Aug 22
Love3

Viking Line: A Challenging Half-Year with Improved Results in the Second Quarter

By 2025 Newsletter week 34
  • Q2 2025 sales rose to EUR 128.4m (EUR 125.9m in 2024) with operating income of EUR 6.9m (EUR 6.2m) and pre-tax income of EUR 4.8m (EUR 1.8m).
  • For H1 2025, sales reached EUR 215.8m (EUR 219.1m), with an operating loss of EUR -11.2m (EUR -4.3m) and pre-tax loss of EUR -17.2m (EUR -12.4m). Results were impacted by the dockings of GABRIELLA and VIKING XPRS, as well as higher costs for emission allowances and fairway dues.
  • Passenger volumes declined slightly to 2.0m, with a 31.6% market share. Freight volumes improved to 71,324 units, giving a 19.5% share.
  • Investments amounted to EUR 12.4m, mainly related to GABRIELLA and VIKING XPRS.
  • The Board approved a second instalment dividend of EUR 0.50 per share, totalling EUR 8.6m, to be paid on 25 August.

President and CEO Jan Hanses said the profit trend in Q2 was stronger than the previous year, with improvements seen in all months of the quarter. He noted that demand during the high season months of July and August is forecast to be good, though the autumn outlook remains uncertain.

The Board expects full-year pre-tax profits to be on par with 2024, despite economic headwinds in Finland and Sweden, geopolitical risks, and rising environmental compliance costs.

Full details: Viking Line

Aug 22
Love3

Godby Shipping have bought the RoRo vessel TRANSPORTER from Eckerö Shipping Ab Ltd.

By 2025 Newsletter week 34

The vessel, built in 1991, has a capacity of approximately 1250 lane meters and is ideally suited for transporting paper and a wide range of rolling cargo, including trailers, mafis, trucks, and heavy machinery.

The vessel is currently on time charter to DFDS in their liner trade between Fredrikstad (No), Halden (No), Zeebrugge (Be), and Immingham (UK).

Godby will take over the time charter with DFDS until end December 2025.

The delivery will take place within the trading area between 15 October and 22 November 2025.

The ship will keep its name, TRANSPORTER.

The vessel’s current crew will remain onboard, ensuring continuity of service for DFDS.

Aug 22
Love3

Marine Atlantic Is Looking for a RoPax

By 2025 Newsletter week 34
  • Marine Atlantic has launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the five-year charter of a vessel to replace the ageing LEIF ERICSON.
  • Required: vessel up to 195m length, 1,800–3,000 lane metres, capacity up to 1,000 passengers, ice-class, with cabins and restaurant.
  • Charter period: five years.
  • Deadline for proposals: 12 September 2025.

Read more

Aug 22
Love3

Dublin Port Opens Phase Two of Terminal 4

By 2025 Newsletter week 34
  • Phase Two of Terminal 4 (T4) at Dublin Port opens this week.
  • Some 160 new trailer spaces are being added, increasing operating land capacity.
  • This equals over 100,000 truck movements annually.
  • Investment: €11.7m by Dublin Port.

T4 will be operated by Doyle Shipping Group (DSG), working directly with shipping lines across all cargo types between Ireland, the UK, and mainland Europe.

Source: Port of Dublin

Aug 22
Love3

Interferry: EU Entry-Exit System To Start On 12 October 2025

By 2025 Newsletter week 34
  • The EU will launch the Entry-Exit System (EES) on 12 October 2025, with a progressive, six-month roll-out.
  • EES records non-EU travellers’ biometrics (face and fingerprints) and replaces passport stamps at external Schengen borders. Applies from age 12.
  • Ferry routes linking third countries to the EU, e.g. UK and Morocco, will be affected. Expect extra border processing.
  • Interferry warns of port delays, especially for car and coach passengers, and calls 100% biometric checks from day one unworkable.
  • New Regulation (EU) 2025/1534 allows a ‘progressive approach’ to implementation. Member States choose pace and must file national plans by 25 September 2025.
  • Communication duties are with port operators as border-crossing infrastructure owners, not ferry companies. Operators should stay in close contact with their ports.
  • Interferry contact for guidance: Johan Roos, Director of Regulatory Affairs.

Interferry.com

Aug 22
Love3

Björn Boström Resigns as Managing Director of Port of Ystad

By 2025 Newsletter week 34

Port of Ystad’s Managing Director, Björn Boström, has announced his resignation after 17 years in the role. He will remain in office at least until the new year, with his final day to be confirmed later. “My intention is to start my own business as the beginning of my way to retirement,” said Mr Boström.

Since joining the port in 2008, Boström has successfully led both operations and development. The board expressed regret at his decision but fully respects it, and will now focus on finding a successor to continue the port’s positive development.

Björn Boström has always been very supportive of Ferry Shipping News and the Summit, and we would like to thank him for that.

Aug 16
Love3

DP World H1 Revenue Up 20%

By 2025 Newsletter week 33

DP World posted a 20.4% revenue increase in H1 2025 to USD 11.24bn, with adjusted EBITDA up 21.4% to USD 3.03bn. Container throughput rose 6.7% to 45.4m TEU, driven by growth in Europe, the Middle East & Africa (+12%) and strong performance in Ports & Terminals.

Full-year capex of USD 2.5bn will support expansions at Jebel Ali, London Gateway, Tuna Tekra, and Dakar.

Link to the press release.

Aug 16
Love3

HSC GOLDEN PRINCESS Prepared for Hellenic Coastal Shipping

By 2025 Newsletter week 33

It is reported that Golden Star Ferries’ HSC GOLDEN PRINCESS (ex-GOTLANDIA II) will likely be tested on the same route as her fleet mate HSC SUPEREXPRESS — Rafina–Tinos–Mykonos–Paros–Naxos–Santorini — in September.

The vessel is currently receiving her new livery at the Perama repair zone, where additional crew cabins are also being installed. She was purchased from Swedish operator Gotlandsbolaget AB in May 2023 and was built in Italy in 2006.

HSC GOLDEN PRINCESS has a capacity for 900 passengers and 160 cars, and will operate at a service speed of 32 knots.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Aug 16
Love3

Wasaline Achieves Carbon Neutrality Ahead of Schedule

By 2025 Newsletter week 33
  • Wasaline has become the first carbon-neutral shipping company in the Baltic Sea.
  • A new biogas deal with Gasum and a FuelEU Maritime pooling agreement with Stena Line enable 100% biofuel use.
  • The Vaasa–Umeå link is now recognised by DNV as the first international green shipping corridor in operation.
  • Carbon neutrality was originally targeted for 2030 but has been reached in 2025.
  • Hybrid ferry AURORA BOTNIA will increase its battery capacity to 12.6 MWh in January 2026, the largest on any RoPax (says the press release).
Aug 16
Love3

Havila Voyages and HAV Group Aim for Climate-Neutral Coastal Fleet

By 2025 Newsletter week 33

Havila Voyages and HAV Group have partnered to ensure the Bergen–Kirkenes coastal route fleet will be at least climate neutral, with the ambition of zero emissions. The plan covers the current four ships and future newbuilds to meet requirements in the next tender period.

CEO Bent Martini reiterated Havila’s goal to expand on the route and called for strict environmental standards in the new contract, saying technology exists to meet them today. Havila also plans to test a climate-neutral round voyage this autumn using biogas and battery power.

Photo: Marius Beck Dahle/Havila Voyages

Source: Havila Kystruten Newsroom