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sandra

Mar 13
Love3

Dover: The UK’s Most Consequential Trade Gateway

By 2026 Newsletter week 11

Handling more than £144bn of trade each year, the Port of Dover plays a central role in UK supply chains. Around 2 million freight vehicles and 10 million passengers pass through the port annually, representing one third of all UK–EU trade in goods.

CEO Doug Bannister describes Dover as “probably the single most economically consequential piece of UK national infrastructure,” underlining its importance for food supply, medicines and just-in-time manufacturing logistics.

The port is calling for targeted infrastructure investment, including support for the Lower Thames Crossing, improvements to the A2 access road, and additional secure lorry parking capacity in Kent to strengthen supply chain resilience.

Dover is also investing in digital border processing, including a new facility to support the EU’s Entry Exit System (EES), and exploring the creation of a green shipping corridor on the Dover–Calais route. Electrification of the short straits would require a major upgrade of the port’s electricity supply, from 8 MW today to around 170 MW.

Click and read the full interview with Doug Bannister:

Mar 13
Love3

Port Of Igoumenitsa Pushes Digital And Green Development

By 2026 Newsletter week 11

The Port of Igoumenitsa is strengthening its role as a key Adriatic gateway by investing in digitalisation and sustainable infrastructure. The Greek RoPax hub aims to improve operational efficiency while supporting the decarbonisation of maritime transport.

Strategically located at the entrance to the Adriatic, the port connects Greece with Italy through routes to Bari, Brindisi, Ancona, and Venice, while also serving Corfu and Paxoi. Authorities highlight growing passenger, truck, and vehicle traffic, prompting further infrastructure upgrades to handle larger RoRo and RoPax vessels.

The development plan focuses on modernising facilities, expanding capacity, and integrating digital tools to optimise operations. At the same time, the port is adopting green practices aligned with European policies for sustainable mobility and transport decarbonisation.

Click for the link

Mar 06
Love3

ICG / Irish Ferries Reports Strong 2025 Results

By 2026 Newsletter week 10

Irish Continental Group (ICG) reported

  • Revenue of €666.7 million (+10.4%)
  • Operating profit €85.6 million (+23.9%)
  • EBITDA reached €150.6 million (+12.8%)

The Irish Ferries division reported

  • Revenue €465.5 million (+7.4%)
  • Operating profit €65.2 million (+19.9%)
  • EBITDA €120.7 million (+9.9%)
  • Traffic figures: 2.99 million passengers (-2.5%), 679,700 cars (-3.9%), and 816,700 RoRo freight units (+6.5%).
  • The group took delivery of the cruise ferry JAMES JOYCE and is moving towards full ownership of its ferry fleet, enhancing operational flexibility.

ICG estimates that the overall car market, on the routes that they operate (Republic of Ireland to UK/France and the Dover Straits), grew by approximately 0.7% in 2025 to 4,722,600 cars. While encouraging, this level of car carryings is still 13.0% behind 2019 levels.

Irish Ferries’ car carryings decrease is primarily due to the reduction of a ship on the Dover – Calais route.

The total sea passenger market (i.e. comprising car, coach and foot passengers on the Republic of Ireland to UK/France and the Dover Straits) decreased by 1.0% on 2025 to a total of 19.0 million passengers. Irish Ferries’ passenger numbers carried decreased by 2.5% at 2,985,500 (2024: 3,062,200).

The RoRo freight market grew marginally between the Republic of Ireland to the UK and France and the Dover Straits, but the market remains 16.3% below 2019 levels.

Irish Ferries’ increased freight carryings over market performance were primarily driven by further market share on the Dover – Calais route.

Source: Irish Continental Group

Mar 06
Love3

Kontrari and West Coast Invest Take Full Ownership of Fjord Line

By 2026 Newsletter week 10

Kontrari and West Coast Invest have acquired Ferd’s stake in Fjord Line and are now the sole owners of the Norwegian ferry company, each holding a 50% share.

Fjord Line is Norway’s second-largest international ferry operator, carrying around 1 million passengers annually. The company operates routes between Norway and Denmark, with daily sailings from Bergen and Stavanger to Hirtshals and from Kristiansand to Hirtshals.

The transaction includes a capital injection that strengthens the company’s financial flexibility and supports its long-term development.

Kontrari and Ferd had been majority owners since 2015, with West Coast Invest joining in 2023. During this period, Fjord Line invested heavily in modernisation and sustainability. The high-speed catamaran FJORD FSTR was introduced on the Kristiansand–Hirtshals route, while cruise ferries STAVANGERFJORD and BERGENSFJORD—pioneers as LNG-powered vessels—were further upgraded with dual-fuel engines.

Ferd exits the company after ten years as an active co-owner. The parties have not disclosed the transaction value.

Source: https://kommunikasjon.ntb.no/pressemelding/18818309/fjord-line-unites-under-norwegian-ownership

Mar 06
Love3

Finnlines Reports Stable 2025 Results

By 2026 Newsletter week 10

Key figures (2025)

  • Revenue: EUR 713.5 million (2024: EUR 699.3 million)
  • EBIT: EUR 79.4 million (2024: EUR 70.6 million)
  • Net profit: EUR 67.2 million (2024: EUR 44.6 million)
  • 2024 results included gains from the sale of five vessels

Traffic volumes

  • 788,000 cargo units transported
  • 71,000 cars (excluding passengers’ cars)
  • 1 million tonnes of non-unitised freight
  • More than 1 million passengers and professional drivers

Operations and network

  • Continued fleet optimisation and focus on route profitability
  • Strengthened position in the Baltic Sea and North Sea markets
  • Added a weekly departure from Gdynia to the North Sea–Biscay route, connecting Poland more directly to the Grimaldi network

Sustainability and fleet development

  • Fleet carbon intensity reduced by 14% compared with 2024
  • 40% emissions reduction target for 2030 (vs 2008 baseline) already achieved
  • Three methanol-ready RoPax vessels ordered, to enter service 2028–2029

CEO comments

  • CEO Thomas Doepel described 2025 as a stable financial year with a strong financial position.
  • The company continued to develop services, optimise its fleet and strengthen profitability.
  • Despite regulatory uncertainty around shipping’s green transition, Finnlines remains committed to its environmental targets and long-term investments in low-emission vessels.

Sources:

Finnlines’ Financial statements 2025, PDF

Finnlines’ Financial review January–December 2025, PDF

Mar 06
Love3

Eckerö Reports Record Results and Strong Volume Growth In 2025

By 2026 Newsletter week 10

Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö delivered its best operating result ever in 2025, supported by record cargo volumes and steady passenger growth.

Interim-Accounts-31.12.2025 – Key points:

  • Cargo volumes reached a record 210,598 units, +11%, driven mainly by strong Finland–Estonia demand.
  • Passengers +2% (3,191,322), also the highest annual figure recorded by the company.
  • Revenue +5% EUR 234.8 million, reflecting higher volumes and more departures during the year.
  • Operating result improved to EUR 25.6 million, the strongest in company history.
  • Net result reached EUR 18.8 million, the second-best annual result for the group.
  • Cargo market share on the Finland–Estonia route 46%, up from 40% in 2024.
  • Passenger market share on the same route remained stable at 28%.
  • The company maintained a strong balance sheet, ending the year with net debt of -EUR 19.0 million, meaning cash exceeded interest-bearing liabilities.

Strategic Developments

  • The group acquired SAILOR from Tallink Grupp and renamed it FJÄRDVÄGEN. The vessel entered service on 2 January 2026 on the Långnäs–Naantali route under subsidiary Eckerö Link Ab.
  • The previous FJÄRDVÄGEN has been withdrawn and is held for sale.
  • The company also sold its last RoRo vessel TRANSPORTER in November 2025.

Outlook

For 2026, the company expects a stable financial result, although geopolitical uncertainty and the ongoing audit of pandemic traffic support could affect future performance.

Source: Interim-Accounts-31.12.2025

Mar 06
Love3

Brittany Ferries Signs Charter for NORBAY on Cherbourg–Rosslare Route

By 2026 Newsletter week 10

Brittany Ferries signed a one-year charter agreement on 5 March to deploy the freight ferry NORBAY on the Cherbourg–Rosslare route. The contract includes an option for a second year.

The route became available after Stena Line exited the market at the end of September. Earlier, in early August, Brittany Ferries secured access to linkspans at both ports following a competitive process involving DFDS and another Irish operator.

The deployment of NORBAY provides Brittany Ferries with additional freight capacity on a route that has gained importance since post-Brexit direct links between Ireland and continental Europe expanded.

Mar 06
Love3

Changes in the Corsica Ferry Scene Ahead

By 2026 Newsletter week 10

RoPax KALLISTE of La Méridionale, which the CMA CGM Group had initially planned to scrap, will instead be acquired by Corsica linea. Remember that the unions went on strike to protest against the scrapping plans.

After half a year of lay up, KALLISTE will go to drydock in Marseille to be repainted (from blue to red) and to be ready for the season as from mid-April.

FSN also understands (unconfirmed) that Corsica linea is also expected to charter MASSALIA (former NORMANDIE), and that the CMA CGM Group, —owner of La Méridionale—, is looking to sell one of the ferries under construction.

Photo JP Fabre