FerryIntel Weekly Briefing No. 4
26 October – 2 November 2026
Issued
This week
New ships are moving from the yard into service, and one order is being opened up again. TT-Line’s new Spirit of Tasmania ferries carried their first paying passengers across Bass Strait, and Pulse Tasmania joined the sailing that left Geelong for Devonport on Saturday night. Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said bookings rose 26% in September and 22% in October, more than 3,000 pet cabins had been sold, and there was no longer a waiting list for caravans. The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group’s Scillonian IV left Vietnam at 06:00 local time on 31 October, a 75m ferry for 600 passengers on a two-month voyage home, due in service in March 2027. Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources has contracted Derecktor Shipyards for a 70', 150-passenger catamaran for Sapelo Island, designed by Chartwell Marine and to be built at Dania Beach, with construction scheduled to begin before year-end. In British Columbia, Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson said the incoming government will look at BC Ferries’ contract with Weihai Shipyards for four Summit-class hybrid-electric ferries, the first expected in 2029, after no Canadian shipyard bid. A study last year found that building the four ferries in B.C. would have generated an additional $1.5 billion in economic activity. Marine Atlantic’s Île Rouge, leased from Stena for five years, is in sea trials and expected on the Gulf run within weeks, in place of Leif Erikson.
The same days also cover what happens when a ship, a whale, or a booking system is not where it was meant to be. Marina suspended the passenger ship safety certificates of motor banca Rose Marie 1, which capsized off Cagayan with all seven crew surviving, and of MV OceanJet 788, which lost reverse propulsion while docking at Tagbilaran. The humpback Notcho, struck by a BC Ferries vessel, has been towed to the Squamish Nation village of Xwemelch’stn for a private ceremony, and a necropsy is expected to take months. Hoiyu International Group has sold the former Moby ferry ELPIS, renamed PISA, to cash buyer GR Shipping; the ship is still in Penang after casino sailings from there ceased in mid-October, while sister ship MOBY DREA remains in lay-up in Crotone. Igoumenitsa Port Authority has funding of approximately EUR 981,000 for battery storage to sit alongside its 1.5 MW photovoltaic park and its shore-power plans. The Steamship Authority is looking for an outside assessment of the reservation system it hired E-Dea to build for $5.7 million, with a partial rollout for the Nantucket fast ferry now estimated for February and the programs live by November 2027.
Scillonian IV leaves Vietnam on the voyage home
Newbuilds & Orders ·
The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group says Scillonian IV left Vietnam at 06:00 local time (23:00 UK time) on 31 October 2026. The 75m ferry, with capacity for 600 passengers, is on a two-month voyage from Ho Chi Minh City via the Cape of Good Hope and is due to enter service in March 2027.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (opens in a new tab)
Incoming B.C. government will look at the BC Ferries shipyard contract
Newbuilds & Orders ·
B.C. Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson told Global News the incoming government will look at BC Ferries' contract for new ferries at a Chinese shipyard. BC Ferries chose Weihai Shipyards to build four new Summit-class hybrid-electric ferries, with the first delivery expected in 2029, and said no Canadian shipyard bid. A study last year found that building the four ferries in B.C. would have generated an additional $1.5 billion in economic activity, most of it in B.C.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: Global News (opens in a new tab)
Marine Atlantic's Île Rouge is due on the Gulf run within weeks
Routes & Operators ·
VOCM reported on 30 October 2026 that Marine Atlantic's Île Rouge is undergoing sea trials and is expected to join the Gulf ferry service in the next few weeks. The vessel is being leased from Stena for five years and most recently served between Marseille and Corsica. It will replace Leif Erikson on the Gulf run.
MARINA suspends the safety certificate of Virgen de Peñafrancia II
Safety ·
MARINA suspended the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate of MV Virgen de Peñafrancia II on 30 October 2026 after the Starhorse Shipping Lines ferry took a severe list at the Port of Real, Quezon. The authority’s initial report says a mooring line snapped at around 12:25 a.m., three passengers were injured, and no fatalities were recorded. The ship is barred from operating until a safety inspection is complete.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: Maritime Industry Authority (opens in a new tab)
Seafarers' strike keeps ships docked at seven Greek ports
Routes & Operators ·
eKathimerini reported on 30 October 2026 that ships remained docked at seven ports as three seafarers’ unions held a nationwide 24-hour strike. The walkout affects Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio, Patra, Igoumenitsa, Elefsina and Rio-Antirrio. The unions’ demands include a 12% pay increase under collective labor agreements.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: eKathimerini (opens in a new tab)
Saint-Malo awards the Naye ferry terminal electrical lot
Tenders ·
Notice 755059-2026, published on 30 October 2026, is a contract award for Lot 11, Courant de quai, in the modernisation of the ferry terminal at Naye in Saint-Malo. SEMBREIZH, acting in the name and on behalf of the Brittany region, awarded it to EIFFAGE ENERGIE SYSTEMES - AUTOMATION DEFENSE SYSTEMES. The tender value is EUR 1447839, and the stated duration is 24 months.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: Tenders Electronic Daily (opens in a new tab)
Greece plans further support for ferry companies on fuel costs
Regulation ·
Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister Vasilis Kikilias confirmed on Thursday that the government intends to introduce additional support so Greek ferry companies can cope with the higher cost of marine fuel. He said the size and form will be announced in the next few days. On an earlier intervention, he said fare hikes had been contained to 15%, which the sector had announced were pending.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: eKathimerini (opens in a new tab)
Steamship Authority looks for an outside review of its reservation system
Routes & Operators ·
The Vineyard Gazette reported on 29 October 2026 that the Steamship Authority is looking for an outside company to assess its new reservation system. The authority hired the Italian firm E-Dea last year for $5.7 million. A partial rollout for the Nantucket fast ferry is now estimated for February, with the programs live by November 2027, and a delay could bring a little more than $800,000 in additional cost.
Read on FerryIntel · Source: The Vineyard Gazette (opens in a new tab)
Georgia contracts Derecktor for a 150-passenger Sapelo Island ferry
Newbuilds & Orders ·
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has contracted Derecktor Shipyards to build a 70' catamaran ferry for Sapelo Island. WorkBoat reported on 29 October 2026 that the 150-passenger vessel, designed by Chartwell Marine, is to be built at Dania Beach, Florida, with construction scheduled to begin before year-end. It will run between Meridian Dock and Marsh Landing Dock, and the existing state ferry will be kept as a reserve.
Washington State Ferries clears ABB for a third hybrid-electric ferry
Decarbonisation ·
ABB said on 29 October 2026 that Washington State Ferries has issued a notice to proceed for an integrated power and propulsion system on a third hybrid-electric newbuild. The system includes a 13.2-megawatt-hour energy storage system designed for all-electric operation on short routes and in port. The step takes ABB from two vessels to three, inside a plan for up to 16 new hybrid electric ferries by 2040.