The failed Scilly Ferries vessel ATLANTIC WOLFF, laid up at Damen Shipyard in Gorinchem, has found a new operator. Now under the French flag, she will join FRS Express des Iles in Guadeloupe.
The vessel has been moved to Damen Texel. (Marinetraffic)
- Fjord1 has secured the contract to operate the routes between Bergen, Sogn and Nordfjord.
- The contract was awarded by Skyss (*) and runs from 1 December 2026 to 1 December 2029, with an option for up to three more years.
- CEO Geir Bruvik Mjelde called it a milestone in Fjord1’s ambition to grow in Norway’s express boat market.
- The award creates synergies with existing Bergen operations in both express boats and tourism.
- Current route structure, schedules and minimum capacity will largely be maintained.
- Fjord1’s offer scored best on price and achieved a high standard in climate and environmental criteria.
(*) Skyss is the public transport authority for Vestland County, Norway.
- CLdN has ordered five new electric rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd. for its Killingholme terminal, UK.
- The investment will enhance cargo handling and support growth on North Sea routes to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge.
- The RTGs will replace part of the diesel-powered reach stacker fleet, boosting efficiency, stacking capacity and lowering emissions.
- Each crane can lift 41 tonnes under spreader, spans nearly 35 metres, and stacks containers five high (18 metres).
- Construction is underway at Liebherr’s Killarney, Ireland, plant.
- Assembly and commissioning are planned for early 2026, with civil works at Killingholme already well advanced.
- Passenger ferry travel to and from Guernsey rose 16% in Q2 2025 compared with the same period last year.
- Visitors from France increased by 74% year-on-year, more than doubling compared with Q2 2023.
- Most French visitors (93%) came for leisure, underlining strong demand for short-stay tourism.
- Total visitor numbers by ferry were 8% higher than in Q2 2023, despite a slight dip from 2024.
Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, President of the Committee for Economic Development, said:
“This latest data shows that the previous Committee’s decision to appoint Brittany Ferries has helped strengthen Guernsey’s ties with France, which is visible through the substantial increase in French visitors in Q2. While inter-island connectivity was reduced during this period, we’ve worked to support the reestablishment of a regular inter-island ferry service through Islands Unlimited, which started operating in June – and we look forward to witnessing the number of visitors from our neighbouring Channel Island increase again during Q3. We also continue to engage in discussions with Jersey and DFDS to ensure a reciprocal rotation as we know it’s important for both of our communities – thanks to the strength of our business, cultural, and sporting ties.”
Source: Government Guernsey press release
- Öresundslinjen carried 995,522 passengers between Helsingborg and Helsingør in July 2025, just shy of the one-million mark.
- A single heavy rain shower was enough to deter some foot passengers, says Molslinjen CEO Kristian Durhuus.
- Volumes were the highest since July 2022, when 1,034,757 travelled post-pandemic.
- Both foot passengers and motorists rose by over 9,000 compared with last year. Car numbers reached 158,764, up 4% year-on-year.
- Onboard restaurants set a record with 21,030 guests, 11% more than July 2024.
Source: ViaRitzau
- Passenger numbers on the Gotland–mainland route remained stable this summer, with a slight increase compared to 2024.
- 674,000 people travelled in June and July, about 2,000 more than last year.
- June saw a 4.5% increase, while July decreased by 2%.
- Between January and July, 1,109,600 passengers used the service, up over 2% year-on-year.
“The figures suggest Gotland is growing in attractiveness beyond the peak in July,” said Håkan Johansson, Deputy CEO of Gotlandsbolaget and CEO of Destination Gotland. “It’s positive that travel is spreading more evenly over the season.”
- 783,324 passengers transported, up 4.6% year-on-year.
- 19,519 cargo units carried, down 10.2%.
- 112,209 passenger vehicles transported, a 0.6% increase.
Click image below to access the source on Tallink.com
The Sardinian ferry operator Delcomar, chaired and controlled by Franco Del Giudice, has completed the purchase of the ferry THEOLOGOS VII.
Built in Greece in 2018, the dual-ended vessel previously flew the Greek flag and was operated by Evia Ferries. In recent years, she was deployed on the Perama–Salamis and Megara–Revythousa routes.
She is currently in Piraeus and en route to Italy, where she is expected before the end of August.
Delcomar told FERRY SHIPPING NEWS that the vessel, to be renamed FRANCO DG, was acquired for around EUR 10 million. This includes structural work and upgrades required to meet Italian safety standards.
The works will take place in an Italian shipyard, likely in Sardinia, and are scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The ferry will enter service in early 2026.
FRANCO DG will debut on the La Maddalena–Palau route, replacing an older vessel that will remain in the fleet.
The 93-metre-long, 17-metre-wide ferry has a gross tonnage of 885 and can accommodate up to 600 passengers.
Italian shipyard Intermarine has delivered the new high-speed craft SNAV POLARIS to SNAV, the ferry company owned by MSC Group. The new-generation vessel will boost services in the Gulf of Naples.
Designed by Intermarine’s research centre in Messina, the 58.2-metre-long vessel is a sister ship to SNAV SIRIUS, delivered in July last year.
SNAV POLARIS is built entirely in lightweight aluminium. She is equipped with four engines and three IMO III-certified generators, compliant with the MARPOL Convention. These use electronic combustion control and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to cut emissions significantly.
The engines and generators can also run on biofuel, helping reduce well-to-wake carbon emissions by up to 90%.
The vessel features a cold ironing dock socket for shore power and is ready for hybrid propulsion, allowing zero-emission operations in port.
Four Kongsberg Kamewa 71S4 waterjets, controlled remotely, provide propulsion. They reduce noise in both air and water and improve manoeuvrability.
For optimal hydrodynamics, SNAV POLARIS is fitted with a four-fin stabilisation system and an interceptor system to adjust trim according to load.
Bluferries, part of FS Logistix and active on the Strait of Messina, has announced that the newly built ferry ATHENA is now operational between Sicily and Calabria.
CEO Giuseppe Sciumè said, “ATHENA represents a decisive step in the renewal of our assets, ensuring more efficient connections during the busy summer season. The new ship also introduces a greener and more modern fleet, proving our commitment to environmental protection.”
ATHENA features hybrid propulsion, reducing CO₂ emissions by 56% compared to the oldest vessels in the fleet, and by 13% compared to the non-hybrid sister ships TRINACRIA and SIKANIA. It uses ‘zero-emission’ technology during port approaches and loading operations, relying on electric motors powered by batteries that charge while sailing.
Solar panels supply 25 kW of energy for accommodation services. The engines can run on diesel blended with up to 20% biodiesel. A fresh water system onboard reduces water consumption by over 70%.
The ship was built following a EUR 26 million investment, partially funded with public support.
ATHENA is 105 metres long and 18 metres wide. She has one vehicle deck and one passenger deck. Capacity is up to 22 trucks or 125 cars, and 393 people, including crew. Facilities are adapted for passengers with reduced mobility, offering high standards of comfort and reduced vibration.
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