Tag: 2025 | Ferry Shipping News

The Norwegian Ship Design Company posted a sneek peek of the battery ferry HELGØY, showing off at the Montex shipyard in Gdansk. The Torghatten ferry will soon head to Hvide Sande Shipyard for outfitting and final delivery. The Norwegian Ship Design Company have been acting as ship designers.

Source: The Norwegian Ship Design Company on Linkedin

Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with South Korea’s Starline Co. Ltd. for the delivery of a new Damen Fast Ferry 4212. Available from stock at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam, the shipbuilder expects to deliver the vessel just seven weeks after the contract signing on 12th May.

Source: Damen

Molslinjen has inaugurated its own internal safety training facility at Odden Ferry Port, allowing crew to practise emergency procedures in the same waters their ferries sail. This new Kombardo Academy enables practical training, such as life raft drills, without needing to travel to external locations. Up to 200 staff from all Molslinjen routes will benefit from the high-quality, in-house courses each year.

Photo: Molslinjen

CLdN’s second hybrid G9e vessel, LEONINE, has departed on her maiden voyage from the Far East to Europe.

Following delivery from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, the vessel underwent a short drydock at Changhong International Shipyard in Zhoushan, China. There, she was fitted with a low-friction silicone hull coating and advanced thruster grids designed to reduce hull resistance—key steps in line with CLdN’s commitment to lowering its carbon footprint.

LEONINE is expected to arrive in Europe by the end of the summer, where she will be welcomed into the fleet.

Watch the video of LEONINE leaving the shipyard in China: click on the photo.

MASSALIA, formerly NORMANDIE (1992), has made her inaugural call in Tanger Med — marking a new chapter for La Méridionale in the Mediterranean.

Refitted to meet passenger and freight needs, the ship offers reliable, comfortable, and responsible transport between France and Morocco. With capacity for 1,200 passengers, 492 vehicles, and 2,370 lane metres of freight, MASSALIA strengthens ties between both shores.

Source: La Meridionale on Linkedin

Rauma Marine Constructions has delivered the second Spirit of Tasmania ferry, marking the completion of one of the largest export projects between Finland and Australia. The vessel, designed for the demanding Bass Strait, offers significantly increased capacity and replaces a 1990s-built predecessor. RMC now shifts its focus toward producing electric ships.

Photo and Source: Rauma Marine Constructions

On 15 June 2025, EL. VENIZELOS departed from Greece for Algiers. She was chartered last month on a long-term bareboat basis by Algérie Ferries for the Algiers–Alicante and Oran–Alicante routes. She arrived in Algiers on 18 June.

Her last sailing on the Piraeus–Chania route took place on 24 May.

Photo: Algérie Ferries

It is reported that HSC TERA JET 2 (ex Natchan Rera), operated by Seajets, will be deployed on the Cyclades route from Piraeus starting 27 June 2025.

The vessel is currently undergoing sea trials and final technical work before entering service.

She was purchased in March 2024 and was originally built in Australia in 2007.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Brand new SOUTH ENABLER has been welcomed by a “FiFi Show” (fire fighting) at arrival in Zeebrugge on Monday 16 June. The modern RoRo came straight from Italy, where it has been built by Visentini. She loaded for the first time for Wallenius SOL, who charter the vessel for five years.

Photo: Mike Louagie

SOUTH ENABLER (left) replaces ML FREYJA (right). The latter left the fleet of Wallenius SOL in Tilbury on Wednesday 18 June. She is on her way to Algeciras (unknown operator).

Photo: Mike Louagie

DFDS has acquired COMMODORE GOODWILL, which will operate freight services between Jersey, Portsmouth and St Malo.

The ship is being renamed CAESAREA TRADER, a nod to Jersey’s Latin name, Caesarea.

She will eventually replace the ARROW, currently chartered by DFDS for freight operations.

Photo: Mike Louagie

On 19 May 2025, ANEK Lines’ RoPax KRITI I (built in 1979) departed under tow for Aliaga, Turkey, marking the end of her 28-year service in Greece. She was sold for scrap in March 2025 after being laid up in Elefsis Bay since 7 October 2024.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries’ acquisition (ex STENA) LIVIA has left drydock in Denmark to make her way home (New Zealand). There will be a couple of stops in Europe and the UK before heading to Wellington via the Panama Canal. Her estimated arrival date is 1 July.

Photo: Bluebridge

Africa Morocco Link is set to charter the RoPax AF CLAUDIA for the Operación Paso del Estrecho (OPE) 2025, operating between Tangier Med and Algeciras.

The vessel is currently in service on the Venice–Igoumenitsa–Patras route for Attica Group.

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA V returned from her second sea trial during last weekend. Rauma Marine Constructions expects to deliver her soon.

Photo: RMC

On 20 May 2025, CORSICA linea became the first ferry operator to connect to the new shore power system at the Port of Sète. The DANIELLE CASANOVA was successfully plugged in, marking a major step toward “zero-emission” calls.

Photo: Port de Sète

CLdN unveiled one of their H5 vessels, SERAPHINE, at Liverpool Cruise Port on 15th May. The RoRo is part of CLdN’s advanced fleet of larger vessels designed to carry more cargo while significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Photo: Scott Mackey

The contract for two new vessels for Western Ferries’ Gourock to Dunoon route was formally signed at a ceremony at APCL Cammell Laird’s facility in Birkenhead between Western Ferries’ MD Gordon Ross and APCL Group Chief Technology Officer Linton Roberts on 6th May 2025.

They were joined by Graeme Fletcher, Technical Director, Alistair McLundie, Operations Director, Samantha Proctor, Finance Director and James Harris from Western Ferries and APCL Group CEO David McGinley along with Mike Hill, Managing Director of APCL Cammell Laird.

Facebook Group Irish Ferries Enthusiasts (George Holland)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/568009444784794/

Bornholmslinjen’s HAMMERSHUS will undergo her mandatory drydocking from 8 to 21 May 2025. To maintain freight service on the Rønne–Køge route, DFDS’ PATRIA SEAWAYS will be chartered as a replacement.

Scandlines’ new emission-free ferry has successfully completed its first test voyage in the Sea of Marmara, including Sea Acceptance Tests under the supervision of Lloyd’s Register.

The vessel’s batteries, electrical systems, and propulsion were all put to the test during ten days at sea. Now back at the outfitting quay, final verifications are underway ahead of delivery.

The former P&O Ferries vessel NORBANK has been renamed DP WORLD EXPRESS and is now registered under the flag of St Vincent and the Grenadines. The vessel is expected to begin operating soon on a route between Dubai and Iran.

Sister vessel NORBAY is still operating on the Zeebrugge-Teesport service.

Interislander’s rail-enabled ferry, ARATERE (1998), will be retired to make way for the port re-development needed in Picton to prepare for the two brand-new ferries arriving in 2029, KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy says.  

Read more: https://www.kiwirail.co.nz/media/aratere-to-retire-as-new-zealands-new-ferries-project-gets-underway/

ROSALIND FRANKLIN, former BRETAGNE, started its service for Baleària on May 7th, connecting the ports of Nador and Almería. She is replacing the CIUDAD DE MAHÓN which will move to the Motril-Tangier Med port.

Incat Hull 096 – the world’s largest battery-electric ship – was officially launched at the Incat shipyard in Hobart.

Constructed for South American ferry operator Buquebus, Hull 096 is the most significant vessel ever built by Incat and represents a giant leap forward in sustainable shipping. When it enters service between Buenos Aires and Uruguay, it will operate entirely on battery-electric power, carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate.