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2025 Newsletter week 32

Aug 08
3

Stable Summer Traffic for Destination Gotland

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  • 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.”

Aug 08
3

Delcomar Bought a Modern Dual-Ended Ferry Renamed FRANCO DG

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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.

Aug 08
3

High-Speed Craft SNAV POLARIS Delivered to SNAV in Italy

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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.

Aug 08
3

Newly Built Ferry ATHENA Started Serving the Strait of Messina for Bluferries

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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.

Watch the video below

Aug 08
3

Tallink Sells Cargo Vessel REGAL STAR

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AS Tallink Grupp’s subsidiary, Tallinn–Helsinki Line Limited, has sold the RoRo ferry REGAL STAR to the Turkish company Ams Line Shipping Co.

The vessel was officially handed over to its new owner, 6 August.

“The sale supports efforts to align the size of our operational fleet with current market conditions. The decision to sell will not significantly impact our financial results for 2025,” said Paavo Nõgene, CEO of AS Tallink Grupp.

Aug 08
3

GALAXY Left Greece for Faroe Islands Charter

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On 4 August 2025, the A-Ships Management ferry GALAXY left Perama for the Faroe Islands. She has been chartered to Strandfaraskip Landsins for a 10-week period starting on 30 August 2025. Arrival is expected on 17 August.

The ship will temporarily replace SMYRIL on the Tórshavn–Tvøroyri route. GALAXY was also chartered by the same company in 2017 for a shorter period.

Built in Poland in 1979, she can carry 900 passengers (limited to 350 during the charter) and 520 lane metres. Service speed is 19 knots.

Photo: A-Ships Management

Aug 08
3

RoRo THALASSITIS Entered Service on 1 August 2025

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On 1 August, RoRo THALASSITIS (ex-JAN ŚNIADECKI) of Ainaftis Shipping began Greek domestic service. She will operate until 13 August on the Piraeus–Chania and Piraeus–Chios–Mytilene–Lemnos–Thessaloniki routes.

Purchased in February 2024 from Unity Line, she was converted into a RoRo vessel. Capacity is 1,116 lane metres (95 trucks). Service speed is 18 knots.

Photo: Matt Davies

Aug 08
3

Brittany Ferries Boosts Ireland Service with Daily Rosslare Link

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  • Brittany Ferries will launch a daily Cherbourg–Rosslare service from October 2025.
  • Follows withdrawal of Stena Line and increased demand for freight and passenger services.
  • Freight traffic on the route rose by 114% since its 2021 launch, reaching 18,233 units.
  • Passenger numbers grew 40% in 2024, totalling 45,700.

Fleet Deployment (subject to seasonal rotation):

  • October: COTENTIN, SALAMANCA, CLIPPER
  • November: GALICIA, SALAMANCA, ARMORIQUE
  • December–March: GALICIA, SALAMANCA, COTENTIN
  • This rotation boosts combined freight and passenger capacity by 25%.

Stakeholder Statements:

  • Jean-Marc Roué (Chairman): Praises trust from Rosslare and Cherbourg ports; highlights crew and staff dedication.
  • Christophe Mathieu (CEO): Sees this as a step forward in Atlantic Arc connectivity and intermodal logistics.
  • Philippe Deiss (Ports of Normandy): Underlines importance of maintaining balanced RoRo/Pax services post-Brexit.
  • Glenn Carr (Rosslare Europort): Welcomes the expansion, noting a sixfold increase in direct EU links since Brexit.
Aug 08
3

Final Green Light for Strait of Messina Bridge

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  • Italy’s government has approved the long-awaited bridge project linking Sicily to the mainland.
  • The 3.7km suspension bridge will be the world’s longest single-span bridge, surpassing Turkey’s Canakkale Bridge.
  • Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2025.
  • First proposed in the 1960s, the project has faced decades of delays due to environmental concerns, seismic risks, cost issues, and fears of mafia infiltration.
  • Estimated cost: €13.5 billion.
  • Rome intends to classify the project as “defence spending”, underlining its strategic value.
  • Supporters argue it will drive economic growth in southern Italy.