In January 2025 AS Tallink Grupp transported
- 299,991 passengers (+9.1%)
- 18,986 cargo units (-33.6%)
- 43,622 passenger vehicles (-13.2%)
Source: Tallink Grupp
In 2024, Gotlandsbolaget acquired the Oslo-Copenhagen cruise line from DFDS, including its 800 employees and the two ships PEARL SEAWAYS and CROWN SEAWAYS, renamed NORDIC PEARL and NORDIC CROWN.
The ships are undergoing a hull and funnel redesign, replacing DFDS’s dark blue with a turquoise green inspired by the Skagerrak and Kattegat seas. Their funnels will feature Gotlandsbolaget’s signature red with a white ‘G’, reflecting the company’s heritage.
Gotlandsbolaget aims to develop the route with a stronger focus on passenger experiences. The 700,000 annual travelers will enjoy a refreshed onboard atmosphere, with full cabin replacements and upgraded common areas. Renovations began with NORDIC PEARL at a Landskrona shipyard.
The Oslo-Copenhagen route, offering overnight crossings every other day, will be relaunched under a new brand in mid-March 2025.
The Spanish shipping company Merna Shipping is set to add a second RoRo ship to its fleet, which operates maritime routes linking Italy and Spain with Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Ghannem Abdelwaheb, manager of the company, publicly announced the “new expansion of our fleet with the purchase of a ship with a capacity of 2,700 linear metres of cargo and 450 cars.”
The accompanying image depicted EUROCARGO ISTANBUL, a vessel owned by Malta Motorways of the Seas, a subsidiary of the Grimaldi Group. The latter confirmed to Ferry Shipping News the sale and imminent delivery of the 1998-built ship, which will soon be renamed MERNA 2.
CORSICA linea is supporting the launch of Corsica’s first merchant marine officer training programme at the Lycée Maritime de Bastia, in partnership with ENSM. This three-year course, starting in 2025, will train future officers, with two years in Bastia and a final year at ENSM’s campuses in Le Havre or Marseille.
As the leading French-flagged employer in the Mediterranean, CORSICA linea will provide onboard training, experienced instructors, and a media campaign to attract young talent. The company also renewed its partnership with the Lycée Maritime, donating a diesel engine from MÉDITERRANÉE for hands-on learning.
This initiative strengthens local maritime careers and reinforces Corsica’s role in the industry.
Europe’s Transport Sector Calls for Stronger EU Budget
Forty-five European transport organisations have united to urge EU Member States and the European Commission to maintain a strong, dedicated transport funding instrument in the next EU budget. As discussions on the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) approach, they stress that coordinated European infrastructure investment is vital for competitiveness, resilience, and military preparedness.
The sector warns against the Commission’s plans to shift transport funding to National Single Plans, arguing that a stable, long-term European strategy is essential. Ahead of the General Affairs Council in Warsaw, they call on national governments to prioritise transport investment with high European value.
Isabelle Ryckbost, Secretary General of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), emphasised that transport infrastructure is the backbone of the EU’s internal market and crucial for economic and geopolitical resilience. She urged EU leaders to reinforce the transport budget to secure Europe’s future.
The open letter to the EU Member States, with the full list of signatories, can be found here.
Starting in May, the Managing Director of Samer Seaports & Terminals (DFDS) in Trieste will transition to become the next CEO of Adria Port Inc., a company fully owned by the Hungarian state.
Adria Port’s mission is to implement Hungary’s port development project in Trieste, supporting the country’s foreign trade, expanding its logistics network for economic benefit, and contributing to sustainable economic growth. The company operates under the supervision of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Designed as a multipurpose terminal, Adria Port will provide container handling, RoRo operations, and general cargo services. The company emphasises efficiency and flexibility, aiming to ensure the seamless handling of diverse cargo types.
The terminal is expected to commence operations in 2026.
- RoRo Cargo Growth:
- 16% increase from 2023, reaching 852,000 tonnes.
- Second-best result in port history, only behind 2021.
- Ferry Transport Expansion:
- 1 million tonnes of vehicles transported by ferry.
- Accounts for 17% of total port cargo.
- Passenger numbers up 7%, surpassing 381,000
- Overall Market Position:
- 39% market share among Baltic ports, up from 36% in 2023.
- Stronger performance than Tallinn (13.1M tonnes) and all three Latvian ports combined (33.3M tonnes).
- Port Activity Growth:
- 5,478 ships handled, a 2% increase from 2023.
- Ship repairs: 98 projects, including 10 modernisations.
Klaipeda Port solidifies its position as a key Baltic hub, with RoRo and ferry traffic playing a crucial role in its record-breaking year.
Source: Klaipeda Port
Poole Harbour Commissioners are delighted with the 2025 continuation of high-speed ferry services between the Port of Poole and the Channel Islands, ensuring vital connections between the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, and onward to St Malo.
Following 2024’s tender process run by the Jersey and Guernsey governments, high-speed roll-on, roll-off ferry services between Poole & Guernsey will be operated by Brittany Ferries, with the service between Poole & Jersey being operated by DFDS, with both services linking to St Malo.
Source: PHC
A new direct train service between Slovakia and Port Esbjerg is expected to transport 10,000 new cars to Esbjerg on an annual basis. These cars will be reloaded at the port and shipped to the UK. The first delivery went “almost perfectly”, says Scandinavian Auto Logistics, which handles the cars at the port. “This is merely stage one,” says the CEO of Port Esbjerg.
Read more: Port Esbjerg
Viking Line, Port of Turku and Ports of Stockholm have been working together for a year on a project which aims to establish a green, fossil-free shipping corridor between Stockholm and Turku. The parties have now laid a solid foundation for the project and developed a clear plan for a common way forward.
Read more on Vikingline.com
