Three new ferries are entering service with operators in the UK while a fourth is undergoing trials in the Baltic Sea before being delivered to a Polish customer. A new fleet of electric commuter vessels will be introduced in Russia's capital city within the next few years. Lastly, a Swiss luxury cruise brand has placed orders for new ships to be built in the Netherlands.
Scottish operator Western Ferries (Clyde) has formally named its two newest double-ended Ro-Pax vessels.
Sound of Scalpay and Sound of Sleat were built by local company Balaena (formerly Cammell Laird) for Western Ferries in fulfilment of a contract awarded in May 2025.
Following the laying of Sound of Scalpay's keel late last year, Balaena said the contract covered a repeat order of an earlier design used in the ferries Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay, both of which were constructed in 2013.
The passenger ferry Royal Daffodil made her first public cruise on the River Mersey on Saturday, September 26, four days after a naming ceremony in Liverpool that formally welcomed her into the Mersey Ferries fleet.
The £26 million (US$34 million) vessel, built in Birkenhead, is the first new ferry constructed for the service in more than 60 years. Regular passenger services are scheduled to begin in October.
The new ferry is intended for commuter crossings and river sightseeing cruises with space for private events.
Remontowa Shiprepair Yard in Poland has begun conducting sea trials of a new Ro-Pax ferry ordered by local operator Unity Line.
Bursztyn Unity is the second in a two-vessel series ordered by Unity Line for the PolSca Baltic Ferries partnership. The trials, which began on Monday, September 28, are taking place in the southern Baltic before the ship enters service on routes between Poland and Sweden.
The programme is expected to last about two weeks, with speed and manoeuvring checks as well as measurements of noise and vibration. An emergency braking test will measure the ferry’s stopping distance and time and its propulsion system’s response to a sudden high load.
In July, the first trials had been scheduled for August 31 to September 7, with delivery expected in mid-October.
The Moscow City Government plans to expand its public river transport fleet to more than 100 electric vessels by 2030, Russian company State Transport Leasing Company (STLC) said recently.
STLC’s plan calls for about 60 vessels to operate across as many as seven regular routes. An additional 42 electric vessels will serve 11 excursion and pleasure routes.
The company identified Moscow Shipbuilding Yard, which opened in 2025, as the planned production base. The figures are forward-looking estimates rather than a count of vessels ordered or in service.
Explora Journeys has entered into a letter of intent with Netherlands-based Den Breejen Shipyard for the construction of new luxury river cruise ships for the European market.
The agreement marks the planned entry of MSC Cruises' luxury brand focused on ocean travel into river cruising.
Explora Journeys plans to open sales for the new offering in 2027, although it has not announced when operations will begin.
The company did not disclose the number of vessels covered by the letter of intent. Ship designs, onboard facilities, handover timing and first itineraries will be announced later, it said in a statement.