Focus on Passenger Vessels

The already diverse global passenger vessel industry is never short on innovation, as readers will see over the coming days. Our featured lineup of reviewed vessels covers a broad selection from fast inner city ferries to tour boats that sail at more leisurely speeds, from large inter-island Ro-Paxes to cruise ships that can accommodate nearly a thousand guests each.

Various propulsion systems are again also covered, and it is noteworthy that some of the featured vessels are fitted with lower-emission-capable propulsion components such as large-capacity batteries and rooftop solar panels.

Ferries • Ro-Pax • Marine Tourism • Cruise • River/Lake Operations

We will also look into an ongoing development wherein a well-known Swedish transport company embarks on a project that involves the use of hydrogen propulsion. If successful, this alternative marine fuel will power two large Ro-Paxes that will sail on regular trips along the 90 kilometres between Gotland Island and the mainland beginning in 2030.

We invite readers to regularly visit Baird Maritime to be updated on the continually evolving – and adapting – worldwide passenger vessel industry

Vessel Reviews:

• Vestrefjord – Turkish-built electric ferry for Norway’s Boreal
• La Vendéenne – Newbuild ferry to serve Western France’s Yeu Island
• Honfleur – German-built large Ro-Pax powered by LNG
• Kalibobo Express – New inter-island catamaran for Papua New Guinea operator
• Sooryamshu – Solar-powered inland tour boat to serve Kerala State, India
• Viking Mars – Ocean-going 930-guest luxury liner for Viking Cruises
• Skana – Bespoke sightseeing catamaran for Alaska’s Kenai Fjords National Park
• L’Estuaire – Quebec operator adds newbuild to whale-watching fleet
• NZK Pont 103 – Amsterdam’s GVB welcomes fourth electric ferry in series
• Eloise – Sweden’s Vasttrafik acquires hybrid-powered double-ended ferry
• Reimei Maru – Ro-Pax to serve Uwajima Unyu’s Shikoku-Kyushu route
• Dorado – US-Australian collaboration delivers fast commuter ferry for San Francisco Bay Area
  
• Aero Highspeed 1 – Greece’s Attica Group deploys catamaran ferry trio for Saronic Gulf sailings
  

Features and Opinion:

FEATURE | Swedish ferry operator proposes hydrogen-powered fast Ro-Paxes

– “The company expects the ferries will each be capable of covering the 90-kilometre stretch between Gotland and the Swedish mainland in around three hours.”

News and Gear:

• GEAR | Wasaline ferry to be fitted with new firefighting system
• Ferry sinking leaves eight dead in south-eastern Cambodia
• Passenger Vessel News Roundup | October 12 – Chinese inland tour boats, Swedish autonomous Ro-Paxes and more
• Over 100 rescued after ferry runs aground in southern Philippines
• Over 70 dead after river boat capsizes in south-eastern Nigeria
• Passenger Vessel News Roundup | October 5 – Norwegian autonomous ferry, Great Lakes cruise ship, and US and Chinese tour boats
• One dead following boat capsizing in Assam, India
• Passenger Vessel News Roundup | September 28 – US and Norwegian cruise ships, Danish large Ro-Pax and UK-designed electric hydrofoil commuter ferry concept
• Death toll from Bangladesh river ferry sinking now at 61
• Bangladesh ferry tragedy death toll rises to 50

Recent Important Features:

OPINION | An Australian-funded safe ferries program would save lives in the Pacific

– “For a comparatively small investment in a safe ferries program, Australia would be rewarded with significant kudos and appreciation at a time when the region is increasing geopolitically contested.”

– By Dr Neil Baird, co-founder and former Editor-in-Chief of Baird Maritime

FEATURE | Electric hydrofoil ferry concept under development in Northern Ireland

– “The vessels are designed to fly above the water, providing a comfortable ride for the passengers, mitigating the effects of seasickness, and producing minimal wake at high speeds.”

Remember to come back every day to see the latest news, opinion and vessel reviews!

Call for content!

Any news or views about the global maritime tourism, ferry and cruise industries? Send it through to [email protected] ASAP (between now and October 14), so we can add it to this current edition of Passenger Vessel Week!

We are after:

• Vessels – Orders, new deliveries, under construction
• Gear – Latest innovations and technology in the passenger vessel sector
• Interviews – Owners, operators, terminal authorities, passenger vessel associations, etc.
• Reminiscences – Do you have any exciting, amusing or downright dangerous anecdotes from your time in the passenger vessel world? (example here)
• Other – Any other relevant news

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