Shippax Newsletter– week 3

Viking Line introduces Green Sea Conference also on its Helsinki routes

Every year, about 200,000 passengers take part in conferences and meetings on board Viking Line's vessels. Starting in late spring 2025, it will be possible for all these conference trips bought in Finland to be completed with 90 per cent fewer emissions when the company's Green Sea Conferences are expanded beyond the Turku route and made available on all routes.

Finnlines considers second ship on successful Swinoujscie–Malmö route

On 14 January 2025, a ceremony summarizing Finnlines' presence in Poland was held onboard Finnlines' FINNFELLOW at the Euro Terminal in Swinoujscie. In April 2024, the ferry line launched its first connection between Swinoujscie and Malmö, providing access to the Copenhagen and Skåne regions.

After nine months of operation, it can already be confirmed that the Swinoujscie–Malmö connection has been a success, and Finnlines is considering introducing an additional ship on the route to meet growing demand.

Destination Gotland aims to triple Danish visitors to Gotland over the next three years

The number of Danish travellers to Gotland has increased by almost 30 percent since 2019, and by nine percent from 2023 to 2024 alone. This positive development has inspired Destination Gotland to intensify its efforts in Denmark with an ambitious goal of tripling the number of Danish guests over the next three years.

Located just under 230 kilometers from Stockholm, but only a short flight or ferry trip from southern Sweden, Gotland is an obvious destination for Danish families, couples and outdoor enthusiasts. Something that Destination Gotland hopes they will be able to open the eyes of even more Danish travellers to over the next three years.

Port of Tallinn served over 8 million passengers in 2024

In 2024, a total of 8.2 million passengers passed through the ports operated by the Port of Tallinn, marking a 3.6% increase compared to the previous year. The Tallinn-Helsinki route remained the most popular, accounting for 7.2 million passengers, a 3.3% growth compared to the previous year.

The route was served by seven vessels operated by three ferry companies: Tallink, Viking Line, and Eckerö Line. Eckerö Line's FINLANDIA was the most popular ship, chosen by 26% of all passengers.

Stena welcomes STENA SHIPPER to its fleet

Stena has welcomed a new chartered ship to its fleet. The ship is the CLdN-owned GIUSEPPE LUCCHESI, which most recently was chartered to Cotunav. For Stena it has been renamed STENA SHIPPER and will fly under the Danish Flag.

STENA SHIPPER is part of an eight-ship fleet built by the Danish Odense Shipyard between 2009 and 2012.

PEARL SEAWAYS and CROWN SEAWAYS to become NORDIC PEARL and NORDIC CROWN

Kim Heiberg, route director of the Copenhagen-Oslo route for Gotlandsbolaget, has confirmed to Shippax that the new names for PEARL SEAWAYS and CROWN SEAWAYS will become NORDIC PEARL and NORDIC CROWN.

PEARL SEAWAYS is currently at the Oresund Drydocks in Landskrona yard as the first of the two ships to receive refurbishments on public areas and upgrades to all its cabins. It is expected to leave the yard at the end of the month as NORDIC PEARL. Work on CROWN SEAWAYS will take place in March and will leave at the end of that month as NORDIC CROWN.

Emission-neutral conferences aboard AURORA BOTNIA

Wasaline launches emission-neutral conferences aboard AURORA BOTNIA. The carbon footprint of a conference trip on AURORA BOTNIA is only about 25 kg CO2 per person. Wasaline covers the cost of emission compensation itself, so passengers incur no extra expenses.

AURORA BOTNIA is powered by LNG, biogas, and battery technology. Emission neutrality is achieved by allocating the ship's operation to biogas and battery technology, thereby eliminating all emissions during the trip.

Ove Dines Høegh passed away

Ove Dines Høegh, a visionary leader and key architect of the Höegh legacy, passed away peacefully on 11 January 2025, at the age of 88. Ove was the son of company founder Leif Høegh and the father of the current Chair of Höegh Autoliners, Leif O. Høegh.

Over seven decades, Ove was part of leading the Höegh family companies and it was under his leadership, that Leif Høegh & Co. expanded to the vehicle transport segment in 1970 through the Höegh Ugland Auto Liners (HUAL) joint venture – the predecessor and the basis for developing the company into the current major ro-ro operator.

Höegh Autoliners takes delivery of fourth Aurora Class newbuild

Höegh Autoliners' fourth 9,100 CEU capacity Aurora Class vessel, the HÖEGH SUNLIGHT, saw the light of day at a grand naming ceremony at the Taicang Haitong Auto Terminal in China. HÖEGH SUNLIGHT will be cutting carbon emissions per car transported by up to 58 percent from the current industry average.

From 2027, the first Aurora class vessel will be powered by green ammonia, eliminating nearly all carbon emissions.

DFDS launches freight route between Spain and the Netherlands

DFDS is launching a weekly freight service connecting Spain and the Netherlands, aimed at serving the needs of industrial customers, freight forwarders and project cargo owners. In connection with the new route, DFDS and Hydro, a global aluminium and energy company, have signed an agreement for weekly shipment of aluminium.

Starting from end May, the new route will connect the ports of Vilagarcía and Rotterdam, offering a seamless and direct ferry link from southern to central Europe. With the new service, DFDS offers a competitive alternative to road transport to meet demand for freight transportation within Europe.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen appointed new terminal operator for the Port of Gothenburg vehicle and ro-ro terminal

The Port of Gothenburg has appointed Wallenius Wilhelmsen as the new operator for the port's vehicle and ro-ro terminal, following a recently conducted procurement process. The operator will take over operations in February 2026 under a 12-year concession agreement.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen's commitment also includes an investment program of nearly EUR 6 million to modernize the terminal's areas, buildings, and infrastructure to further strengthen its market offering.

Steel cut ceremony held for Torghatten Nord’s second of two new electric ferries at Özata Shipyard

A steel cut ceremony has been held at the Turkish Özata Shipyard for FLØYTIND, the second of two electric ferries for Torghatten Nord. FLØYTIND and sister MISTERØY will each have a battery capacity of 1,960 kWh and are built to a design of The Norwegian Ship Design Company.

The ferries will be 76.85 metres long and will have a capacity to carry 202 passengers and 60 vehicles.

DFDS December volumes

DFDS' total freight volumes in December 2024 were 6.4% above 2023 and on level adjusted for the addition of Strait of Gibraltar routes in 2024, closure of Calais-Tilbury in 2023, and the opening of Damietta-Trieste in 2024.

The number of passengers in December 2024 was 16.5% above 2023 and on level adjusted for the above route changes as well as the sale of Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen.

UECC in first truck-to-ship delivery of liquefied biomethane in Spain

United European Car Carriers (UECC) has performed the first-ever ship refuelling operation in Spain with a truck-borne shipment of liquefied biomethane (LBM) to widen access to supplies of the sustainable fuel and bolster the country's circular economy.

In the event at the Port of Vigo overseen by the president of the port, LBM supplied by green energy developer Naturgy from a biomethane production plant in the surrounding Galicia province was pumped directly from a tanker truck into the tanks of UECC's multi-fuel LNG battery hybrid Pure Car and Truck Carrier, AUTO ADVANCE.

Value Maritime and ME2CC consortium partners announce Maritime Masterplan 2024 funding for carbon capture system on Samskip vessel

Value Maritime and its partners in the Maritime Efficient & Easy Carbon Capture (ME2CC) project announced the receipt of funding from the Maritime Masterplan 2024. The funding will contribute to the development, construction and demonstration of a first-in-kind compact, modular carbon capture system to be installed aboard the LNG vessel SAMSKIP KVITBJØRN.

Port of Calais takes step towards becoming first port to offer 100 MW of electrical power

Port Boulogne Calais has taken an essential step towards making the cross-Channel link carbon-neutral by 2035 by signing a EUR 6.7 million contract with the French high-voltage electricity transmission operator for the supply of 100 MW of electrical power to the Port of Calais.

The Port of Calais will be the first port in the world to offer such power (100 MW) allowing the recharging of batteries of up to three ships simultaneously with a power of 20 to 35 MW per ship in a limited time of 45 minutes.

It is now less than three months left until the 2025 Shippax Ferry Conference. Few outside Commodore cabins and sponsorships now remain, so it's highly recommended to register as soon as possible. To maximize your company’s exposure, don’t miss to book an exhibition area and/or sponsorship early to ensure a favourable place.

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