On a warm summer evening in Ghent, aboard a small boat, Mike Louagie enjoyed a milestone conversation with Philippe Holthof about ferries and RoRo — marking the 400th edition of Ferry Shipping News.
- Passengers: 595,529 (+5.9% vs August 2024)
- Cargo units: 19,518 (−11.1%)
- Passenger vehicles: 83,569 (+4.7%)
Source: Tallink
In August 2025, 372,455 foot passengers travelled on Öresund Line ferries – the highest figure since August 1999, before the opening of the Öresund Bridge.
Molslinjen CEO Kristian Durhuus said passengers have embraced digital ticketing, booking and check-in, driving growth in both foot and car traffic.
The month also saw 125,218 cars (+6.4% vs 2024), the highest August figure since 2019. Total passenger numbers reached 733,374, with 1,254 buses, both also the highest since 2019.
Ferry Holdings has secured the preferred supplier of two new ferries to serve passengers, road and rail for the next 30 years, New Zealand Rail Minister Winston Peters announced.
Ferry Holdings led a closed tender process with six shipyards, and has now signed a letter of intent with the preferred ship builder to start the final stage of technical negotiations.
“The letter of intent is a key milestone in any procurement process as it means the two parties are on the same page for the deal and can now iron out the technical points before signing later this year,” said the Minister.
“The shipbuilder and Ferry Holdings have agreed a fixed price, completion in 2029, and full delivery of our ship specification for 200-metre-long ferries with road and rail decks, room for 1,500 passengers each, and 2,400 lane metres for trucks, cars and 40 rail wagons.
The shipyard will be named once the contracts are signed.
The outline designs for new ferries serving the Orkney islands of Westray, Eday, Stronsay and Sanday are now available to view and comment on in advance of upcoming public consultation events at the end of the month. (source: Orkney Government)
Phase 1 is for three large (60m) monohull ferries to serve the outer North Isles (Westray, Stronsay, Sanday and Eday) with existing infrastructure, noting that a dedicated smaller vessel is proposed for the islands of North Ronaldsay and Papa Westray.
The work on Phase 1 has seen the development of an outline design as well as extensive simulator testing of that design.
View the General arrangement plan by Knud E. Hansen
Phase 2 of the Ferry Replacement Programmes will see specifications developed for a large vessel for the South Isles, plus two smaller vessels for Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay and Graemsay and North Hoy. Specifications for two medium sized vessels will also be provided for Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre and for Shapinsay, noting a need for increased capacity on those routes.
More information on the Ferry Replacement Programme is available here: Ferry Replacement Programme – Update
Wallenius Marine and Knud E. Hansen have unveiled a new RoRo vessel design at the Donsö Shipping Meet. The concept builds on the award-winning Sleipner PCTC design and operational experience from the vessels FUTURE WAY and WAY FORWARD.
Despite its compact length of 170 metres, the vessel offers 2,720 lane metres of cargo capacity, equal to 181 trailers. A full-width stern ramp and forward-placed engine room enable fast and efficient loading and unloading.
Propulsion comes from a dual-fuel electric drivetrain (LNG/LBG/MGO/biodiesel) combined with Azipods, providing 360° steerable propulsion for improved manoeuvrability in ports.
The design is future-proofed with preparations for wing sails, shore power, batteries and fuel cells, aiming to further reduce energy use and emissions.
Source: Wallenius Marine
FRS Group and its Caribbean subsidiary FRS Express des Îles will add a new high-speed catamaran, TOPAZE EXPRESS, scheduled to enter service at the end of 2025.
Ferry Shipping News first published this in week 33: ex Scilly Ferries Vessel Heads To Caribbean.
The 42-metre vessel will operate at a maximum speed of 28 knots and accommodate 400 passengers. Capacity is spread across two decks with 280 seats on the main deck, 120 on the upper deck, plus an open-air aft area.
Source: FRS World
The 1975-built DREA (ex MOBY DREA), recently sold by Moby to Med Fuel in Messina, has left Croatia after protests over asbestos contamination. The ferry had arrived in Split for refit work before being scrapped elsewhere, but reports confirmed that workers would remove asbestos-laden walls, with estimates of 350 tonnes on board. Asbestos has been banned in Croatia since 2006, and civil society groups, supported by NGO Shipbreaking Platform, denounced the risks for workers and residents. Following weeks of public pressure, DREA is now sailing back to the Italian port of Crotone.
On 3 September 2025, the foundation stone was laid for Turku Port’s new joint passenger terminal, part of the Ferry Terminal Turku project. The ceremony gathered project partners, designers, builders and city representatives.
Construction started in January 2025 and will take about two years. The new terminal, named ORIGAMI, will replace the existing Viking Line and Tallink Silja terminals. It is designed for up to 4,000 passengers and will serve all regularly operating ships to Turku.
Ville Niinistö, Chair of the Board at Turku Satama Oy, said the terminal would act as a “gateway to smooth travel.” Viking Line CEO Jan Hanses underlined its importance for Turku as a transport hub, citing more than 50 years of connections between Turku and Stockholm.
Photo: Port of Turku
P&O Ferries has announced that Peter Hebblethwaite stepped down as director on 1 September 2025. The termination of his appointment was confirmed in a Companies House filing on 2 September.