Ferries News

Actors Dame Joanna Lumley and Pauline McLynn have joined forces with over 110 other high-profile individuals, experts and animal welfare NGOs to condemn a decision by Brittany Ferries to resume transporting livestock from Ireland to France, including unweaned calves.Lumley and others including Chis Packham, Neil Hannon and Cathy Davey have added their names to a letter urging Brittany Ferries to reconsider. Renowned veterinarian and journalist Pete Wedderburn, who believes that animals should not be made to suffer by travelling long distances for slaughter…

Ferry shipping executives have called for broader shore power funding at Interferry’s European Shipping Summit Seminar.Access to onshore power supply for ferries and ships is crucial for the further development and implementation of sustainable battery-based propulsion, and ultimately the decarbonization of the maritime sector. Shipping executives at the European Shipping Summit's side seminar, 'Shore Power offers promising carbon cuts – are we on track?', called for an expansion of funding for shore power infrastructure.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) said it intends to award a contract for seven new loch-class electric ferries to Poland's Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A in Gdansk, Poland.The Small Vessel Replacement Program (SVRP) will see seven fully electric vessels built in the first phase, with an additional three delivered in phase two of the project, which will be procured through a separate competitive tender process later in 2025."These seven new vessels, when combined with the six major new vessels joining the fleet in 2025 and 2026…

In a move to restore full domestic ferry service by summer, Governor Bob Ferguson said that Washington State Ferries (WSF) will delay the hybrid-electric conversion of two of the state’s largest ferries. The decision comes as WSF works to increase its operational fleet, ensuring that 18 vessels are in service simultaneously for the first time since 2019. Restoring full domestic ferry service requires 21 vessels, with at least 18 running at any given time. By postponing the hybrid-electric upgrades until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup…

Incat Crowther said that the first of two new catamaran ferries for Dumai Express Group completed sea trials and will soon commence operations in Indonesia. The 33-m ferries build on a fleet of first-generation 30-m catamarans designed by Incat Crowther for the Indonesian operator. The new models offer improved operational efficiency via an extended stern, optimized hull form and customized propeller tunnel. The design enhancements mean Ruby of Dumai provides a full-load draft of 1.5-m…

Flagship Cruises & Events, a San Diego-based yacht charter, announced a $15.27m grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop two fully electric, zero-emission ferries to serve the San Diego to Coronado route. With advanced battery technology, the vessels will not emit any greenhouse gases during operation and will remove the particulate matter associated with traditional combustion engines. The CARB Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Project grant is part of California Climate Investments…

Danish international shipping and logistics company DFDS has entered an agreement with the Danish Defence to provide freight ferries for transport of military equipment.The partnership will support on military operations and missions. The contract extends the scope of the current contract and starts in 2026, running for up to six years.DFDS expands and extends its cooperation with the Danish Defence. Eight DFDS freight ferries, RoRos, are to be made available for the transport of military equipment and other commodities for military operations…

Artemis Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Delta Marine to manufacture eFoiler vessels for Washington’s Puget Sound.Artemis will work alongside Delta Marine to meet the growing demand for zero-emission ferries, including smaller vessels ideal for high-speed, short-haul routes. Washington State, with more ferries than any other region in the U.S., is under increasing pressure to transition to cleaner, more efficient models as public interest in sustainable transportation rises.The company has grown significantly since its founding in 2017…

Incat Crowther designed a new 24-m passenger fast ferry for Caribbean operator Smith's Ferry Services. Built by Australian shipyard Aluminium Marine in Brisbane, the new ferry will transport 149 passengers at speeds of up to 28 knots and has been designed for the busy Charlotte Amalie (U.S Virgin Islands) to Road Town (British Virgin Islands) tourism route.The main deck can transport 118 passengers in air-conditioned comfort. It boasts a large service kiosk, two bathrooms, and luggage space.

The ocean sector finds itself in a critical moment, especially as the demand to decarbonize grows. Though long-haul is still the biggest emitter in the maritime industry, the need to decarbonize smaller commercial and coastal vessels, including cruise ships, passenger ferries, platform supply vessels (PSVs), offshore service vessels (OSVs), and research ships, is on the rise. Particularly, passenger ferries are pushing into uncharted waters, increasingly being scrutinized by municipal, state, and federal regulators for their environmental impact.

Damen Shipyards has delivered Germany’s first, all-electric catamaran (E-Kat) ferry to its operator AG Reederei Norden-Frisia.Capable of taking up to 150 passengers, the vessel will operate between Norddeich and Norderney on the East Frisian Wadden Sea.The 32-metre E-Kat has been designed to operate on a 30-minute route with 28 minutes allowed at each end to disembark and embark passengers.Built at Damen shipyards in Poland and the Netherlands, the vessel is driven by two propellers…

Patrick Murphy has been President of Blue & Gold Fleet, L.P., the San Francisco Bay Area’s largest and premier provider of Bay Cruises and ferry service, since 2016. Murphy grew up in the Maritime business. His father, Roger Murphy, founded Blue & Gold Fleet in 1979. Patrick Murphy began his career in 1982, working part-time in the Box Office and as a Deckhand before receiving his United States Coast Guard’s license in 1995 and was promoted to Captain in 1996. In 2005, Murphy advanced to Blue & Gold Fleet Operations Manager, and then to Director of Operations in 2009.

CEO Mike Corrigan outlines Interferry’s mountain of objectives – including a game-changing campaign to keep ferries front and center in reducing GHG emissions.Interferry’s origins stem from the launch of a knowledge-sharing US networking initiative in 1976. Those relatively modest roots have grown beyond recognition into a highly respected global trade association with membership exceeding 270 companies – operators and suppliers – in more than 40 countries. We have consultative…

Stralsunder Ostseestaal GmbH & Co. KG has been commissioned by Hafenprojektgesellschaft Helgoland mbH with the development and construction of an all-electric ferry.The so-called dune ferry will connect the German North Sea island of Heligoland with the neighbouring island of Dune. It will replace the ‘Witte Kliff’ ferry, which has been operating on the approximately one kilometre-long route since 1997 and is powered by conventional marine fuel. The new electric-solar ferry will…

The domestic passenger vessel answers the call for cleaner and more efficient platforms. It is truly an electric time to be a part of this niche industry.In the shadow of a rapidly changing political landscape, the domestic passenger ferry sector is nevertheless seeing an increasing number of newbuild vessel orders. Older fleet vessels, some approaching financial and operational obsolescence – also environmentally undesirable on a waterfront that more than ever demands cleaner carbon signatures – are going the way of the dinosaur.

Lighting solutions specialist Glamox has booked a contract to light four Fjord1’s autonomous-ready ferries, expected to be the first in the world to operate independently of human intervention.Glamox was awarded the lighting contract from Tersan Shipyard in Turkey where the vessels are being built for the Norwegian operator Fjord1.The company will provide a total of approximately 2,160 marine-certified lights to light the interior and exterior of the four vessels.For each ferry…

DFDS and the government of Jersey have signed a contract under which DFDS will provide freight and passenger services connecting Jersey of the Channel Islands to the UK and France for 20 years.Beginning 28 March 2025, the new service will include routes from Jersey to Poole and Portsmouth in the U.K., and Saint-Malo in France.DFDS committed to increase the frequency of ferries to address high demand in peak periods, introducing high-speed ferries to the UK and investing in three new vessels by 2032."We are excited to embark on this journey with Jersey and the local community.

Timo Vesala, Account Manager, Americas, at ABB Marine & Ports, is responsible for newbuild sales in the Americas market. Since joining ABB in 2018, he has gathered extensive experience in the marine industry with a focus on electrification and propulsion systems. He holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Aalto University, Finland, and has a passion for clean technology and maritime decarbonization. This month, in our annual Power & Propulsion edition, he weighs…

Austal Philippines delivered a 32m catamaran to Rottnest Fast Ferries, less than 12 months after commencing construction in Balamban, Cebu.Dubbed Ocean Master and designed by Incat Crowther, was officially accepted by representatives from Rottnest Fast Ferries following the successful completion of sea trials in November 2024.President of Austal Asia, Wayne Murray said “The Austal Philippines team have delivered this impressive new catamaran in less than 12 months - exceeding expectations for productivity…

Stralsunder Ostseestaal GmbH & Co. KG and its Ampereship business unit delivered two electric solar ferries to Lago d'Iseo near Bergamo in northern Italy as planned. The client was the responsible local authority of the operator Navigazione Lago d'Iseo, and the new vessels are the first fully electric ferries in Italy.Measuring 25 x 6.6m, the Iseo ferries each have two electric drives with 100 kW output. Electricity is supplied by two battery banks with a total capacity of around 750 kWh.

ProZero delivered a 15m ProZero passenger vessel to Metro-Opus, a provider of high-speed ferry services in Norway, approved for operations by the Norwegian Maritime Authority.The vessel was handed over to Metro-Opus Project Manager Rasmus Husby Larsen by Jakob Frost, co-owner of the shipyard. Designed and built with ProZero's modular construction approach, the vessel combines latest technology, universal design principles, and optimized hull design. It is certified to accommodate 12 passengers…

DFDS was selected as the preferred bidder to take on the 15-year contract to provide ferry life-line freight service and passenger services to Jersey of the Channel Islands from March 28, 2025. “We are thrilled to have been selected as preferred bidder tender for the ferry service to Jersey. This opportunity allows us to bring our commitment to safety, reliability, and exceptional customer service to both residents and visitors of Jersey. We understand that a reliable ferry service is vital for Jersey, for the economy, and for providing essential supplies and access to medical services, and we look forward to serving the local communities on Jersey for many years to come,” says Filip Hermann, VP BU Channel & Baltics.

Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Limited (HKKF) took delivery of two new hybrid ferries, designed by Incat Crowther and built by Hong Kong-based Cheoy Lee Shipyards. The 40-m ferries can transport up to 450 passengers and will service the busy commuter routes between Hong Kong and the islands of Lamma Island, Peng Chau, and Hei Ling Chau. Uniquely, one of the new ferries sports a carbon hull, while all others in the series of a nine vessel order will be aluminum hulls.Each vessel will…