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sandra

Aug 28
Love3

Rolf Nielsen Appointed CEO of Molslinjen

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

Rolf Nielsen has been appointed CEO of Molslinjen and will take up the position on 1 January 2027.

The 48-year-old joins from Hanseatic Global Terminals in Rotterdam, where he is COO. He previously served as Vice President, Head of Hub Terminals at APM Terminals and held several senior positions at Mærsk.

Nielsen succeeds Kristian Durhuus, who stepped down in February. Carsten Jensen, CEO of parent company Nordic Ferry Infrastructure, will continue as interim CEO until Nielsen takes office.

A key priority will be Molslinjen’s transition to electric operations, including the introduction of three large battery-powered high-speed ferries on the Kattegat.

Aug 28
Love3

Peter Hove Hildebrandt Appointed CEO of Go Nordic Cruiseline

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

Go Nordic Cruiseline has appointed Peter Hove Hildebrandt as its new CEO, effective 1 September 2026. He succeeds Kim Heiberg, who led the company through its transition from DFDS ownership to Gotlandsbolaget.

Hildebrandt brings more than 20 years of international shipping and logistics experience. Between 1999 and 2020, he held several senior positions at Maersk, including roles in revenue management, optimisation and transformation.

His priorities will include increasing passenger numbers and revenue on the direct Copenhagen–Oslo route, operated by NORDIC CROWN and NORDIC PEARL.

Go Nordic Cruiseline carried 711,700 passengers in 2025, its first full year under Gotlandsbolaget ownership.

Aug 28
Love3

DFDS Drops Acquisition of Armas’ Ceuta Route

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

DFDS will no longer acquire Armas’ Algeciras–Ceuta route or the fast ferry VILLA DE AGAETE, as the conditions imposed by the Spanish competition authorities were unacceptable to DFDS.

Negotiations are now underway to sell the route to another operator.

The acquisition of RoPax VOLCÁN DE TAMASITE and Armas’ Tanger Med operating licence by DFDS will proceed.

Source: https://ferrybalear.com/dfds-rechaza-quedarse-con-los-activos-de-trasmediterranea-de-la-linea-algeciras-ceuta-incluido-el-agaete

Photo Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=103472730

Aug 28
Love3

Dutch Seafarer Pay Claim Could Affect Ferry Operators

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

A Dutch foundation is preparing a collective legal claim on behalf of approximately 23,000 Filipino seafarers who allegedly received significantly lower wages than Dutch and German colleagues performing comparable work aboard Dutch ships.

The wage differences are based on the country-of-residence principle, under which salaries reflect living costs in the seafarer’s home country. In 2025, the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights concluded in two individual cases that differences based on a seafarer’s country of residence constituted discrimination.

The claim reportedly targets both Dutch shipowners and the Dutch State and could seek back pay dating to 2016. The case may have consequences for ferry and RoRo operators sailing under the Dutch flag if they employ non-European seafarers under similar arrangements. Possible effects include substantially higher crewing costs, retrospective claims and changes to crewing or flag strategies.

However, the legal proceedings are still at an early stage. Their wider impact will depend on whether the claim is admitted, the eventual judgment and which employment arrangements and collective agreements fall within its scope.

Industry representatives warn that abolishing the existing system in the Netherlands without international coordination could weaken the competitiveness of the Dutch fleet. The case will therefore be important to follow for Dutch-flagged ferry and RoRo operators.

Source (in Dutch):

Aug 24
Love3

ICG Revenue Rises as Higher Costs Weigh on Profit

By 2026 Newsletter week 34

Irish Continental Group (ICG) reported revenue of €359.9 million for the first half of 2026, up 16.1% compared with the same period last year.

EBITDA increased by 7.3% to €58.9 million, while operating profit declined by 2.4% to €24.0 million. The Group attributed the pressure on profitability to higher fuel, environmental and port costs, as well as the operating costs of additional vessels.

The Ferries Division generated revenue of €237.9 million, an increase of 15.5%. EBITDA rose by 4.8% to €41.9 million and operating profit increased by 5.0% to €14.8 million.

RoRo freight volumes increased by 4.1% to 409,500 units, supported by JAMES JOYCE operating throughout the full reporting period. Car volumes declined by 5.7% to 249,700, while passenger numbers decreased by 1.6% to 1.26 million.

Trading weakened further during the peak summer period. Between 1 July and 15 August, car volumes were down 7.9% and RoRo freight volumes fell by 9.3% year-on-year. ICG described this development as a significant challenge, particularly given the continued high fuel prices and difficulty of recovering these costs through passenger fares.

ICG Half-Year Report 2026

Aug 24
Love3

Port of Antwerp-Bruges Secures €500 Million Credit Facility

By 2026 Newsletter week 34

Port of Antwerp-Bruges has secured a €500 million revolving credit facility from six Belgian and international banks.

The credit line is the first step in a new financing strategy supporting an investment programme of approximately €5 billion over the next ten years. Planned projects include the redevelopment of the Europa Terminal in Antwerp and the cruise terminal in Zeebrugge.

KBC Bank acts as coordinator and agent, while ABN AMRO is sustainability coordinator. Belfius, Rabobank, Crédit Agricole CIB and Société Générale also participate.

Read the Port of Antwerp-Bruges media release (in Dutch)

Aug 24
Love3

SEAROAD I on Sea Trials in Germany

By 2026 Newsletter week 34

Sea trials have begun in Germany for SeaRoad’s new LNG-powered RoRo vessel SEAROAD I.

The trials will verify the vessel’s propulsion, manoeuvring, performance and onboard systems ahead of delivery. SEAROAD I is scheduled to enter service between Melbourne and Devonport in September 2026.

At 210 metres long and 29.3 metres wide, the 43,080 GT vessel will be the largest ship operated by SeaRoad. It provides 3,722 lane metres for trailers and other freight, plus capacity for 101 cars, bringing total capacity to 4,227 lane metres. Individual heavy and oversized cargo units weighing up to 100 tonnes can also be accommodated.

Construction had formally restarted in March 2025 after the yard was acquired and relaunched by the Heinrich Rönner Group. Delivery remains targeted for the third quarter of 2026.

Aug 24
Love3

Eckerö Line Installs Solar Panels on FINBO CARGO

By 2026 Newsletter week 34

Eckerö Line has installed 120 solar panels on FINBO CARGO. The system is expected to generate approximately 70 MWh of electricity annually and save around 15 tonnes of fuel per year.

The panels are now operational and will supply electricity to the vessel when sufficient solar energy is available. The system can also be expanded at a later stage.

The installation was carried out by Solel Åland as part of Eckerö Line’s efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce its environmental impact.

Aug 24
Love3

Ferguson Marine Opens Voluntary Redundancy Programme

By 2026 Newsletter week 34

Ferguson Marine has opened a voluntary redundancy programme as it prepares for a gap between completing its current order book and beginning its next shipbuilding contracts.

Up to 70 employees are expected to leave through the consultation process. The yard said its workload is reducing as GLEN ROSA enters the final outfitting and commissioning stages ahead of delivery in Q4 2026.

In March, the Scottish Government announced its intention to make a strategic direct award to Ferguson Marine for four vessels. These comprise two ferries for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited under the Small Vessel Replacement Programme, a Marine Protection Vessel and a Marine Research Vessel. Due diligence is continuing before the contracts can be finalised.

CEO Graeme Thomson said the measures would align the size and skills of the workforce with the yard’s transitional workload and prepare it to begin the new programme as soon as possible.

Ferguson Marine said the redundancies would not affect the remaining work or delivery schedule for GLEN ROSA.