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2025 Newsletter week 38

Sep 19
3

Autorité de la Concurrence Rejects Anticompetitive Complaint Against DFDS and P&O Ferries

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  • Background: France Manche SA and The Channel Tunnel Group Ltd (“Eurotunnel”) filed a complaint against DFDS and P&O Ferries.
  • Allegations: The two operators were accused of a capacity-sharing agreement on the Calais–Dover route, with a mechanism to rebalance capacity.
  • Legal Basis: Objection raised under Article 101 TFEU and Article L. 420-1 of the French Commercial Code.
  • Decision: The Autorité found no anticompetitive purpose in the agreement.
  • Key Findings:
    • Capacity could be shared proportionally and adjusted at any time.
    • Both operators retained incentives to optimise costs, improve services and remain price-competitive.

Conclusion: The Autorité de la Concurrence ruled that the arrangement did not restrict competition. [source]

Photo Mike Louagie

Sep 19
3

Tallink Increased Passenger Numbers Over the Summer

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Tallink Grupp carried nearly two million ferry passengers between June and August 2025.

  • This represents a 5%+ increase compared to the same period last year.
  • Estonia–Finland: Almost 1.3 million passengers, up 15%. Three ships operated instead of two.
  • Estonia–Sweden: Around 187,000 passengers, down 27%. Only one ship served the route versus two in 2024.
  • Finland–Sweden: Stable, with more than half a million passengers.
  • Passenger vehicles: 283,000, up by 5,000.
  • Freight volumes: Down nearly 11%, reflecting economic uncertainty.
Sep 19
3

Stena Futura Joins Belfast–Heysham Route

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STENA FUTURA, the first of two “NewMax” RoRo vessels, has arrived in Belfast from China. The 147-metre ship features a multi-hybrid solution enabling operation on battery, biofuel and methanol. It is also rotorsail-ready and equipped to use both battery propulsion and shore power when available. STENA FUTURA will join the Belfast–Heysham route on 22 September, operating 12 sailings per week and adding 2,800 lane metres of much-needed freight capacity. The service connects local hauliers directly into the North of England road freight network.

Photo: Scott Mackey

Sep 19
3

Shetland Islands Council Approves Outline Business Case for New Relief Ferry

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  • Shetland Islands Council has approved an Outline Business Case for a new vessel to operate as a relief ferry on the inter-island network.
  • The vessel will be 33m long with a 10.8m beam.
  • It will be able to operate from any existing ferry terminal, with no changes needed in crew certification.
  • Capital cost: £11.76m, part funded by a £10m Scottish Government grant.

Next steps:

  • Develop detailed designs and tender documents.
  • Present a Full Business Case in mid-2026.
  • Begin construction with entry into service planned for 2027.

Concept images courtesy of Macduff Ship Design Ltd.

Sep 19
3

MSC Returns to the RoRo Market

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  • Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has purchased the former MEXICO STAR from Baja Ferries.
  • The vessel has been renamed SARDINIA.
  • She is at La Nuova Meccanica Navale, Naples (an MSC-owned yard), for painting and modernisation.
  • The acquisition price and final deployment are undisclosed.

Possible uses:

  • Expansion of GNV’s fleet, possibly for a Naples–Catania RoRo line.
  • Container transport between Italy (Gioia Tauro, Naples, Genoa) and North Africa (Tunisia, Algeria).

Background:

  • Sister ship MSC BRIDGE (ex STENA FREIGHTER) was converted to handle containers loaded by RoRo equipment instead of cranes.
  • In North African ports, RoRo ships often berth faster than container ships, which face congestion.

SARDINIA – key data

  • Built in 1998, Italy (Viareggio / Marina di Carrara).
  • Length: 182.6m.
  • Width: 27.4m.
  • Speed: 22 knots.
  • Capacity: 350 passengers.
  • Cargo capacity: 2,715 lane metres.
Sep 19
3

P&O Ferries Expands Tilbury Services

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  • NORBAY will become the second ship on the Tilbury–Zeebrugge route. The vessel has been inactive in Zeebrugge since mid-August.
  • RoRo vessels NORSKY and NORSTREAM will now operate full time on the Tilbury–Europoort route.
  • Changes take effect Sunday, 28 September.

Europoort–Tilbury

  • Two dedicated vessels to strengthen reliabilityand increase capacity.
  • Tilbury–Europoort departure moves from morning to evening.
  • Europoort Terminal opens from 07:00 for earlier deliveries and collections.

Zeebrugge–Tilbury

  • Weekly sailings increase from 18 to 20.
  • Vessels LONGSTONE and NORBAY.

Capacity can be further scaled up depending on demand.

Sep 19
3

CLdN and Peel Ports Liverpool Have Big Plans

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CLdN plans to develop a new river berth for RoRo cargo vessels in Liverpool, in collaboration with Peel Ports Group.

The multi-million-pound investment will create a lock-free berth on the River Mersey, adjacent to CLdN’s existing facilities. This will allow seamless berthing of CLdN’s most efficient, higher-capacity ships.

  • Consent application expected: H2 2026
  • Construction could start: early 2028

Florent Maes, CEO of CLdN:

“This investment will bring significant benefits to customers, increase efficiency, and reduce the carbon footprint per freight unit. It underlines CLdN’s long-term commitment to developing port infrastructure and providing essential freight services between Great Britain and Ireland.”

Claudio Veritiero, CEO Peel Ports Group:

“CLdN’s investment is a strong vote of confidence in the Port of Liverpool. Together we will deliver a transformative project that enhances supply chain efficiency, cuts emissions, and creates lasting regional benefits.”

Source and Photo: CLdN

Sep 19
3

Baleària Files Lawsuit Against Ibiza Vehicle Restriction

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Baleària has lodged a lawsuit against the Agreement of the Consell d’Eivissa (28 March 2025), which enforces Law 7/2024 on vehicle traffic control for sustainable tourism.

The shipping company seeks:

  • Annulment of the restriction (valid until 30 September).
  • A constitutional review, arguing violation of fundamental rights: equality and mobility.

Key arguments:

  • Legal and technical inadequacy: reports by Universitat Jaume I and consulting firm Meteoclim claim the measure is ineffective, discriminatory, and amounts to “regulatory greenwashing.”
  • Minimal environmental benefit: the measure does not target the main source of congestion – resident vehicles – and lacks monitoring mechanisms.
  • Negative economic impact: restrictions harm maritime transport, while air passengers face no limits.
  • Unintended effects: vehicle registrations on Ibiza rose by over 70% (Feb–Jun 2025), bypassing the restriction.

Baleària President Adolfo Utor:

“We believe the Consell’s agreement is a political and management blunder and a legal botch… This measure seriously harms a strategic sector and paradoxically attacks what it claims to defend: the environment and maritime connectivity.”

The company will publish detailed evidence of the restriction’s impact in the coming days.

Sep 19
3

Baleària Launches AI Challenge With Marina de Empresas and Google Cloud

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  • Baleària has launched a new challenge at Marina de Empresas’ DataHub, in collaboration with Google Cloud.
  • Goal: develop an AI solution to improve customer experience using data such as occupancy, prices, promotions, weather, and market behaviour.
  • Participants will use Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and BigQuery, supported by experts from Sngular.
  • Programme runs 17–31 October, with final presentations on 31 October.
  • Open to students, faculty, startups, employees, and professionals with data/AI experience. Registration closes 10 October.

Source: Baleària (in Spanish)

Sep 19
3

New CEO for Lakeway Link

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The Board of Directors of Lakeway Link has appointed Per Zandrén as the company’s new CEO. He will take up his position on 4 November 2025, succeeding Göran Söderdahl, who will return to his role as a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

Lakeway Link is the sole shipping company offering scheduled RoRo transport for trailers and high and heavy cargo between Gdynia and Södertälje.

Lakeway Link is owned equally by Wallenius and Greencarrier.