Aug 29
Love3

First Little Minch Ferry Successfully Launched

By 2025 Newsletter week 35
  • LOCHMOR, the first of two new vessels for the Little Minch routes, was launched on Saturday 23 August at Cemre Marin Endustri in Yalova, Turkey.
  • Together with sister ship CLAYMORE, she will replace the current single-vessel service provided by HEBRIDES. The two-vessel operation will serve Uig (Skye), Tarbert (Harris) and Lochmaddy (North Uist).
  • LOCHMOR can carry 450 passengers and 100 cars, or 14 commercial vehicles, increasing capacity and resilience for the communities served.
  • Transport Scotland allocated £115m in 2022 for the Little Minch ferries project, including port upgrades. Cemre Marin Endustri won the build contract in February 2023.
  • LOCHMOR is the third of four standardised vessels being built at the Turkish yard for CMAL.
  • The launch was attended by CMAL and project stakeholders. The ferry was officially launched by Kay MacLeod, a long-serving CalMac employee at Tarbert.
  • The vessel will now be outfitted and tested in Turkey before sailing to Scotland in 2026 for crew familiarisation and service entry.

Photo courtesy of Brian Fulton, CMAL

Aug 29
Love3

SUPERFAST III at Elefsis Yards for Scrubber Installation

By 2025 Newsletter week 35

On 18 September 2025, RoPax SUPERFAST III (ex-OLYMPIC CHAMPION) will be withdrawn from Adriatic service for scrubber installation. The work will be carried out at Elefsis Yards (ONEX).
She will be replaced on the Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona route by fleet mate RoPax LEFKA ORI on 19 September.
Built in Norway in 2000, she has capacity for 1,850 passengers and 2,045 lane metres. Her service speed is 30 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Aug 29
Love3

SUPERCAT JET 2 Chartered for Eastern Mediterranean Service?

By 2025 Newsletter week 35

It is reported that Seajets’ HSC SUPERCAT JET 2 (ex-SUPERSPEED JET, KRILO ECLIPSE) was recently renamed NOTRE DAME, following plans to launch a new ferry link between Cyprus (Larnaca) and Lebanon (Junieh).
The plan, announced three months ago, suggests she has been chartered to INDEVO Group. The service is intended as an alternative to air travel and would establish a direct European connection through Cyprus, where an estimated 100,000 passengers travel on this route each summer.
HSC NOTRE DAME was built in Australia in 2002. She can carry 350 passengers and has a speed of 32 knots.

Photo: Marine Traffic Sinisa Aljinovic
Source: L’Orient-Le Jour

Aug 29
Love3

DFDS and TT-Line Enter Baltic Sea Space Charter Agreement

By 2025 Newsletter week 35

DFDS and TT-Line have signed a mutual space charter agreement covering freight and passengers on Baltic Sea routes.

 Agreement Details

  • Covers the Karlshamn–Klaipeda RoPax route, currently operated by both companies.
  • Grants DFDS access to TT-Line capacity on Klaipeda–Trelleborg and Klaipeda–Travemünde.
  • Effective 1 October 2025 for freight on all routes (Travemünde is freight-only)
  • Effective 1 October 2025 for passengers on Karlshamn routes.
  • Effective 1 November 2025 for passengers on Trelleborg.

 

Benefits

  • Higher frequency and capacity across all routes.
  • Reduced emissions through optimised sailings.
  • Each operator maintains control of commercial activities and customer relations.

TT-Line Expansion

  • TT-Line will deploy NILS HOLGERSSON, one of its new LNG-powered Green RoPax ferries, on the Klaipeda routes (once a week).
Aug 29
Love3

Grimaldi Highlights Competition on Italy–Turkey Routes

By 2025 Newsletter week 35

The Grimaldi Group has issued a statement on recent debates regarding the Port of Trieste and the competitive dynamics on Italy–Turkey routes.

  • Grimaldi underlines that increased competition in Trieste strengthens both Italy and Europe, benefiting trade flows and consumers.
  • The Group states its entry has introduced advanced, efficient vessels and contributed to breaking what it views as a previously limited competitive landscape.
  • Grimaldi reports that it has achieved a significant share of the Italy–Istanbul/Marmara market since launching its services in 2024.

The company positions its expansion as part of a wider effort to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and provide more competitive shipping options.

Download the statement here.

Aug 29
Love3

Report Shows New Rønne Port Design Challenges Conventional Ferries

By 2025 Newsletter week 35
  • Bornholmslinjen and Rønne Havn commissioned FORCE Technology to simulate entry and exit conditions for ferries in the redesigned port.
  • Results show that in certain wind directions, conventional ferries HAMMERSHUS and POVL ANKER cannot safely operate above 18 m/s.
  • This could mean days without ferry service to Bornholm during strong winds.
  • Fast ferries can continue to operate up to 16 m/s, but with reduced safety margins.

Molslinjen CEO Kristian Durhuus said:

  • “We want to fulfil our obligations as the island’s lifeline. But we had no influence on the port design.”
  • “The new layout leaves less room for adjustments or errors, placing higher demands on our captains.”

The report has been shared with the Port of Rønne and the Danish Ministry of Transport.

Aug 22
Love3

KiwiRail Concludes iReX Ferry Replacement Project

By 2025 Newsletter week 34
  • Settlement reached with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard to exit ferry contracts signed in 2021.
  • Final settlement: $144m; total paid to HMD: $222m (*)
  • Overall iReX project cost: $671m
  • $449m already spent on landside infrastructure, project management and wind-down costs
  • KiwiRail to work with Ferry Holdings and ports of Wellington and Picton on new ferries by 2029

(*) New Zealand Dollars

Source: KiwiRail

Ferry Shipping News – Tag Kiwirail

Aug 22
Love3

DFDS Q2 Result Lowered by Mediterranean Headwinds

By 2025 Newsletter week 34

Q2 2025

  • Revenue: DKK 7.8bn (+3%, organic –2%)
  • EBIT: DKK 163m (–69%)
  • Adjusted free cash flow: DKK 538m (–26%)
  • CO₂ ferry emission intensity: –4.1%

Outlook 2025

  • EBIT: DKK 0.8–1.0bn (previously ~DKK 1.0bn)
  • Revenue growth: ~5%
  • Adjusted free cash flow: ~DKK 1.0bn (unchanged)

CEO’s comments

  • Most of the network performed as expected.
  • Mediterranean remains the key earnings challenge.
  • Logistics Boost turnaround on track.
  • Türkiye & Europe South turnaround slower; breakeven may be delayed.

Geopolitics

  • New EU–USA trade deal sets a 15% tariff on EU exports to USA.
  • Short-term EU growth may be impacted.
  • Nearshoring expected to accelerate trade with Türkiye and Morocco, benefiting DFDS’s network.

Read the Q2 2025 interim report

Or click on this cover below for the full presentation:

Aug 22
Love3

DFDS July Volumes: Solid Freight Growth in Most Areas

By 2025 Newsletter week 34

Q2 2025

  • Revenue: SEK 961.1m (604.1m)
  • Adjusted EBIT: –SEK 17.7m (27.3m)
  • Net result after tax: –SEK 53.6m (55.1m)
  • Passenger growth on Gotland routes: +8.1%
  • Go Nordic Cruiseline: 182,500 passengers

H1 2025

  • Revenue: SEK 1,569.7m (989.0m)
  • Adjusted EBIT: –SEK 195.1m (–39.4m)
  • Net result after tax: –SEK 278.8m (92.3m)
  • Destination Gotland: passengers +4.7% (690,400), freight lane metres +2.6% (374,300)
  • Go Nordic Cruiseline: 317,000 passengers, 31,000 vehicles

CEO’s comments

  • Stable performance in Gotland traffic with positive June passenger growth.
  • Go Nordic Cruiseline weighed on results due to launch and lower onboard revenues.
  • Biogas investment and LNG bunkering agreements move traffic towards lower emissions.
  • Gotland Horizon X under construction for delivery in H2 2028.
  • New partnership: Gotland Hotels with Strawberry – Visby hotel to become a Quality Hotel in 2026.

Dividend: SEK 20.30 per share (9.80).

Source: https://corporate.gotlandsbolaget.se/sv/ (in Swedish)

Aug 22
Love3

Gotlandsbolaget H1 Impacted by Go Nordic Establishment

By 2025 Newsletter week 34

Q2 2025

  • Revenue: SEK 961.1m (604.1m)
  • Adjusted EBIT: –SEK 17.7m (27.3m)
  • Net result after tax: –SEK 53.6m (55.1m)
  • Passenger growth on Gotland routes: +8.1%
  • Go Nordic Cruiseline: 182,500 passengers

H1 2025

  • Revenue: SEK 1,569.7m (989.0m)
  • Adjusted EBIT: –SEK 195.1m (–39.4m)
  • Net result after tax: –SEK 278.8m (92.3m)
  • Destination Gotland: passengers +4.7% (690,400), freight lane metres +2.6% (374,300)
  • Go Nordic Cruiseline: 317,000 passengers, 31,000 vehicles

CEO’s comments

  • Stable performance in Gotland traffic with positive June passenger growth.
  • Go Nordic Cruiseline weighed on results due to launch and lower onboard revenues.
  • Biogas investment and LNG bunkering agreements move traffic towards lower emissions.
  • Gotland Horizon X under construction for delivery in H2 2028.
  • New partnership: Gotland Hotels with Strawberry – Visby hotel to become a Quality Hotel in 2026.

Dividend: SEK 20.30 per share (9.80).

Source: https://corporate.gotlandsbolaget.se/sv/ (in Swedish)