Jun 14
3

Baleària Launches Its Largest Ever OPE Summer Offer

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For this year’s Operación Paso del Estrecho (OPE), Baleària is deploying its largest maritime offer to date, with up to 34 daily sailings from 15 June to 15 September to meet high seasonal demand.

  • New route: Tarifa–Tánger Ville operated for the first time by Baleària, offering up to 12 daily sailings with two high-speed vessels.
  • Expanded Algeria service: First-ever sailings from Barcelona to Algiers and Oran, plus an increase from one to three weekly rotations on Valencia–Mostaganem.
  • Fleet: 10 vessels (ferries and fast ferries), several recently refurbished.
  • Crew reinforcement: Over 300 seasonal staff hired in southern Spain and North Africa.

Routes to Morocco

  • Tarifa–Tánger Ville: 10–12 daily sailings (1-hour crossing).
  • Algeciras–Tánger Med: 8–9 daily sailings with up to 3 ferries.
  • Almería–Nador: 2–3 daily departures.
  • Motril–Tánger Med: Seasonal service.

Routes to Ceuta & Melilla

  • Algeciras–Ceuta: 9 daily sailings (5 fast ferries, 4 ferries).
  • Málaga–Melilla: Up to 2 daily sailings, including the cruise ferry RUSADIR on Saturdays.

Routes to Algeria

  • Barcelona–Algiers & Oran: Weekly sailings on Mondays and Wednesdays.
  • Valencia–Mostaganem: Increased to 3 weekly sailings (Tue, Thu, Sat).

Onboard services are tailored to OPE travellers, with Arabic and French-speaking staff, halal food options, and prayer rooms.

“This is our most ambitious OPE operation ever, reflecting our commitment to efficient, high-quality mobility for the thousands of North African passengers travelling each summer,” said Georges Bassoul, CEO of Baleària.

Jun 14
3

Italian Operators Control 63.9% of RoRo Market to/from Italian Ports

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Italian shipping companies controlled 63.9% of RoRo traffic to and from Italian ports in 2024, up from 60.1% in 2023 and 49.3% in 2022.

This data comes from a Banca d’Italia survey on sea freight transport. It confirms the growing dominance of local operators in RoRo, general cargo, and container sectors.

Foreign companies have much smaller shares:

  • Greek operators (2nd place): 12.6% (down from 14.1% in 2023)
  • Denmark (3rd place): 8.3% – a new entrant in the ranking

The rise of Denmark reflects DFDS’s acquisition of Turkish Ekol Logistics, pushing Turkey out of the top three.

Jun 14
3

New Top Management Appointed at the Helm of BN di Navigazione (BluNavy)

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Giulio Schenone and Aldo Negri have been appointed as the new Chairman and CEO, respectively, of BN di Navigazione, the company that owns and operates the BluNavy ferry brand, which connects mainland Italy from the port of Piombino to Elba Island (Portoferraio). The new composition of the Board of Directors reflects a renewed harmony between the Genoese and Sicilian shareholders.

Luigi Genghi has also been appointed as Director with responsibility for the technical management of the fleet.

The shareholding structure of BN di Navigazione remains as follows: Bolzaneto Container Terminal Srl (Schenone) and Finsea Spa (Negri) jointly hold 45% of the shares, Caronte & Tourist Spa holds 25%, Elbasol Srl 15%, the Associazione Albergatori Isola d’Elba 7.5%, and Gianluca Morace 7.5%.

Jun 14
3

Trasmed Starts a New Concept: The Ferry to Ibiza is also the Hotel

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The Trasmed‑Weekend package operates on the Valencia-Ibiza ferry route. Starting 27 June through late September, the overnight service departs Valencia on Friday evenings, with the CIUDAD DE GRANADA ferry staying docked in Ibiza from Saturday to Sunday. Over the weekend, foot passengers can board and disembark freely between 12:00 Saturday and 11:00 Sunday—this ferry essentially acts as a floating hotel before heading back to Valencia on Sunday afternoon.

Source: https://www.trasmed.com/es/ofertas/trasmedweekend (in Spanish)

Jun 14
3

Irish Ferries Launches Pet Dens: The Furriendliest Way to Travel

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  • Irish Ferries has introduced complimentary Pet Den lounges on key routes, elevating the pet travel experience.
  • Available on Ireland–UK (Dublin–Holyhead, Rosslare–Pembroke) and UK–France (Dover–Calais) crossings.
  • Light-filled lounges feature leash hooks, water dispensers, seating, snack and beverage service, and sea views.
  • Outdoor deck areas include artificial grass, fresh air, and space for a proper stretch—two legs or four.
  • Launch dates:
      • JAMES JOYCE (Dublin–Holyhead) from 21 June
      • ULYSSES (Dublin–Holyhead) from 1 July
      • Also available on ISLE OF INNISFREE, ISLE OF INISHMORE, and OSCAR WILDE
  • Irish Ferries is the only operator offering pet lounges on both the Irish Sea and English Channel.

With no extra charges, more luggage freedom, and a relaxed onboard experience, Irish Ferries positions itself as the Furriendliest way to cross the sea.

Jun 14
3

Brittany Ferries Celebrates the Joys of ‘Uncommon Holidays’

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  • Brittany Ferries is promoting its Uncommon Holidays campaign with a vivid and emotive ad capturing the charm and spontaneity of ferry travel.
  • The creative showcases a long-form story made up of memories and sensory moments, highlighting the uniqueness of travel to France via ferry.
  • Experiences range from spotting dolphins mid-Channel and visiting pink onion festivals to enjoying croissants with a sea breeze and exploring hidden Breton gems.
  • The narrative reinforces the benefits of ferry travel: freedom, flexibility, family moments, and the ability to bring more luggage — or even the family pet.
  • The campaign concludes with a clear call-to-action: “Saving up to 30% on your sailing when you book an Uncommon Holiday with Brittany Ferries.”
  • It aligns with Brittany Ferries’ brand message of creating enriching, off-the-beaten-path travel experiences.
Jun 14
3

In the media

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The Attica group plans to invest 700 million euros in the further development of its fleet by the end of the decade, focusing on high-speed ferries for the Aegean and the Argosaronic Gulf.

Naftemporiki

 

Ministers from Greece, Bulgaria and Romania held a working meeting to discuss the development of a transport corridor which will start from the port of Alexandroupolis and end in ports of the Black Sea and the trade routes of the Danube, through Bulgaria.

Ekathimerini

 

DFDS is being linked to the acquisition of Trasmediterránea’s Strait of Gibraltar routes.  A price of 300 million euro is being mentioned.

El Confidencial (in Spanish, paywalled)

 

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Group has notified the Romanian government that it wants to take over the management of the Damen Mangalia shipyard, which has been under insolvency for the past year.

Europa Libera Romania (in Romanian)

Jun 06
3

GNV ORION Welcomed in the Company’s Home Port of Genoa

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The newly built GNV ORION has been welcomed in the port of Genoa after completing its long transfer from China, where it was built by the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI).

After some final works due to be completed in the coming days, GNV ORION will begin operating on the Genoa–Palermo route for the next summer season. The ship has a gross tonnage of approximately 52,000, a length of 218 metres, a width of 29.60 metres, and can reach a maximum speed of 25 knots.

She features 433 cabins and a carrying capacity of 1,785 passengers and 3,100 lane metres.

The last two ships (part of the initial four-ship order) will be delivered before the end of 2025 and will be LNG-powered.

GNV ORION also completed its first cold ironing test in the port of Sète, France, before arriving in Genoa.

Jun 06
3

RoPax LEFKA ORI Reassigned to Piraeus–Samos–Dodecanese Route

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  • SUPERFAST FERRIES’ RoPax LEFKA ORI will be reassigned to the Piraeus – Samos (Vathy) – Dodecanese (Patmos–Leros–Kos–Rodos) route.
  • Service period: 13 July to 30 September 2025.
  • Previously operated on the Patras – Igoumenitsa – Ancona – Venice route since February 2024.
  • Recently replaced on that line by the fully refurbished SUPERFAST IV (ex-HELLENIC SPIRIT).
  • Built in Japan in 1987.
  • Capacity: 1,500 passengers and 1,863 lane metres.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos