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2026 Newsletter week 35

Aug 28
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Color Group Revenue Rises, but Climate Costs Weigh on Earnings

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

Color Group reported higher revenue for the first half of 2026, supported by increased onboard sales and freight revenue. However, earnings declined significantly due to higher climate-related and energy costs.

Operating revenue increased by 2.6% to NOK 2.96 billion, compared with NOK 2.89 billion in the first half of 2025.

EBITDA fell from NOK 255 million to NOK 153 million. Costs relating to the EU Emissions Trading System rose from NOK 83 million to NOK 140 million, as the scheme now covers 100% of relevant emissions, compared with 70% in 2025.

Color Line carried 1.52 million passengers, down 2.4%. Freight volumes increased by 2.8% to 78,166 units, measured in 12-metre equivalents. The company also achieved higher revenue per passenger and improved freight yields.

The net loss for the period amounted to NOK 277 million, compared with NOK 229 million a year earlier.

Following a strong performance in July, Color Group expects the second half of 2026 to be broadly in line with last year. Nevertheless, its full-year result is expected to be somewhat weaker than in 2025.

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Aug 28
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Havila Voyages Reports Strong Q2 Earnings Growth

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

Havila Voyages reported Q2 2026 operating revenue of NOK 479 million, up 15% year on year. EBITDA increased by 24% to NOK 98 million, lifting the EBITDA margin from 19% to 21%.

Average fleet occupancy rose from 74% to 83%, while passenger nights increased by 17% to 99,800. Ticket revenue grew by 10% and onboard revenue by 32%. The company achieved 100% operational uptime across its four-ship fleet.

Havila Voyages said bookings for Q3 remain strong. CO₂ emissions were 36% below the 2017 baseline for the Norwegian coastal route.

Read the full press release

Photo: Havila Voyages

Aug 28
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Navigazione Libera del Golfo Orders New High-Speed Craft from Nova Shipyard

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

Türkiye’s Nova Shipyard has announced that it has signed a contract with Italy’s Navigazione Libera del Golfo (NLG), a ferry company headed by Maurizio Aponte and controlled by Gianluigi Aponte, owner of the MSC Group.

The contract covers the construction of a new 52-metre aluminium high-speed passenger craft designed by Italian naval architecture firm M2Engineers.

The vessel will accommodate 655 passengers and will be built in compliance with HSC Category B requirements.

Nova Shipyard commented: “It is not just a signature, but the beginning of something significant. We thank NLG for the trust it has placed in us. Now it is time to deserve it.”

The most recent fast ferry ordered by and delivered to Navigazione Libera del Golfo was built a few years ago by Cantiere Navale Vittoria in Italy. It is currently deployed on short-sea routes linking Naples with the surrounding islands.

Aug 28
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Scandlines Invests more than €25 Million in Ferry SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

Scandlines is investing more than €25 million in a major refit of SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, which has arrived in Klaipėda for conversion from hybrid to plug-in hybrid propulsion.

The ferry, operating on the Puttgarden–Rødby route, will in future cover the majority of its energy consumption with electricity charged ashore.

The project also includes a complete refurbishment of the passenger areas on decks 5 and 6, with new restaurants, cafés, shops, lounge areas and improved passenger flows.

SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN is expected to return to service towards the end of 2026.

The conversion is part of SCANDLINES’ ambition to operate with zero direct emissions by 2040.

Aug 28
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Alaska Secures $410 Million for Ferry Fleet and Infrastructure

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is set to receive more than $410 million in US federal funding for fleet renewal, operations and terminal infrastructure.

The largest individual awards include $161.2 million for ferry operations serving more than 20 communities and $153.4 million for the design and construction of a replacement for LE CONTE, aimed at improving reliability, accessibility and fuel efficiency.

A further $37.6 million will support the Cascade Point Ferry Terminal, expected to shorten the Juneau–Haines–Skagway sailing by around one-third. $33.4 million has been awarded for modernisation of Kake Ferry Terminal, while $20.6 million will support expansion of Saxman Seaport. Another $4 million will go towards customer service and operational modernisation, including the reservation system.

The funding comes through the US Federal Transit Administration’s Ferry Service for Rural Communities programme.

Source: https://gov.alaska.gov/governor-dunleavy-and-alaskas-congressional-delegation-welcome-trump-administrations-historic-investment-in-rural-ferry-program/

And: https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/grant-programs/fta-ferry-grant-program-2026-selected-projects

Aug 28
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New RoRo Vessel SKIPANES Delivered to Smyril Line

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

Smyril Line has taken delivery of its new RoRo freight vessel SKIPANES from the CIMC Raffles shipyard in Yantai, China.

SKIPANES is the first of two new RoRo vessels ordered as part of a major investment in the company’s fleet and future freight services.

“This marks a milestone in the company’s history and an important step in the development of our fleet,” said Smyril Line CEO Jens Meinhard Rasmussen.

SKIPANES will now begin its delivery voyage from China to Europe.

Aug 28
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SUPERFAST VI Launched in China

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

SUPERFAST VI, the first of two E-Flexer RoPax vessels destined for Attica Group, was launched at China Merchants Industry’s Weihai shipyard on 20 August 2026.

The vessel will be chartered from Stena RoRo under a ten-year bareboat agreement, with a purchase option available after the fifth year. Delivery is scheduled for spring 2027, after which SUPERFAST VI will operate on the Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona route.

The 239.7-metre vessel will accommodate 1,500 passengers and provide 3,320 lane metres for vehicles and freight. It will feature multi-fuel, methanol-ready engines and battery-ready notation.

Rendering: Superfast Ferries

Aug 28
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ÎLE ROUGE Underway to Canada

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

Marine Atlantic’s chartered RoPax vessel ÎLE ROUGE departed the Perama repair zone on 20 August following an extensive refit and conversion in Greece.

After calling at Malta, the vessel passed Gibraltar on 25 August and continued across the Atlantic. She is expected to arrive in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, in early September.

The former A NEPITA was built by HDW in Germany in 2002 and previously operated as SUPERFAST X, SEAFRANCE MOLIÈRE, DIEPPE SEAWAYS and STENA SUPERFAST X.

Marine Atlantic says the vessel will accommodate approximately 921 people and offer 150 passenger cabins, including 48 pet-friendly cabins. Following arrival, she will undergo familiarisation, crewing and Canadian-flagging procedures before entering service between North Sydney and Port aux Basques.

Photo: Ben Ayre

Aug 28
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Corsica Ferry Passengers Down 6.1% as RoRo Freight Grows

By 2026 Newsletter week 35

Ferry passenger traffic to and from Corsica reached 451,800 passengers in June 2026, down 6.1% year-on-year. The figures exclude cruise passengers. Cars were down 3.7% (172,000).

By contrast, incoming maritime freight increased 13.1% to 208,300 tonnes, of which around 143,000 tonnes was RoRo freight.

According to the June data, Corsica Ferries remained by far the largest operator, carrying around 282,000 passengers (63%), followed by Moby Lines with 74,000 (16%), Corsica Linea with 53,000 (12%), La Méridionale with 21,000 (5%) and Ichnusa Lines with 19,000 (4%).

The port breakdown shows Bastia dominating with approximately 246,000 passengers, or 55% of the total.

Traffic with mainland France represented 57% (258,000 passengers), while Italy accounted for 43% (193,000).

Source (in French): https://www.corse.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/spip.php?page=article&id_article=2315&lang=fr

Photo: Jean-Pierre Fabre