FerryIntel Weekly Briefing No. 3
19 – 26 October 2026
Issued
This week
Ships are leaving the dock and, in one case, already carrying passengers, rather than sitting as new orders. Astilleros Armón floated out Baleària’s ESPAÑA 2030 in Gijón on 24 October, the first of two battery-electric fast catamarans for Tarifa–Tangier, due in summer 2027 after dock and sea trials. The project, covering both ships and electrification of the two ports, is worth more than EUR 200 million, and the second catamaran is still under construction in the same dock. Remontowa handed Bursztyn Unity to Unity Line on 23 October, the second of three ferries, to be prepared for Świnoujście–Ystad and christened in Szczecin on 11 November. Emperium’s technical launches of Kronstadt and Vyborg at Otradnoye complete the six hybrid ferries ordered by State Transport Leasing Company for lease to Vodohod, with commissioning and interior work still ahead. Buquebus has put the 130-metre battery-electric China Zorrilla into commercial service between Buenos Aires and Colonia. SeaLink’s Ruwi left Batam on 24 October on a 4,200-nautical-mile voyage to Port Adelaide, with service expected by the end of November, while Wanggami is to start alongside SeaLion 2000 on 27 October. Wasaline’s agreement with St1 Biokraft is for 42 GWh of liquefied biogas a year from January 2028, bunkered on Aurora Botnia in Vaasa.
The same week shows what happens when a ship, or the value attached to it, is not available. Jadrolinija has cancelled sailings with Dalmacija until 5 January 2027 because of ongoing technical problems, and passengers with bookings will be compensated. Mersey Ferries expects Snowdrop to remain out for several weeks because of a mechanical issue with the engine, and hopes to welcome passengers aboard Royal Daffodil in early November. Shetland Islands Council said Good Shepherd IV will stay off the Fair Isle run into early November, with no replacement ferry. TT-Line’s $723 million accounting loss for 2025–26 is mostly a $646.9 million write-down of its four ferries and two terminals. The company says it delivered a $1.5 million operating profit. Spirit of Tasmania I made its final voyage on Thursday, and Spirit of Tasmania II will do the same on Friday evening. The new ships are due to begin servicing Bass Strait from the end of the month.
Jadrolinija cancels Dalmacija sailings until 5 January 2027
Routes & Operators ·
Jadrolinija announced that sailings with Dalmacija are cancelled until 5 January 2027 because of ongoing technical problems. Passengers with bookings will be compensated.
Armón floats out Baleària fast ferry ESPAÑA 2030 in Gijón
Newbuilds & Orders ·
Astilleros Armón floated out ESPAÑA 2030, the first of two battery-electric fast catamarans for Baleària, in Gijón on 24 October. The 87-metre ship is built for the Tarifa–Tangier route and is due to enter service in summer 2027 after dock and sea trials.
SeaLink’s Ruwi leaves Batam for South Australia
Newbuilds & Orders ·
SeaLink said Ruwi left the Batam shipyard at approx. 8.15am (11.45am ACDT) on 24th October 2026 for a 4,200-nautical-mile voyage to Port Adelaide. The crossing is expected to take around 2 weeks, and Ruwi is expected to enter service by the end of November.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: SeaLink Kangaroo Island (opens in a new tab)
Mersey Ferries expects Snowdrop to remain out for several weeks
Routes & Operators ·
Mersey Ferries said an ongoing mechanical issue with Snowdrop's engine means the vessel remains out of service, and that it is likely to stay out for several weeks. Services were first suspended on Saturday 10 October. The operator hopes to welcome passengers aboard Royal Daffodil in early November.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: Liverpool Echo (opens in a new tab)
Good Shepherd IV to stay off the Fair Isle run into early November
Routes & Operators ·
Shetland Islands Council said Good Shepherd IV will be out of service for the next ten days or so, into early November, after the push-pull rod which controls the propeller pitch broke. A replacement has been ordered from Norway. There is no replacement ferry on the Fair Isle run during this period.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: Shetland News (opens in a new tab)
Remontowa hands Bursztyn Unity to Unity Line
Newbuilds & Orders ·
Gdańsk Shiprepair Yard Remontowa delivered Bursztyn Unity to Unity Line on 23 October 2026. The ferry is the second of three vessels being built for the Polish operator. It will be christened in Szczecin on 11 November and prepared for the Świnoujście–Ystad route.
Emperium launches hybrid ferries Kronstadt and Vyborg for GTLK
Newbuilds & Orders ·
Emperium has launched the hybrid ferries Kronstadt and Vyborg at Otradnoye in Leningrad Region. They are the last of six Project EM901, or Moskva 2.0, vessels ordered by State Transport Leasing Company for lease to Vodohod Passenger Port. The yard called the launches technical launches, with commissioning and interior work still to come.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: Baird Maritime (opens in a new tab)
Buquebus puts battery-electric China Zorrilla into service on the River Plate
Routes & Operators ·
Buquebus has put China Zorrilla into commercial service between Buenos Aires and Colonia. The 130-metre Incat catamaran, Hull 096, has completed her maiden commercial crossing of the River Plate. An official launch ceremony was held in Buenos Aires on 21 October.
TT-Line reports a $723 million accounting loss after Spirit write-downs
Routes & Operators ·
TT-Line has announced a $723 million accounting loss for 2025–26, the bulk of it a $646.9 million write-down of its four ferries and two terminals. The company says it delivered a $1.5 million operating profit.
Wasaline signs a two-year biogas supply for Aurora Botnia from 2028
Decarbonisation ·
Wasaline has signed an agreement with St1 Biokraft for 42 GWh of liquefied biogas a year. Deliveries begin in January 2028 and the agreement runs for two years. The fuel will be bunkered on Aurora Botnia in Vaasa, and Wasaline's ambition is to use mainly biogas from Suomen Lantakaasu's plant in Nurmo, about 80 km from Vaasa.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: St1 Biokraft (opens in a new tab)