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sandra

Jun 19
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LEVANTE FERRIES Joins EU Retrofit Project FIT-HORIZONS

By 2026 Newsletter week 25

LEVANTE FERRIES has become the only Greek ferry operator participating in FIT-HORIZONS (Flexible Tool Environment for Holistic Retrofits and Decarbonization of Ships), a new Horizon Europe project designed to accelerate the decarbonisation of Europe’s existing fleet. The initiative brings together 19 organisations from 12 countries, including shipowners, research institutes, universities and technology providers.

The project will develop an AI-based digital platform to help shipowners identify the most effective and economically viable retrofit combinations. Solutions under evaluation include alternative fuels, electrification, hydrodynamic improvements, Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) and air lubrication systems.

LEVANTE FERRIES will contribute operational data and practical expertise from its vessels. The company says the project will support the planning of its own green transition while contributing to wider European decarbonisation efforts.

The operator has previous experience with European innovation projects, including ELEMED, through which FIOR DI LEVANTE became the first vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean connected to shore power, and e-SHyIPS, which focused on future hydrogen regulations for passenger shipping.

FIT-HORIZONS is coordinated by SINTEF Ocean (Norway) and supported under Horizon Europe Grant Agreement No. 101270016. The project is intended to help shipowners comply with FuelEU Maritime, the EU ETS and future IMO greenhouse gas requirements.

Jun 19
Love3

Stena Line Secures Rail Ferry Operations Until 2031

By 2026 Newsletter week 25

Stena Line has signed a historic agreement with the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) to secure the continuation of rail ferry services between Trelleborg and Rostock until 31 December 2031.

The agreement guarantees the future of Sweden’s only regular rail ferry service, operated by SKÅNE and MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN, and recognises its strategic importance for trade, transport resilience and national defence.

Beyond supporting freight flows between Sweden and Germany, the route also strengthens military mobility for Sweden and NATO, while providing a vital alternative should disruptions affect the Öresund connection.

Read the full article here

Jun 19
Love3

Långnäs Prepares for STENA NAUTICA Arrival

By 2026 Newsletter week 25

A former Halmstad linkspan is on its way to Åland to support the deployment of STENA NAUTICA on Eckerö Link’s future Långnäs–Naantali service.

The upper-deck loading ramp, transported in several sections by cargo vessel AURA, is expected to arrive in Långnäs during the Midsummer period. Installation will take several months, as building permits, foundations and infrastructure works still need to be completed.

Eckerö Link will take over STENA NAUTICA in mid-August. Initially, the vessel will operate using only the main deck.

Additional port works are also planned, including dredging and renewal of the lower loading ramp. The new service is currently expected to start no earlier than mid-September.

Jun 19
Love3

First Construction Phase Completed At Turku Ferry Terminal

By 2026 Newsletter week 25

The first construction contract of the Ferry Terminal Turku project has been completed with the handover of the new S1 pier to the Port of Turku. The facility is scheduled to enter service in March 2027.

Designed to meet the requirements of modern passenger ferry operations, the new pier is 250 metres long and 25 metres wide. Its foundations include steel piles reaching depths of up to 50 metres, making it one of the largest structures of its kind in the Baltic Sea.

The S1 pier is the first completed element of the wider terminal redevelopment project. Work is now progressing on the S2 pier, which involves the refurbishment of the existing berth area and began in spring 2026.

Jun 19
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Interferry Warns Of Summer Border Chaos Under EES

By 2026 Newsletter week 25

Interferry is urging EU authorities and member states to adopt a more pragmatic approach to implementing the Entry/Exit System (EES), warning that severe disruption could hit European ports during the summer peak season.

Following congestion during the May bank holidays, the association says many ports remain inadequately prepared for the new border procedures. Ferry operators face particular challenges because they handle a mix of foot passengers, cars, coaches and freight traffic.

Interferry is calling for greater flexibility, improved passenger communication and faster deployment of reliable systems. It also suggests that EU authorities should consider suspending the rules until all member states are fully prepared.

Read the full article here

Jun 19
Love3

Interferry Seeks More Time For RoPax Fire Safety Retrofits

By 2026 Newsletter week 25

Interferry supports the new IMO regulation requiring all RoPax vessels to be equipped with fire detection and water-based firefighting systems on weather decks. The rules apply to newbuildings from 2026 and existing vessels from 2028.

However, the association warns that retrofitting an estimated 300 existing RoPax vessels by their first survey after 1 January 2028 is not realistic.

Interferry will therefore ask the IMO to link compliance to the first renewal survey after that date, spreading implementation over a five-year period and making the rollout more practical for operators.

Source: Johan Roos on Linkedin

Jun 19
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LMG Marin Opens New Office In Ålesund

By 2026 Newsletter week 25

LMG Marin is opening a new office in Ålesund, Norway, strengthening its presence at the heart of one of Europe’s most important maritime clusters.

The new office will be led by Severin Åkervik Ulstein, who joins as Head of Office with a mandate to build a local team, develop business in specialised vessels and offshore support, and strengthen cooperation with LMG Marin’s existing offices in Bergen, Toulouse and Szczecin.

The office is already involved in several concept development projects and will benefit from LMG Marin’s global network, including collaboration with shipyards across Europe and Asia through parent company Seatrium.

Photo: Anna Marthe Vestre Berge

Jun 19
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FerryGateway Association Appoints New Managing Director

By 2026 Newsletter week 25

The FerryGateway Association has appointed Seamus Mc Carville as its new Managing Director from the beginning of May, succeeding long-serving Managing Director Sune Häggblom, who will remain Senior Advisor until the end of June.

Mc Carville joins after almost 25 years as Group CIO at Irish Ferries and brings extensive experience in enterprise IT and digitalisation within the ferry sector. A founding member of the Ferry CIO Forum and former FerryGateway board member, he will focus on strengthening interoperability, innovation and value creation across the Association.

Source: https://ferrygateway.org/909-2/

Jun 19
Love3

Norway: Driving Premium Seating Forward

By 2026 Newsletter week 25

The Norwegian group Scuderia AS is a global leader in premium and high-end seating solutions for maritime and industrial markets. By bringing together the brands Eknes and Seat Innovation under one umbrella, Scuderia unites Norwegian design tradition, proven industrial expertise, and international market strength in one powerful organization.

The company combines some of Norway’s most advanced professional environments within pilot, operator, and passenger seating into a single, integrated industrial group. Its portfolio spans the full spectrum of seating solutions, designed to suit a wide range of vessels and user experiences.

Scuderia’s strength lies in its ability to merge Norwegian development, engineering, and design with international production capabilities and scalability. Across its locations in Kristiansand, Bergen, and Oslo, teams work closely together on innovation, sales, and product development, ensuring both depth of expertise and continuous progress.

With a broad market presence, Scuderia delivers everything from advanced pilot and operator seating to complete passenger seating systems for high-speed craft, ferries, offshore vessels, and specialized ships. The company is also expanding into premium seating solutions for the growing rail sector.

Built on a long Norwegian industrial heritage and strong market positions, Scuderia serves an impressive customer base that includes leading players such as Color Line, Kongsberg Maritime, VARD Group, DFDS, Stena Line, P&O, Damen, Grimaldi and many others.

Looking ahead, the ambition is clear: to establish the world’s strongest industrial platform for the development, production, and international scaling of premium seating solutions.

Read more: www.seatinnovation.no and www.eknes.no .

Photo credit:
The Bahama Edge by Seat Innovation visualized by Magne Ekerum – Rendered illustration generated via Vizcom.

Meet the company at the Ferry Shipping Summit in Athens.

Jun 19
Love3

CalMac Needs A New Ferry Every 18 Months To Maintain Reliability

By 2026 Newsletter week 25

CalMac CEO Duncan Mackison has warned that Scotland’s west coast ferry network needs a continuous vessel renewal programme, with one new ferry every 12 to 18 months, to maintain reliability.

With an ageing fleet of 37 vessels, operational disruptions have become increasingly common. Several new ships are due to enter service over the coming years, including GLEN ROSA, additional ferries under construction in Turkey and seven smaller vessels being built in Poland.

Mackison also backed a merger between CalMac and CMAL to streamline decision-making and improve delivery.

Read the full article here