.7m; net profit amounted to EUR 43.8m.
  • Traffic: Passenger numbers rose by 2.8% to 1.82 million; freight volumes increased by 7.8% to nearly 65,000 units.
  • January–September: Revenue grew by 4.5% to EUR 603m; EBITDA exceeded EUR 104m (EUR 102m). Net profit was EUR 19.4m.
  • Cost pressures: Nine-month fuel costs increased by EUR 18.9m. Dividend-related income tax expenses totalled EUR 12.6m.
  • Priorities: Flexible fleet deployment, long-term vessel charters and continued cost control.

Viking Line: higher energy costs weigh on earnings

By 2026 Newsletter week 43
  • Q3: Revenue rose to EUR 154.9m (EUR 152.5m); operating profit fell to EUR 25.5m (EUR 28.7m).
  • January–September: Revenue remained stable at EUR 368.9m; operating profit declined to EUR 13.5m (EUR 17.5m).
  • Trading: Summer passenger volumes were stable. Higher energy costs and weaker contributions from associated companies and joint ventures reduced earnings.
  • Outlook: Full-year profit before tax is now expected to be significantly below 2025 and lower than previously forecast.
  • Priorities: Cost control, energy efficiency and planned cooperation with TT-Line to strengthen the freight business.

P&O Ferries: restructuring ongoing

By 2026 Newsletter week 43

Dubai Ferries Holding FZE, the group comprising P&O Ferries and P&O Ferrymasters, reported its 2025 accounts. P&O Ferries is continuing its restructuring programme, focusing on route optimisation, operational efficiency and improvements to the customer experience.

Passenger traffic increased by 1.6% to 4.45 million in 2025, while tourist vehicle volumes rose by 4% to 939,000. Channel services benefited from increased car volumes and market share, alongside stronger onboard sales. Irish Sea operations remained stable, supported by growth in freight and coach traffic.

The North Sea network was reshaped with the closure of the Teesport–Zeebrugge route, concentrating resources on services with stronger commercial potential, including Tilbury–Europoort.

Priorities for 2026 include improving fuel and carbon efficiency, and enhancing retail, food and beverage services. Upgraded IT systems will support further operational and commercial improvements.

The programme also includes closer engagement with freight customers, improved yield management and targeted marketing to stimulate passenger demand outside peak periods.

Kuzey Star to acquire Uljanik for EUR 12.05m

By 2026 Newsletter week 43

Türkiye’s Kuzey Star Shipyard is set to acquire a 97.13% stake in Uljanik Brodogradnja 1856 for EUR 12.05m, exceeding the EUR 11.08m asking price. Croatia’s state asset agency CERP accepted the binding offer in September, with foreign investment screening required before signing.

Kuzey Star already cooperates with the Pula shipyard on completing livestock carrier Newbuilding 526.

Uljanik previously secured orders for two 5,500-lane-metre RoRo vessels from CLdN in 2016. Both contracts were cancelled in 2019 as the shipbuilder’s financial crisis escalated, with the second cancellation following the opening of bankruptcy proceedings.

Wasaline secures biogas supply for AURORA BOTNIA

By 2026 Newsletter week 43

Wasaline has signed a two-year agreement with St1 Biokraft for 42 GWh of liquefied biogas annually, starting in January 2028.

The fuel will be bunkered in Vaasa for AURORA BOTNIA’s Vaasa–Umeå service. Wasaline aims to source most of it from Suomen Lantakaasu’s new plant in Nurmo, around 80 km from Vaasa, strengthening regional energy supply and the use of manure and other organic residues.

IFM-managed fund to acquire majority stake in Associated British Ports

By 2026 Newsletter week 43

CPP Investments and OMERS have agreed to sell their respective 33.9% and 30% stakes in Associated British Ports (ABP) to a fund managed by IFM Investors, giving it a combined 63.9% majority holding. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Completion is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. CPP Investments acquired its stake in 2015, while OMERS invested in 2006.

ABP handles approximately 25% of UK seaborne trade. IFM, owned by Australian pension funds and the UK’s Nest, plans to support continued investment in the group’s infrastructure and operations.

Source: https://www.abports.co.uk/news-and-media/latest-news/2026/cpp-investments-and-omers-reach-agreement-to-sell-entire-stakes-in-associated-british-ports-to-a-fund-managed-by-ifm-investors

Torghatten takes delivery of electric ferry MISTERØY

By 2026 Newsletter week 43

Torghatten has taken delivery of MISTERØY from Özata Shipyard in Türkiye. The new ferry will serve the Festvåg–Misten route, north of Bodø.

Designed by The Norwegian Ship Design Company, the vessel is almost 77 metres long, accommodates 60 cars and has a battery capacity of 1,960 kWh. Charging infrastructure at Festvåg will enable fully electric operation on the route.

The delivery forms part of Torghatten’s fleet modernisation programme, with further electric and hydrogen-powered vessels under construction.

Antwerp-Bruges: RoRo grows as shortsea markets show mixed trends

By 2026 Newsletter week 43

Port of Antwerp-Bruges reported contrasting shortsea trends in the first nine months of 2026, with RoRo cargo flows to and from Ireland and Scandinavia increasing, while volumes with the United Kingdom and the Iberian Peninsula declined.

Overall RoRo throughput rose by 5.5%, driven mainly by a 9.3% increase in new cars, particularly from China and Japan.

Across all cargo segments, total port throughput fell by 0.8%. Container traffic recovered strongly in the third quarter, lifting nine-month volumes by 1.2% in TEU. However, growth came from empty containers, up 11.7%, while laden container volumes declined by 1.3%.

Dry bulk increased by 13%, whereas conventional general cargo fell by 16.6% and liquid bulk remained under pressure. The port highlights trade barriers, high energy prices and weak European industrial demand as continuing challenges.

Turku signs S2 quay redevelopment contract with Oteran

By 2026 Newsletter week 43

Port of Turku has signed a contract with Oteran Oy to renovate its S2 quay and build associated passenger access infrastructure as part of the Ferry Terminal Turku project.

Currently used by Tallink Silja, the quay will primarily serve Viking Line in future. Work includes rebuilding a 220-metre section, installing automated mooring systems and constructing a passenger access bridge, three boarding bridges and a side ramp.

Construction began in late September and early October, with completion scheduled for 2028. Work will be coordinated with ongoing passenger and freight operations.

The project forms part of the port’s EUR 172 million redevelopment, encompassing a new joint terminal, quays, apron areas and traffic arrangements.

Interferry warns further road ETS delays would widen competitive imbalance

By 2026 Newsletter week 43

Interferry has raised concerns that a further delay to road transport’s inclusion in EU emissions trading would deepen the competitive disadvantage facing ferry operators.

The association estimates annual ETS costs for European RoPax and RoRo operators at approximately EUR 1 billion. It warns that uneven carbon pricing encourages freight to shift from ferries to roads, limits operators’ ability to pass on costs and reduces funds available for decarbonisation.

According to Interferry, road transport’s ETS2 framework, already postponed from 2027 to 2028, faces pressure for further delays. The association argues that linking road transport and building emissions allows political concerns over household heating costs to shield road freight from carbon pricing.

Interferry calls for road transport to be separated from buildings under ETS2, or for carbon costs to be applied uniformly across sectors. It also wants all maritime ETS revenues ring-fenced for shipping’s decarbonisation, including EU-produced sustainable marine fuels, clean technologies and shoreside charging infrastructure.

OSK Design appoints Harri Suistio as Sales Director

By 2026 Newsletter week 43

Harri Suistio has joined OSK Design as Sales Director, bringing more than 15 years of maritime experience, including a decade at Rauma and Helsinki shipyards. Most recently, he led global sales for Konecranes’ Shipyard Cranes business. His expertise spans naval architecture, ship sales, project management and business development.

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