Aug 17
Love3

DFDS Board Changes

By 2026 Newsletter week 33

DFDS will convene an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) following a request from its largest shareholder, Lauritzen Fonden Holding ApS, to elect two new Board members.

Former DFDS CEO Niels Smedegaard and Polaris Management Managing Partner Jan Johan Kühl will be proposed for election.

The move comes as DFDS embarks on a review of its future strategy. Lauritzen Fonden Holding believes that the development and subsequent execution of the new strategy should also be accompanied by a change of Chair.

Claus V. Hemmingsen will therefore step down from the Board in connection with the EGM. He has served on the DFDS Board since 2012 and as Chair since 2017.

Niels Smedegaard led DFDS as CEO from 2007 to 2019 and currently chairs several companies, including ISS, Falck and Nordic Ferry Infrastructure.

The EGM is expected to take place on 8 September 2026. Following the meeting, the Board is expected to elect a new Chair.

Aug 17
Love3

Petra Enmalm Appointed Head of Negotiations at Sveriges Hamnar

By 2026 Newsletter week 33

Petra Enmalm has been appointed Head of Negotiations at Sveriges Hamnar, the Swedish Ports employers’ association within Transportföretagen, effective 1 October 2026.

She succeeds Johan Grauers, who is leaving Transportföretagen after 26 years to join Teknikföretagen.

Enmalm has worked closely with Grauers for around eight years and brings extensive experience in collective bargaining and conflict resolution within the Swedish port sector.

Aug 17
Love3

Eckerö Calls for Broader Port Strategy to Strengthen Swedish Resilience

By 2026 Newsletter week 33

Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö is calling for Sweden to give greater strategic importance to smaller ports and ferry connections as part of the country’s transport and supply preparedness.

In a sponsored article published in Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, CEO Björn Blomqvist argues that concentrating transport flows through a limited number of major ports and heavily used corridors creates vulnerabilities in times of disruption or crisis.

Eckerö points to its Grisslehamn–Eckerö route as an example. While commercially self-financing under normal conditions, the connection could provide an alternative transport corridor between Sweden, Åland and Finland if larger ports or transport routes were disrupted.

Blomqvist therefore calls for long-term investment not only in major transport hubs, but also in regional roads, port infrastructure, electricity and other supporting infrastructure.

According to Eckerö, geographical diversification of ports and transport routes should be considered part of Sweden’s overall resilience and security strategy.

https://www.dn.se/brandstudio/rederiaktiebolaget-eckero/fler-hamnar-starker-sveriges-beredskap/

Aug 17
Love3

OPE 2026 Southbound Traffic Slightly Down, Tarifa Gains Ground

By 2026 Newsletter week 33

The southbound peak of Operación Paso del Estrecho (OPE*) 2026 has ended with slightly lower traffic than in 2025.

Up to 10 August, Spanish ports handled 1.58 million passengers and 400,825 vehicles, down 3.1% and 2.3% respectively year-on-year.

Algeciras and Tarifa accounted for more than 1.14 million passengers and 287,225 vehicles.

Algeciras remained the dominant gateway but recorded a 7.3% decline in passengers.

In contrast, Tarifa–Tanger Ville continued to gain ground, with passengers up 7.6% to 284,559 and vehicles up 12.4% to 49,109.

The growth was achieved despite fewer sailings, underlining the route’s increasingly important role in Strait traffic.

(*) Spain’s Operación Paso del Estrecho (OPE) is the annual summer operation managing the huge flow of travellers between Europe and North Africa across the Strait of Gibraltar.

https://www.elestrechodigital.com/2026/08/11/los-puertos-de-algeciras-y-tarifa-acumulan-mas-de-114-millones-de-pasajeros-en-la-fase-de-salida-de-la-ope-2026

Aug 17
Love3

In Memory of Angelo Linardatos

By 2026 Newsletter week 33

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Angelo Linardatos, a longstanding friend of the Ferry Shipping Summit and a familiar face to many within our industry.

Born in Kefalonia, Greece, Angelo built a long and varied career in shipping. After starting his professional life at the Commercial Bank of Greece, he became an entrepreneur in the cruise industry.

Together with his wife, he managed Paris-based Navifrance, specialising in the representation, brokerage and agency of cruise and ferry companies, particularly those operating in Greece and the Mediterranean.  At the same time, he was co-owner of the historic cruise ship LA PALMA, operated by his company InterCruise.

He was also a former president of Croisimer and, in 1987, was elected by his peers as “Maritime Personality of the Year”.

A graduate of the Athens University of Economics and Business, Angelo was also a founding member of AIESEC in Greece.

For us, however, Angelo was much more than an accomplished maritime professional. He was a loyal supporter and friend of the Ferry Shipping Summit, attending year after year, and a longtime personal friend of Bo-Lennart.

We will remember him for his professionalism, his class, his warmth and his genuine interest in people. His presence at our gatherings will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts are with his wife, daughter, granddaughter and all those close to him.

Farewell, Angelo, and thank you for your friendship.

Aug 10
Love3

Tallink Reports Higher Passenger and Cargo Volumes in July

By 2026 Newsletter week 32

AS Tallink Grupp transported 799,192 passengers in July 2026, an increase of 2.0% compared with July 2025.

Cargo volumes also showed solid growth, rising 6.9% to 20,872 units.

Passenger vehicle numbers declined 2.1% to 109,808.

The Estonia–Sweden route recorded the strongest passenger growth (+27.1%), reflecting the operation of BALTIC QUEEN and ROMANTIKA. Cargo volumes on the route, however, fell by 38.8%, largely because the Paldiski–Kapellskär service has been suspended since SUPERFAST IX entered a charter to Hibernia Line on 1 May 2026.

On the Estonia–Finland route, passenger numbers declined by 2.1%, but cargo increased by 12.9%. The Finland–Sweden routes continued their positive trend, with passengers up 4.0%, cargo up 13.2%, and passenger vehicles up 4.6%.

Separately, Tallink announced that ROMANTIKA has been chartered, together with technical and service crew, to provide accommodation and catering services during the XX Mediterranean Games in Italy from 21 August to 3 September 2026. ( FSN reported this in week 23:

https://ferryshippingnews.com/romantika-to-serve-as-floating-hotel-during-mediterranean-games-taranto-2026/ )

Aug 10
Love3

More Than 9,000 Passengers Chose Fred. Olsen Express’ Huelva–Canary Islands Route

By 2026 Newsletter week 32

More than 9,000 passengers travelled on Fred. Olsen Express’ Huelva–Canary Islands service during June and July, almost 11% more than in the same period of 2025. The increase of around 600 travellers marks a record start to the summer season for the route.

The growth follows the refurbishment of BUENAVISTA EXPRESS, which now operates the service. The upgraded ferry offers enhanced public areas, restaurants and leisure facilities, creating a “mini-cruise” experience with amenities including a swimming pool, sun deck, sports bar, coworking space and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Fred. Olsen Express says the combination of improved onboard facilities, the ability to travel with a private vehicle and unrestricted luggage, and greater comfort for families and pet owners has driven demand. The company is also working with the Port of Huelva to further improve the passenger experience before embarkation.

The 33-hour service connects Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Huelva, offering a range of seating and cabin options, including pet-friendly and accessible accommodation.

Aug 10
Love3

Torghatten Challenges Åland Ferry Procurement in Court

By 2026 Newsletter week 32

Ferry operator Torghatten has appealed the Åland Government’s procurement of the archipelago ferry services to Finland’s Market Court. The company argues that the tender requirements have been designed in a way that effectively leaves only one eligible bidder, and is seeking a judicial review of the procurement process. While the Åland Government is continuing negotiations with interested operators, no final contract can be awarded until the court has ruled. The appeal could delay the procurement by several months, potentially up to one year.

Torghatten is part of Nordic Ferry Infrastructure (NFI), which is controlled by EQT Infrastructure together with the Norwegian state-backed climate investment fund Nysnø Klimainvesteringer.

https://eqtgroup.com/about/current-portfolio/nordic-ferry-infrastructure

Aug 10
Love3

DFDS Adds Drammen Call to Norway–Belgium–UK Freight Route

By 2026 Newsletter week 32

DFDS will expand its Norway–Belgium–UK freight service by adding Drammen as a weekly port of call from 17 August.

Located around 40 km south-east of Oslo, Drammen offers direct rail connections to Bergen and Trondheim, as well as strong road links across Eastern Norway. The new call is intended to strengthen DFDS’ presence in the Oslo region and provide shippers with improved access to the UK and Continental Europe.

The service will accommodate containers, trailers and heavy cargo, while combining ferry, road and rail transport as part of DFDS’ integrated logistics network.

DFDS will continue to serve Fredrikstad and Brevik, maintaining its existing Norwegian network alongside the new Drammen call.