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sandra

Jul 14
Love3

Shore Power Project for Port of Ancona Advances

By 2026 Newsletter week 28

ShoreLink has been selected to supply shore power cable management systems for the Port of Ancona, one of the Adriatic’s leading ferry gateways, handling more than one million ferry and cruise passengers annually.

The project includes the delivery of one RoRoLink Mobile unit, five RoRoLink Fixed installations and five connection cabinets. The systems will provide shore power to RoRo and RoPax vessels, enabling them to switch off their engines while alongside and thereby reducing emissions and noise in the port area.

According to ShoreLink, the project will help support the Port of Ancona’s sustainability ambitions while accommodating future traffic growth. The company thanked the Central Adriatic Ports Authority and Consorzio Stabile F2B Società Consortile A.R.L. for their cooperation and confidence in the project.

Jul 14
Love3

Sea-Cargo Adds Verdal to Its Regular Network

By 2026 Newsletter week 28

Sea-Cargo has expanded its route network with the addition of Verdal, one of the most important industrial ports in central Norway.

Located in Trøndelag, the port offers connections to major industrial and commercial centres, as well as direct access to Norway’s national road and rail networks.

Photo: Felix Seifert / Trondheim Havn IKS via Linkedin

Jul 06
Love3

Norled Reports Higher Revenue but Remains in the Red

By 2026 Newsletter week 27

Norwegian ferry and fast craft operator Norled increased revenue to NOK 2.97 billion in 2025, up from NOK 2.81 billion in 2024. EBITDA improved to NOK 507 million, compared with NOK 391 million the previous year.

However, Norled reported a net loss of NOK 894 million, largely due to impairments, provisions for loss-making contracts and operational challenges linked to new vessels and technologies. The company highlighted delays in the introduction of battery-electric high-speed craft and higher-than-expected operating costs on some new contracts.

During 2025, Norled invested NOK 761 million in new vessels, electrification projects and shore infrastructure. The operator also increased the share of zero- and low-emission vessels in its fleet from 42 % to 45 %.

Looking ahead, Norled said its portfolio comprises 24 ferry and express boat contracts, including a new Nordland ferry contract scheduled to start in 2027.

Click on the picture to access the annual report

In a LinkedIn statement accompanying the annual report, Norled argued that the financial challenges highlight a broader issue facing the maritime energy transition. The operator said ferry companies are carrying too much of the technology and implementation risk associated with electrification and other low-emission technologies. Norled called for greater risk-sharing in public service contracts, more flexibility when operating conditions change, standardised contract models and better compensation mechanisms for regulatory and cost increases. The company warned that excessive risk transfer to operators could ultimately reduce competition and slow innovation.

Jul 06
Love3

Tallink Grupp Reports Higher Cargo Volumes in June and Q2

By 2026 Newsletter week 27

AS Tallink Grupp transported 556,056 passengers in June 2026, a decrease of 7.2% compared with June 2025. Cargo volumes increased by 2.0% to 22,993 units, while passenger vehicles declined by 11.2% to 77,733 units.

For the second quarter of 2026 (April–June), the company carried 1,454,725 passengers, down 2.2% year-on-year. Cargo volumes rose by 2.9% to 68,986 units, while passenger vehicle numbers fell by 6.5% to 199,025 units.

The figures indicate continued growth in freight traffic, while passenger and passenger vehicle volumes remained below last year’s levels.

Jul 06
Love3

Baleària Completes Armas Routes Acquisition

By 2026 Newsletter week 27

Baleària has completed the integration of Armas Trasmediterránea’s Alboran Sea and Strait of Gibraltar routes after receiving all required approvals from Spanish and Moroccan competition authorities.

The transaction includes the vessels JJ SISTER, ALMARIYA, VOLCÁN DE TIMANFAYA and CIUDAD DE MÁLAGA, together with route concessions and approximately 250 employees. The deal follows the integration of the Canary Islands operations completed in May.

With the acquisition, Baleària strengthens its presence on routes linking mainland Spain, the Balearic and Canary Islands, and North Africa. The enlarged group now operates more than 50 vessels, employs nearly 4,500 people and carries over 8 million passengers annually.

Jul 06
Love3

Brittany Ferries to Reshape Fleet and Network from Autumn 2026

By 2026 Newsletter week 27

Brittany Ferries has unveiled a restructuring plan designed to adapt its operations to rising costs, environmental taxation and changing market conditions.

The company says it continues to face the financial legacy of the Covid period, including ongoing repayment of its state-backed loan, while also preparing for the impact of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Despite investing in five new vessels over the past five years, including two delivered in 2025, Brittany Ferries expects its ETS bill to reach approximately EUR 27 million in 2026.

Fleet changes

As part of a fleet optimisation programme, Brittany Ferries will sell two vessels:

  • BARFLEUR (1992), resulting in the closure of the Poole–Cherbourg route from November 2026.
  • COTENTIN (2007), currently operating on the Cherbourg–Rosslare route.

Portsmouth–Le Havre closure planned

The company also intends to close the Portsmouth–Le Havre route from October 2026. Brittany Ferries argues that the service has become increasingly difficult to sustain due to declining post-Brexit traffic volumes and what it describes as unfair competition from the subsidised Dieppe–Newhaven route.

CLIPPER is expected to replace COTENTIN on the Rosslare–Cherbourg service.

New Channel Islands network

From 1 November 2026, Brittany Ferries plans to reorganise services linking Portsmouth, Poole, Guernsey, Cherbourg and Saint-Malo.

Under the proposed network:

  • ISLANDER will operate a triangular route: Portsmouth–Guernsey, Guernsey–Cherbourg and Cherbourg–Portsmouth.
  • VOYAGER will continue operating between Poole and Guernsey, with onward connections to Saint-Malo.
  • A new Guernsey–Cherbourg freight link will provide direct access to the Normandy hub and is expected to generate new commercial opportunities.

According to CEO Christophe Mathieu, the measures are intended to secure the company’s long-term future while maintaining services to the regions it has served for decades.

Jul 06
Love3

Guernsey sees opportunities in Brittany Ferries restructuring

By 2026 Newsletter week 27

The Government of Guernsey has welcomed discussions with Brittany Ferries on proposed timetable changes linked to the operator’s wider restructuring plan.

Under the proposal, ISLANDER would operate a daily triangular route between Portsmouth, Guernsey and Cherbourg, creating a new direct freight and passenger link with France. The current 04:00 arrival into Guernsey from Portsmouth would be maintained, while service frequency would increase from six sailings per week to a daily operation.

VOYAGER would continue its existing services unchanged, although Guernsey expects passenger numbers to grow as traffic from routes affected by the restructuring is redirected through the island.

Guernsey also noted that CLIPPER, despite being redeployed elsewhere in the Brittany Ferries network, would remain available as a back-up vessel for the island’s services.

Source: https://gov.gg/New-Brittany-Ferries-timetable-freight

Jul 06
Love3

Baleària Canarias Adds High-Capacity RoRo Vessel

By 2026 Newsletter week 27

Baleària has added JOSEFINA DE LA TORRE to its Canary Islands fleet, increasing freight capacity between Cádiz and the archipelago. With 4,000 lane metres and space for up to 280 trucks, the vessel is described as the largest dedicated cargo ship to operate in the Canary Islands.

Built in 2023, the 209-metre vessel is equipped with 230 reefer plugs for the transport of temperature-controlled cargo. Its introduction strengthens Baleària Canarias’ freight services linking Cádiz with Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma and Lanzarote.

Jul 06
Love3

Alaska identifies Preferred Builder for TUSTUMENA Replacement

By 2026 Newsletter week 27

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has identified Louisiana-based shipbuilder Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors as the apparent low bidder for the construction of the TUSTUMENA replacement vessel (TRV).

The yard submitted a bid of USD 349.9 million for the new vessel, which will be built for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). Under Alaska’s procurement process, Thoma-Sea now has 14 days to submit the remaining required documentation before the state can issue a formal Notice of Intent to Award.

The project marks the first major AMHS vessel procurement in more than a decade and is a key element of the Alaska Marine Highway System 2045 Long-Range Plan.

The new vessel will replace TUSTUMENA, which entered service in 1964 and remains a vital link for communities across Southcentral Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula and the eastern Aleutian Islands. The ferry currently serves ports including Homer, Kodiak, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, Akutan and Unalaska.

According to DOT&PF, the replacement vessel has been designed with input from vessel crews, shore staff and local communities to meet the specific operational requirements of Alaska’s challenging environment.

Founded in 1990, Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors operates shipbuilding and repair facilities in Louisiana. The company recently delivered ARCTIC FJORD, a fisheries research vessel now operating in Alaska.

Source: https://dot.alaska.gov/comm/pressbox/arch2026/PR26-0018.shtml

Rendering: https://glosten.com/project/mv-tustumena-replacement-design/