On 14 July 2026, HSC SUPERSPEED JET 4 (ex-FLYING CAT 4) entered service on the Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Koufonissi route following her acquisition from Seajets in March 2026. The vessel departs daily from Piraeus at 10:15 and returns from Koufonissi at 14:45.
Built by FBM Marine Ltd in Cowes, England, in 1999, she can carry 450 passengers and has a service speed of 37 knots.
Photo: Dimitris Mendakis
According to reliable information, HSC HIGHSPEED 3 (ex-THUNDER, TURGUT OZAL) will enter service on the Piraeus–Samos route on 23 July. According to Hellenic Seaways’ plans, the vessel will complete the crossing in 5 hours and 50 minutes, significantly reducing the journey time.
Built by Austal in Australia in 1998, the vessel can carry 1,068 passengers and 210 cars. She has a service speed of 36 knots.
Photo: Hellenic Seaways
The seasonal Mukran Port Shuttle has resumed operations for the 2026 summer season, providing a direct rail connection between Bergen auf Rügen station and the Sassnitz-Mukran ferry terminal. Operating from 13 May until 17 October, the RE27 regional express offers coordinated connections with ferry services to Bornholm, strengthening sustainable travel links between Germany and Scandinavia.
According to Mukran Port, the service attracted strong passenger numbers from its opening weekend, continuing the positive trend seen in recent years. The shuttle is designed to provide seamless rail-ferry travel and supports wider regional, national and European transport and climate policy objectives.
Henry Forster, Managing Director of Mukran Port, said the success of the shuttle demonstrates growing demand for connected and more sustainable transport options between Germany and Northern Europe.
The shuttle can only be used in combination with a valid ferry ticket on the Sassnitz-Mukran–Rønne route.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 133.9 million tonnes of maritime cargo in the first half of 2026, a decline of 2.4% compared with the same period last year. Despite geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts, operational disruptions and a difficult economic environment, the decrease remained relatively limited.
Key takeaways:
The Port of Santander maintained its positive growth trend during the first six months of 2026, with improvements across most traffic segments.
Key figures
According to the Port Authority, the growth has been driven by careful planning, effective management and continued investment in infrastructure, digitalisation and sustainability. The port also highlighted the contribution of its workforce and port community in helping to address the challenges created by ongoing global logistics uncertainty.
P&O Ferries, in partnership with Stagecoach South East and the Port of Dover, has introduced an enhanced timetable for the number 66 bus service linking Dover Priory railway station with the Eastern Docks.
Effective from 26 July 2026, the revised schedule is better aligned with the operator’s busiest Dover–Calais sailings, reducing waiting times and improving connections for foot passengers. P&O Ferries, currently the only operator carrying foot passengers on the route, will also offer integrated ferry and bus ticket sales through its website.
The initiative aims to make public transport connections more convenient and support more sustainable travel to and from the port.
Torghatten has secured a new 13-year contract to continue operating the Melbu–Fiskebøl ferry route in Northern Norway, successfully retaining all of its ferry contracts in the region awarded during the first half of 2026.
The route, linking Hadseløya in Vesterålen with Austvågøya in Lofoten, will be gradually electrified as part of efforts to reduce emissions and support the green transition of Norwegian ferry transport.
Torghatten also confirmed that its newbuild MF HADSEL will be deployed on the crossing. The vessel is expected to enter service next year, providing passengers and crew with a modern, future-oriented ferry.
Color Line Cargo has announced that it has facilitated more than 5,000 Digitoll transports to Norway, underlining growing adoption of the country’s digital customs system ahead of a key regulatory deadline.
Digitoll, introduced by the Norwegian Customs Administration, enables customs information to be submitted electronically before goods arrive in Norway. The system is designed to speed up border procedures, reduce paperwork and improve the flow of freight by allowing customs authorities to assess shipments in advance.
Color Line has worked with Digitoll for road transport over the past two years and recently extended its services to include sea transport. The company says it is ready to support customers as the industry prepares for the next phase of implementation.
The system is particularly important for RoRo and ferry traffic serving Norway, as it allows customs formalities to be completed before trucks and trailers reach Norwegian ports.
A major milestone is approaching on 15 September 2026, when Digitoll will become mandatory for road freight entering Norway. Transport operators, logistics providers and freight customers are therefore being urged to ensure their processes are compliant before the deadline.
According to Color Line, the achievement of 5,000 Digitoll transports demonstrates the industry’s ongoing transition towards more digital and efficient freight operations.
European Shipowners (ECSA) have urged the European Commission to make the current maritime EU ETS derogations permanent beyond 2030, arguing that they are essential to maintain connectivity and competitiveness for islands, outermost regions and ice-bound areas.
According to ECSA, shipping carries around 76% of the EU’s external trade and provides vital passenger and freight links to remote regions. The association says the existing derogations should apply automatically, without requiring activation by individual Member States.
Key proposals include:
ECSA supports retaining the current geographical scope of the EU ETS for shipping, provided that these derogations are made permanent and adapted to reflect operational realities in remote and ice-affected regions.
The proposals have been submitted ahead of the forthcoming review of the EU Emissions Trading System.
New research by Travel Uni and Discover Ferries, based on responses from more than 800 travel agents and tour operators, suggests that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are influencing holiday choices across the UK.
According to the survey, 78% of respondents have seen increased interest in closer-to-home European destinations, while 39% reported growing demand for UK staycations. Flight-free travel is also gaining traction, with 37% noting increased interest in ferry and rail journeys.
The survey found that 89% of agents reported greater customer concern about travel disruption and flight cancellations, while 87% cited worries about fuel surcharges and rising travel costs. As a result, 74% observed travellers booking closer to departure dates. Cost-conscious consumers are also opting for cheaper holidays (59%) and shorter breaks (45%).
Discover Ferries said the findings underline the appeal of ferry travel as a reliable and flexible alternative to air travel, offering access to more than 80 destinations from UK ports.
