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Baleària Improves Turnover And EBITDA In 2025 Thanks To International Growth

By | 2026 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

Baleària closed 2025 with strong financial results, surpassing €800 million in turnover and significantly improving profitability, driven largely by the expansion of its international routes.

Key Financial Highlights

  • Turnover: €801 million (+16%)
  • EBITDA: €170 million (+29%)
  • Net profit: €63 million (+152%)

President Adolfo Utor said the results confirm the robustness of the company’s business model and its ability to grow sustainably in a competitive market.

International Routes Gain Strategic Weight

In revenue terms, North African connections—both domestic and international—now contribute a share comparable to that of the Balearic Islands, traditionally Baleària’s core market.

Traffic figures underline the shift:

  • 6.5 million passengers transported (+15%)
  • 1.6 million vehicles (+11%)
  • International passengers: +68%, nearly 2 million in total

Morocco has consolidated its position as Baleària’s main international market. The 15-year concession for the Tarifa–Tangier City route has strengthened passenger flows, while new services to Algeria have further expanded the company’s North African footprint.

Over the past decade, Baleària has doubled its passenger volumes.

Cargo: A Structural Pillar

Cargo remains central to the business model:

  • 8.4 million linear metres transported (+10%)
  • Equivalent to approximately 622,000 lorries
  • Represents 36% of total turnover

Morocco accounts for 29% of total cargo volume, emerging as a strategic logistics hub. The Balearic Islands remain the largest single market, with 59% of cargo volumes.

Operational Efficiency Offsets Regulatory Costs

Fleet expansion and new route launches improved productivity and operational efficiency, allowing Baleària to absorb rising environmental compliance costs without compromising profitability.

The company sailed 1.9 million miles in 2025 (+1.5%), while maintaining tight cost control.

Sustainability And Emissions Reduction

Baleària continues to position sustainability as a competitive lever:

  • Emissions per passenger: -15%
  • Total carbon footprint: -1.4%
  • Emissions per mile sailed: -2.85%
  • Emissions per linear metre of cargo: -12%
  • Greenhouse gas intensity: -5.25%

The use of natural gas and biogas, alongside eco-efficiency investments, has enabled measurable progress despite higher activity levels.

Strategic Outlook

With EBITDA growth outpacing turnover and international routes gaining importance, Baleària has reinforced its standing in the European ferry market.

The company combines geographic diversification, cargo resilience, and decarbonisation efforts, positioning itself for further expansion while maintaining financial discipline.

Havila Voyages Reports Solid Annual Results

By | 2026 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

Havila Voyages has published its Q4 2025 figures, confirming a strong second full year with all four ships in operation on the Norwegian coastal route.

Key Financials 2025

  • Revenue: NOK 1.775 billion (2024: NOK 1.523 billion)
  • Increase: NOK 252 million (+17%)
  • Operating result before depreciation: NOK 373 million
    • 2024: NOK 218 million
    • 2023: NOK -191 million

The improvement reflects stronger demand, pricing power, and operational stability.

Operational Performance

  • 100% operational uptime in 2025 (2024: 98%)
  • Passenger nights up 3%
  • Average Cabin Rate (ACR) up approx. 20%
  • Q4 CO₂ emissions 38% below 2017 reference levels

CEO Bent Martini highlighted the significance of full-year uptime along the demanding Norwegian coast, calling it “an achievement everyone in the company should be proud of.”

Havila Voyages operates under a “power-by-the-hour” agreement with Kongsberg Maritime, ensuring 24/7 monitoring and proactive technical follow-up. This supports high technical reliability and predictable service delivery under the public-service contract.

Costs And Investments

Total operating expenses reached NOK 1.402 billion (2024: NOK 1.310 billion), an increase of around 7%.

Cost drivers included:

  • Higher guest volumes
  • General inflation
  • Expansion of shore-based organisation
  • Increased sales and marketing spend

The company deliberately increased marketing investments in Q4 to strengthen forward bookings. As a result, short-term profitability softened, but early indicators for 2026 are positive.

More than 63% of total 2026 capacity is already sold.

Outlook

Following refinancing in 2024, management expects further improvement in both revenue and profitability in 2026.

The combination of stable operations, higher yields, and continued emissions reductions positions Havila Voyages for stronger financial performance going forward.

Download the report here

CNV and Giacalone to Build 17 Ferries for ACTV in Venice Lagoon

By | 2026 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

Adria-based CNV (former Cantiere Navale Vittoria) and Trapani-based Cantiere Navale Giacalone have been awarded contracts to build 17 new ferries for ACTV, the public transport company of Venice and part of AVM (Azienda Veneziana della Mobilità).

CNV will construct four vessels for approximately EUR 15 million.

Giacalone will build 13 hybrid ferries for almost EUR 34 million.

The newbuildings will operate on passenger services in the Venice lagoon.

ACTV recently also launched a public tender to acquire a second-hand double-ended ferry for lagoon deployment.

Start Romagna to Launch Tender for Full Electric Ferry in Ravenna

By | 2026 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

Start Romagna is preparing to launch a new public tender for a fully electric ferry to operate between Porto Corsini and Marina di Ravenna.

The vessel will serve as a short-sea link across the Candiano Canal.

According to local media RavennaToday, chairman Andrea Corsini and director Angelo Erbacci confirmed that the new tender budget has been increased to EUR 6 million.

The previous tender, launched in October 2024, had a budget of EUR 5 million.

The current ferries on the route — BALENO (built 1990) and AZZURRO (built 1996) — are considered too old for continued operation.

HSC DIRECT ONE Arrived in Greece

By | 2026 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

On 23 February 2026, the new acquisition of the Greek-based Alpha Lines, HSC DIRECT ONE (ex ESCHILO), arrived in Greece.

The vessel was purchased from Liberty Lines in January and will join the Alpha Lines fleet on the Piraeus – Saronic Gulf service.

She was built in Italy in 2006.

Photo: Dimitris Mendakis

SSEN Secures Dedicated Vessel to Support Western Isles Infrastructure

By | 2026 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

SSEN Transmission will charter RoRo vessel ARROW to support the Western Isles HVDC Link Project without burdening public ferry services. The vessel will carry construction materials and project freight separate from island ferry traffic. The charter was secured in partnership with Balfour Beatty, Stornoway Port, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Ullapool Harbour Trust.

When not needed for the project, the RoRo can be made available to other operators to boost local maritime capacity. SSEN says this approach protects ferry resilience during infrastructure works.

Source: SSEN Transmission

Storms Reduce Ferry Rotations In The Strait

By | 2026 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

A succession of severe storms at the start of 2026 significantly disrupted ferry operations in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Ferry rotations fell by 15%, with temporary line suspensions due to adverse weather conditions.

Traffic Impact (January)

  • Passengers: 384,350 (-4%)
  • Vehicles: 89,935 (-3%)
  • Trucks: 40,825 (-10%)

Active booking remains mandatory for trucks bound for Tanger Med with the four operating ferry companies.

Operational Response

Baleària operated extraordinary weekend sailings with BAHAMA MAMA and reinforced capacity with SICILIA to support recovery.

Measures were coordinated through a Crisis Cabinet involving authorities on both shores to rebalance tractor units and semi-trailers between the southern and northern sides of the Strait.

Sources: https://www.apba.es/estadisticas and José Galiano on Linkedin

45 Transport Organisations Urge Stronger EU Transport Budget

By | 2026 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

A coalition of 45 European transport organisations has issued an open letter to EU Member States, calling for a stronger transport budget under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034.

The signatories urge governments to increase the future Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) budget to at least €100 billion.

Strategic Infrastructure At The Core

According to the sector, a modern and resilient European transport network is essential to:

  • Strengthen Europe’s resilience and military preparedness
  • Reinforce industrial competitiveness
  • Safeguard supply chain sovereignty

While ambitions and investment needs are rising, the sector warns that structural underfunding and financing gaps persist.

The organisations argue that continued underinvestment risks undermining the EU’s broader strategic objectives.

MFF Discussions Underway

The appeal coincides with renewed discussions on the next MFF during the General Affairs Council meeting on 24 February.

The signatories are asking General Affairs and Finance Ministers to:

  • Safeguard sufficient EU funding for transport
  • Significantly reinforce the CEF instrument
  • Align budget allocations with strategic priorities

Ports Call For Action

European Sea Ports Organisation Secretary General Isabelle Ryckbost stressed that Europe cannot meet its strategic objectives without a strong transport backbone.

She underlined that ports, as gateways to global trade and pillars of economic and geopolitical resilience, stand ready to invest but require adequate European support.

The full open letter and list of signatories have been made available to EU Member States as part of the budget discussions.

AS Tallink Grupp Appoints Peep Jalakas As New CEO

By | 2026 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

The Supervisory Board of AS Tallink Grupp has appointed Peep Jalakas as Chairman of the Management Board. His three-year term will begin on 6 April 2026.

As of 27 February, Margus Schults steps down from the Group’s Management Board and will continue as CEO of Tallink Silja Oy in Finland.

Strategic Continuity

Supervisory Board Chairman Enn Pant said the appointment underlines Tallink’s ambition to:

  • Continue strategic growth
  • Strengthen competitiveness
  • Create long-term shareholder value

Given Jalakas’ financial-sector background, Schults will return full-time to Finland, leading Tallink’s Finnish operations.

Incoming CEO Background

Peep Jalakas (born 18 May 1985) has been a Management Board member of AS SEB Pank and Head of Corporate Banking since 2023.

Over a 20-year career at the bank, he has held several leadership roles, including responsibility for corporate client and credit teams.

Jalakas described the move as both an honour and a responsibility, noting his prior cooperation with Tallink during his banking career.

Management Board Composition

Current CEO Paavo Nõgene, who announced his resignation last week, will remain on the Management Board until 22 May 2026 to support the transition.

Following Jalakas’ appointment, the Management Board will comprise:

  • Peep Jalakas
  • Piret Mürk-Dubout
  • Elise Nassar
  • Harri Hanschmidt

The leadership change signals continuity combined with a stronger financial governance focus as Tallink navigates a competitive regional ferry market.

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