Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan delivers an update each month which summarizes Interferry activities including regulatory updates, conference developments and membership news. The CEO Update is sent out by email to our mailing list and is announced on Interferry’s company page on LinkedIn and on Twitter via @InterferryOrg.

Hello Ferry Fans,

As we wrap up a productive first quarter of 2024, things are about to get even busier as we enter April and host our Africa Ferry Safety Seminar (AFSS) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; welcome Interferry’s Operators Policy Committee (OPC) in Genoa, Italy; return to Marrakech, Morocco for a final planning visit; present at the Carus User Group conference in Mariehamn, Finland; and sail across the Strait of Gibraltar onboard the FRS/DFDS ferry Ceuta Jet.

While it’s enticing to skip ahead to April’s frantic schedule, I first want to tell you about what happened in March. Starting with maybe the biggest news of all… we have just confirmed the final details for the Interferry2024 Technical Tour!

Interferry2024 Technical Tour • Sail from Africa to Europe via FRS/DFDS

I’m thrilled to be able to confirm that we will be able to deliver another unforgettable Technical Tour this year – building off our hugely successful event last year at Incat’s facilities in Hobart.

As everyone is aware, while Marrakech truly is a remarkable city, it isn’t near a body of water which is challenging given we are the global association representing the ferry industry. We have been able to overcome this by offering delegates a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 30, Technical Tour participants will fly directly via a chartered plane from Marrakech to Tangier where they will stay overnight in a traditional Moroccan hotel. On Thursday, after a tour of the FRS/DFDS terminal, delegates will sail on the Tarifa Jet to Tarifa and will tour the vessel while enroute. Once in Tarifa, delegates will tour that terminal. After the tour, busses will take participants to the international Malaga Airport.

We have already had a lot of inquiries about the Tech Tour, so I suggest you book early as we only have room for 100 people on the plane. We will price the Technical Tour at US$250 – below our cost – which will include the one-hour flight and bussing on both continents. Accommodations aren’t included. Since Interferry member registration doesn’t open until June 1, if you are a member and interested in reserving your spot on the tour please contact Nicole Bond, Interferry’s Membership and Conference Manager as soon as possible.

For up-to-date details check out the Technical Tour page on InterferryConference.com.

Interferry2024 Call for Speakers Submission Portal Opens April 17

With our triple “S” theme of “Safety, Security and Sustainability”, the Call for Speakers submission portal opens on April 17 on the Interferry2024 conference website in the “Program” section. If you are interested in being on the main stage in Marrakech, please make sure you complete all the required information listed in the portal submission guidelines to be eligible for consideration.

If you are a supplier, just a reminder that your proposal shouldn’t be commercial in nature. In other words, only 10 percent of the presentation should be about your company/product with the remainder focused on educating and enlightening the audience.

For our operator members, we welcome the opportunity for you to submit a proposal on any of the three topic areas. After all, a key part of Interferry is about sharing best practices and lessons learned for the overall advancement of our industry – without, of course, compromising any anti-trust regulations.

As I mentioned in last month’s Update, I can’t think of three topics that are currently more interesting or relevant to our industry. “Safety” is timely because we will be on the African continent again after co-organizing the Africa Ferry Safety Seminar. “Security” involves not only the always present physical security concerns pertaining to ports and vessels, but also – and perhaps even more critical – cybersecurity. And – last but not least as our industry continues its decarbonization push towards zero emissions – “Sustainability”.

IMO Update • MEPC 81 and Review of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

Interferry has consultative status at the IMO and last month our Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos attended the 81st session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 81). Although we were expecting a review of the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) – an operational efficiency requirement few industry stakeholders believe is meaningful or feasible – it came as a surprise to us to learn that, at the last minute, EU member states had mutually agreed to block the IMO from discussing the technical and practical details of the CII during this session. Instead, they deferred a review of the CII to MEPC 82 which takes place in October 2024. So, we now feel that the industry is behind the eight ball, as a revised CII is expected to be finalized no later than the spring of 2025.

The IMO is also reviewing the carriage of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and other alternative fuel vehicles on ro-ro ships. Initially all ro-ro ship types were under scrutiny but as Interferry – through the LASH FIRE initiative – could demonstrate the efficacy of a drencher system, ro-pax and ro-ro ferries are temporarily left out. The IMO will initially concentrate on vehicle carriers – read Pure Car and Truck Carriers or PCTCs – as they are not equipped with drencher systems but rather use CO2 as an extinguishing agent. We will continue engaging with our members and other stakeholders on the carriage of BEVs, but at this stage it was important to make a clear distinction between rules for transporting new and used vehicles between continents and private cars that are stowed for just a few hours on a vehicle deck of a drencher-equipped ferry.

Johan will issue a Regulatory Update in the coming weeks which will provide in-depth coverage on the status of CII and the carriage of BEVs on ro-ro vessels.

April 2024 Schedule

Since I started this report talking about Interferry’s busy April, here’s a bit more information on our travel and event schedule for the coming month. As always, we hope to see many of you somewhere along the way – if not at one of the locations below, maybe in an airport during one of our 15 flights!

April 11 – Operators Policy Committee (OPC) meeting in Genoa, Italy, hosted by GNV

April 16 and 17 – Africa Ferry Safety Seminar in Dar es Salaam, co-hosted with the IMO

April 18 and 19 – Final Technical Tour preparations in Tarifa and Tangier

April 20 to 26 – Final conference planning visit in Marrakech

April 22 to 25 – Carus User Group conference in Mariehamn, Finland

Until next month, take care and stay safe…
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Greetings Ferry Fans,

This month I would like to report on our first Board meeting of the year; highlight Interferry’s involvement in the IMO’s upcoming MEPC 81 session; draw your attention to the implementation of the European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES); provide an update on our Africa Ferry Safety Seminar in April; and announce our conference theme for Interferry2024.

San Francisco Board Meeting and Operators Visit

For the Interferry Board of Directors and management, February had a busy start with a San Francisco Board meeting and local operators tour and dinner. As part of the meeting agenda, the Board approved our 2024 annual budget, 2024 management objectives and three-year communications plan – all of which augment our new 2024-2026 strategic plan All Aboard, which can be found here on Interferry.com in the Communications section.

While in San Francisco, we were hosted on a day-long technical tour of the Bay area by Interferry Directors Seamus Murphy of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), and Terry MacRae of Hornblower. Seamus toured us through the maintenance facility of WETA-contracted commuter and tourist operator the Blue & Gold Fleet. The highlight was a WETA tour of the hydrogen-powered ferry Sea Change, a first-ever for North America and the vessel owner, new Interferry member SWITCH Maritime. Terry organized a trip to Alcatraz Island and a tour of the infamous decommissioned federal prison, sailing on the converted electric ferry Alcatraz Flyer operated by Hornblower’s City Cruises division.

We also hosted a dinner with the leaders of San Francisco Bay operators and members. In addition to Seamus and Terry, attendees included Alex Kryska of Prop SF, Joe Burgard and Tyler Foster of the Red and White Fleet, Michael Hoffman of Golden Gate Bridge and Patrick Murphy of Blue & Gold Fleet.

IMO • Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 81)

There is never a dull moment for Johan Roos, our Director of Regulatory Affairs. Representing Interferry at the IMO, Johan will be in London during the 81st session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 81) running from March 18-22. On the agenda: IMO’s long-term GHG emissions strategy but also a review of the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII). This is an operational requirement that dictates how much fuel is allowed to be burned per nautical mile, in relation to ship type and ship size. There is no other mode of transport for which regulators have tried to control operational fuel efficiency and that’s for good reason – it’s impossible to do so as operational conditions constantly vary…not least in shipping!

This operational efficiency requirement stems from the same IMO approach that gave us the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), by which ‘average ship’ within a category of ship type is defined. We have never supported this statistical approach, for the very reason that there is no such thing as an ‘average ro-pax’. While this may be relevant for more homogeneous ship types like container vessels or tankers, it is not so for ro-ro cargo ships and ro-pax ferries. What’s more, since most international ro-pax operations occur in Europe, about 90% of the ro-pax fleet falling within the IMO framework is already subject to the EU Emissions Trading System, effective from January 2024, and the EU’s fuel carbon content requirements due from 2025. Needless to say, these operators have all the incentives they need to improve efficiency. As such, Interferry will throw its full weight behind the ongoing CII review to ensure that insult is not added to injury.

EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

In October this year, the EU will implement its Entry/Exit System. This is the EU equivalent of the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), complete with biometric data such as fingerprints and facial photos. The introduction of the EES will be a huge challenge for those ferry operators connecting non-EU/Schengen countries with the EU (UK-Continent; North Africa to Spain, France and Italy). Interferry and our peers at the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) were never consulted by the competent authorities, who incomprehensibly were inspired by airport-style entries. Our main concern is that we can expect long delays in border controls and operators’ processing of passengers in the ports, especially for car and coach passengers. We can change little about it, but a group of concerned operator members have formed a task force to find ways to minimise the implications of the new system.

Interferry/IMO Africa Ferry Safety Seminar • April 16-17 • Tanzania

Oliver Weiss, Chair of Interferry’s Domestic Safety Committee, reports that planning and participation in our first-ever safety seminar on the African continent in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is progressing nicely. We have now secured more than 50% of our expected attendees. If you would like to attend, or know an operator in Africa that should, please contact Oliver at oliver.weiss@gma-ltd.com as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

An action-packed two days will include the following sessions:

  • Loading and stowage
  • Vessel design and classification
  • Insurance and finance
  • Political will
  • Safety management culture
  • Navigation and incident reporting
  • Technical management
  • Field trip – ferry crossing to Zanzibar
  • Ferry history – Tanzania

Interferry2024 Marrakech Conference Theme • Safety, Security and Sustainability

I’m excited to report that our conference theme at this year’s event in Morocco, taking place from October 26-30, is “Safety, Security and Sustainability”. I can’t think of three topics that are currently of more interest and relevance to our industry. Safety because we are in Africa. Security regarding not only physical security around ports and vessels, but now – more important than ever – cybersecurity. And of course, Sustainability, as our industry continues its decarbonization push towards zero emissions.

We will open the speaker’s submission portal on the Interferry2024 conference website in mid-April to start receiving applications to be on the main stage in Marrakech. If the past couple of years are any indication of speaker demand, we will once again have our work cut out for us. So, I encourage those of you interested in presenting to start thinking about your topic, making sure your submissions are educational and extremely relevant to one of our conference themes.

Since there’s already a lot in this report, I’ll end it here for now.

Until next month, take care and stay safe……
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Greetings Ferry Friends,

I hope 2024 is treating you well so far. The Interferry team had a busy and productive start to the year by attending and presenting at the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) of America’s annual conference in Portland, Oregon, meeting with World Maritime University (WMU) officials in Malmo, Sweden and traveling to Bangkok, Thailand to begin preparation for Interferry2026.

In addition to providing more details on the above topics, in this month’s report I would like to summarize our key regulatory initiatives for 2024, update you on this year’s conference in Marrakech, Morocco, and ask for your help with regards to our recently announced Africa Ferry Safety Seminar (AFSS) that we are co-sponsoring with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Interferry2026 • Bangkok

Interferry’s Director of Conferences and Finance Shari Corrigan and I spent the first week of the year in Bangkok with Interferry2026 Conference hosts Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram and Farn Sritrairatana of the Chao Phraya Express Boat Co. identifying hotels, venues and tours for our first Asian event location since Manila in 2016. We were both very impressed with what Bangkok – and Thailand in general – has to entice our well-traveled Interferry family to “The Land of Smiles” in a little more than two years’ time.

Like London in 2019, our 2026 location will be another river-centric conference, as we plan to organize all our major events at impressive venues along the banks of mighty Chao Phraya River, with travel provided by the Chao Phraya Express Boat Co.

As can be seen in the picture below, we were warmly welcomed by senior members of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Both organizations are very keen to work with us to ensure a successful event – which we are confident will happen.

Regulatory Priorities for 2024

Johan Roos, Interferry’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, reports that his office’s primary focuses for this year – in addition to representing our organization at all applicable IMO sessions and hosting three strategically important Interferry Operators Policy Committee meetings – will be:

  • Forging a long-term relationship with the World Maritime University (WMU) relative to our critical important objective to improving safety in the developing world – which will include the AFSS in Tanzania and a follow up session at our conference in Marrakech. Johan reports that this has already begun with his visit to WMU’s campus in January.
  • Continuing to identify and engage operator members affected by the somewhat sudden implementation of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (ESS) regulations set to go into effect this fall.
  • Working with both Interferry’s GHG Working Group and CII Task Force to engage heavily in the ongoing CII review.
  • Lobbying for the now effective EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) revenues to be directed towards the aggressive development of Onshore Power Supply (OPS) infrastructure.
  • Pushing for changes to the High-Speed Craft Code (HSC), along with Interferry member OSK and Danish regulators, that will allow for ferries now subject to the current code to be built and operated at slower speeds.
  • Supporting enhanced ro-ro deck firefighting training through the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE) and ultimately the IMO.

Interferry2024 • Marrakech • October 26-30, 2024

We are pleased to report that things are well in hand for another memorable event this fall in Morocco. The Speakers Program will be held on October 28 and 29 at the impressive Palais des Congrès conference center which adjoins the Mövenpick Marrakech, our conference hotel. Please check out the conference website for frequent updates. We expect to announce the theme of this year’s conference within the next two months.

We are still working out the details of the Technical Tour, but we can say that it will include a visit to Tangier and ferry ride across the Strait of Gibraltar aboard an FRS/DFDS vessel. At this time, we are planning to merge the Technical Tour with a short Post-conference Tour that will include transportation from Marrakech to Tangier (with an overnight in the port city), a ferry crossing the next day to Spain, concluding with a short bus ride to the Malaga airport. We will be able to provide more details by the time conference registration opens on June 1.

A New Sponsorship Model

As part of All Aboard, our newly minted strategic plan, we are working towards providing more value to our supplier community starting with a new Annual Sponsorship model. Recognition and participation at our annual conference will obviously still be a large part of being an Interferry sponsor. However, starting this year, we plan to recognize and engage our upper tier sponsors more throughout the year.

For more information check out the Interferry Annual Sponsorship page on Interferry.com.

With regards to Marrakech, after our sold-out event in Australia last year, coupled with the firm commitments and overall interest we are receiving one month into the new year, I encourage those of you in our supplier community looking for a premium business development opportunity that pays dividends throughout the year to contact Interferry Sponsorship Manager Karen Giffon as soon as possible.

PVA Conference • Portland, Oregon • January 27-30

Interferry Chairman Tim Mooney, along with Interferry Membership and Conference Manager Nicole Bond and Interferry Business Manager Jakki Papps attended PVA’s MariTrends conference in Portland – the organization’s annual marquee event. Tim gave a compelling presentation to ferry delegates as to why Interferry’s regulatory presence at the IMO is so important to our American members – and how the IMO’s rules ultimately influence how the US Coast Guard develops future regulations.

Interferry Director Seamus Murphy – Executive Director of WETA – also spoke at the event about his organization’s plans for a fully electric fleet and floating charger stations, as well as the overall value Interferry provides to ferry operators.

Africa Ferry Safety Seminar • April 16-17 • Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

As was recently announced via our news release and by the IMO via its Circular Letter (both can be found here on Interferry.com), Interferry and the IMO will be co-sponsoring this historic event later this spring in Tanzania. The IMO will be inviting representatives from African Member States most affected by domestic ferry safety accidents. Interferry will invite operators and other industry stakeholders from the countries concerned.

In the coming weeks, Interferry’s focus will be on reaching out to industry for its support. We are calling on all interested parties to spread the word about the seminar and exchange contacts and information, so that we can attract the highest possible number of relevant delegates. If you would like to participate in the event or know of operators who should participate, please contact Interferry’s Domestic Ferry Safety Chairman Oliver Weiss or Interferry’s Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos.

From a funding perspective, Interferry’s Shari Corrigan has confirmed that the TK Foundation will be making a substantial contribution to help offset the cost for African operators to participate. We are very grateful for this and hope to attract other funding partners as we continue to expand our domestic ferry safety initiative in the months and years to come.

Well, that wraps up another month’s activity report. Next month, I plan on providing a recap of Interferry’s first Board of Directors meeting for 2024 being held in San Francisco on February 2, with a local operators tour and get-together on February 1.

Until next time, take care and stay safe…
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Greeting Ferry Fans,

Welcome to my last update for 2023, wrapping up another exciting and rewarding year for all of us at Interferry.

In this month’s report, I would like to introduce our newly minted 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, recognize our newest members, draw your attention to our latest Regulatory Report and prompt you to populate your calendars with key Interferry dates for 2024.

All Aboard – Interferry’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan

I’m pleased to report that at our November 4 board meeting in Hobart, Interferry’s directors unanimously approved our master plan for the next three years. All Aboard builds off our current plan and its many successes, while at the same time looking to provide greater value to our membership, add more resources in our regulatory/public affairs area and, most importantly, further our commitment to improving ferry safety in the developing world.

In no particular order, the following five objectives are the centerpiece of our 2024-2026 Strategic Plan:

Objective 1 – Stronger Together
Bring the global ferry industry together by providing a platform to share
innovation, knowledge and experience

Objective 2 – Regulatory Influence
Influence the development of effective regulations and policies that support
safe and environmentally sustainable ferry operations by engaging external and
internal key stakeholders

Objective 3 – Value to Membership
Ensure member satisfaction and ongoing engagement while incrementally
growing the organization to include under-represented membership regions

Objective 4 – Brand Recognition
Expand recognition of Interferry as the trusted voice of the global ferry industry
through public affairs, strategic partnerships and enhanced communications

Objective 5 – Environment and Safety
Encourage environmental sustainability across the global ferry industry and
promote domestic ferry safety in developing regions

I encourage you to read the full strategic plan in the members-only section of our website.

Welcome to our New Members

It is always a pleasure to welcome newcomers to the Interferry family. During 2023, 25 new members joined our organization. Here’s a list of those who have signed on since my last acknowledgment in June. As always, and where appropriate, please look to our supplier members first when considering your various business needs.

AEGIR-Marine BV – Netherlands
Artemis Technologies Ltd – Ireland
Aurizn Solutions Pty Ltd. – Australia
Cetasol – Sweden
Echandia – Sweden
EV Maritime – New Zealand
Setyawati Fitrianggraeni – Indonesia
GE Aerospace – USA
Helm Operations – Canada
Hullbot PTY Ltd – Australia
Kroes Marine Projects BV – Netherlands
Oliver Lewis – Finland
Angus McDonald – Australia
Stephen Phillips – England
Seatransport Pty Ltd – Australia
Star Engineering Ltd. – UK

This Month’s Regulatory Report

I also encourage you to read the most recent Regulatory Report by Johan Roos, Interferry’s regulatory affairs director. Johan draws attention to the pending FuelEU Maritime initiative – which might as well be interpreted as the EU fuel standard and a precursor of a global fuel standard.

Indirectly connected to reducing the carbon content of energy used on board, Johan also addresses the transition from a High-Speed Craft Code (HSC Code) to a High Speed & Light Craft Code, something that is high on Interferry’s 2024 agenda.

Key Dates for 2024

Speaking of 2024, for your planning purposes, here are some key Interferry dates and related activities for the coming year…

January 27-30: Portland, Oregon, USA – Passenger Vessel Association of America (PVA) with Interferry Chairman Tim Mooney presenting

February 1-2: San Francisco, California – Interferry Board meeting and local operators tour and meeting

April 11: Genoa, Italy – Operators Policy Committee meeting hosted by Matteo Catani and Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV)

April 16-17: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – African Safety Seminar co-hosted by Interferry and IMO

May 12: Stockholm, Sweden – Interferry Board meeting

May 13-15: Shippax 2024 Conference with Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan presenting

September 8-10: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada – Canadian Ferry Association Conference with Interferry Regulatory Affairs Director Johan Roos presenting

October 26-30: Marrakech, Morocco – Interferry2024 conference hosted by FRS Iberia

Note: There will also be a virtual OPC meeting scheduled in July/August and another in-person meeting in the early autumn/fall

As you can see, next year is already shaping up to be busy and productive. For myself and Shari Corrigan, Interferry’s conferences and finance director, it will begin on January 1 when we fly to Bangkok, Thailand to meet with Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram and her team at Chao Phraya Express Boat to start planning for the recently announced Interferry2026 conference.

As I sign off for 2023, I would like to express my appreciation for your support and encouragement over the past year, as we continue to fight the good fight and be the voice of the worldwide ferry industry.

Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a Ferry Merry Holiday Season!
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Greetings Ferry Fans,

It’s hard to believe our 47th annual conference in Hobart has come and gone already. I hope that the 470 people or so who attended got home safely wherever on the globe that may be. By all accounts, our Tasmania experience delivered beyond expectations. So, thanks for making the extra effort to travel to the Land Down Under, and thanks again to our conference host Spirit of Tasmania and its CEO Bernard Dwyer and his team – especially Sophie Wright. I would also be remiss if I didn’t shout out to our exceptional Interferry team for a phenomenal job once again.

In this month’s report, in addition to touching on some conference highlights, I would like to provide an update on the new directors joining the Interferry Board and announce the location of our 50th conference venue slated for 2026.

Importantly, I’m also extremely proud to tell you about a domestic ferry safety seminar we will host in conjunction with the IMO in Africa next April.

Hobart Conference Highlights

Interferry2023 was held on November 4-8. Probably one of the most remote yet beautiful places on earth to organise a signature ferry industry conference, Hobart is also home to Incat, a world-leading shipbuilder of aluminium high-speed ro-pax ferries. A guided tour of the Incat shipyard was undoubtedly one of the conference’s highlights, but more on that later.

As a testament to the growing strength of the Interferry brand, the conference was completely sold out in mid-October, with more than 400 delegates and another 70 partners from all four corners of the world joining us in the Australian island state. As for the Interferry Conference program, we always strive to find a good balance between the truly different types of ferry operations, from passenger-only vessels to mammoth ro-pax and ro-ro ferries, while at the same time also embracing the ever-important supplier community. Distinguished speakers from all these sectors gathered to discuss ways to improve the customer experience and sustainability, as well as network with their peers.

The two-day conference program started with two keynotes; Australian tourism legend Rob Pennicott entertained the auditorium with a fascinating story on how he managed to create unforgettable customer experiences in Tasmania and Victoria, while Tourism Australia’s Robert Dougan shared his insights into global tourism and travel trends. New leading edge rather than bleeding edge technologies, aimed at decarbonising our industry, took centre stage during both conference days, which also included two ferry leader debates featuring panelists who reflected a representative cross section of the world’s ferry community.

FERRY LEADERS PANEL 1

FERRY LEADERS PANEL 2

Being in Tasmania, we felt privileged to have Australasia’s ‘big three’ ro-pax ferry operators on the stage: Spirit of Tasmania, KiwiRail’s Interislander and their direct competitors, StraitNZ’s Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries. Their ‘C-suite’ top management representatives shed some light on the challenges and opportunities when operating ferry services in the southern hemisphere. Notably, both Spirit of Tasmania and Interislander revealed further details of their respective ambitious newbuilding projects in Finland and South Korea.

The Incat technical tour that I mentioned earlier brought together some 300 ferry industry representatives to see the world’s largest battery electric ferry under construction. To be delivered to Uruguay’s Buquebus in 2025, the 130m wave piercing catamaran CHINA ZORRILLA will boast a 40MWh energy storage system. Kudos to the Clifford family for organising this largest-ever Interferry Technical Tour.

As with past conferences, we are pleased to be able to share with you a full account of the Speakers Program and presentations for our members and conference delegates. For members, go to https://staging.interferry.com/2023-conference-presentations/. You will need to log in with your Interferry login and password.

Non-member delegates have been sent an email with a separate link and password. If you have not received this email or have trouble accessing the page, contact john.nedwidek@interferry.com.

Interferry Members Elect Five New Directors 

Concurrent with the conference, we held our AGM with five new directors elected to the board. Joining for four-year terms are Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of BC Ferries; Seamus Murphy, executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA); John Napton, CEO of Condor Ferries; and Matthew Portelli, MD of Malta-based Virtu Ferries. In addition, as host of next year’s conference, FRS Iberia/Maroc’s MD Ronny Morianna Glindemann was appointed as Interferry president for a one-year term.

Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Nicolas, Seamus, John, Matthew and Ronny, as well as recognizing and thanking outgoing directors Callum Campbell, Christophe Mathieu and Francis Portelli for their efforts in advancing the Interferry brand and influence.

Interferry2024 Conference • Marrakesh, Morocco

The overwhelming success of our last two conferences bodes well for next year’s event, which sets foot on African soil for the first time. The conference takes place in Marrakesh, Morocco from October 26-30, with the speakers program scheduled for October 28-29. More details will follow soon on our conference website.

You can view the video invitation from FRS Iberia here on Interferry.com to whet your appetite for making next year’s travel plans as soon as possible.

Interferry2026 Conference • Bangkok, Thailand    

While in Hobart, we also announced Bangkok, Thailand as the location for our 2026 conference, which will be hosted by Chao Phraya Express Boat Co. and its CEO, Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram. The company is Thailand’s leading ferry operator, transporting more than 12 million passengers a year along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. The Thai capital will welcome Interferry delegates one year after our 2025 conference in Sorrento, Italy, where Grimaldi Group will host.

As a handy reminder, here are the upcoming Interferry Conference locations and host companies:

Interferry2024 – Marrakesh, Morocco (host FRS Iberia)
Interferry2025 – Sorrento, Italy (host Grimaldi Group)
Interferry2026 – Bangkok, Thailand (host Chao Phraya Express Boat Co.)

Africa Ferry Safety Seminar • Tanzania • April 2024 

One of Interferry’s key objectives remains ferry safety, notably on domestic routes in developing countries. Through our FerrySafe initiative, we have already helped facilitate a positive change in safety culture in the Philippines – and now Africa is next on our radar.

As a precursor to the Marrakesh conference, and in partnership with the IMO, we will organise a joint Africa Ferry Safety Seminar, to be held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on April 16-17, 2024. We are still working out the details and will provide more information about this important seminar in due course. The seminar’s overarching objective is to promote and enable the improvement of ferry safety on the African continent.

If you are a supplier or operator interested in participating in this extremely important event, please let Johan Roos or myself know.

In closing, I would like to reiterate some of my comments during the conference’s closing ceremony. When I looked around a full room of engaged participants, I said that we should all be proud of how far we’ve come as an association through everyone’s collective efforts and support for the Interferry family. We truly are “Stronger Together”!

Take care and stay safe…
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Greetings Ferry Friends,

As I touched on in my last report, September proved to be a very busy and productive month with Interferry co-hosting a sold-out European Shipping Summit workshop on intermodal transport, as well as another successful Operators Policy Committee meeting – both taking place in Brussels. Concurrently, we attended and presented to over 200 delegates at the Canadian Ferry Association conference in Vancouver.

It will likely come as no surprise to you that the focus of this report and the Interferry/Spirit of Tasmania team’s efforts are now clearly centered on delivering a top-notch conference in Tasmania from November 4 to 8.

Hobart Conference Registration Numbers • 400 Participants So Far!

I’m very excited to report that conference delegate registration is now approaching 350 – with another 50 partners and spouses joining in on the festivities. So, with another month to go for people to sign up, I can confidentially now say that Interferry2023 will be one of our top three most well-attended events of all time.

This is exceptional when you consider the logistics and costs to travel to the Land Down Under. It is a true testament to value the industry places on the Interferry brand and, of course, the pent-up desire people have to experience Australia and all its beauty.

Hobart Conference Speakers Program • Ferry Operator Participation

In addition to the many operators who are attending the conference as delegates, here’s a quick list of operators who are also participating on stage as part of the Speakers Program – in their order of appearance:

Bernard Dwyer – Spirit of Tasmania, Australia
Jeremy Ward – East by West Ferries, New Zealand
Liam Dowling – Fullers360, New Zealand
Seamus Murphy – San Francisco Bay Ferry (WETA), USA
Götz Becker – FRS, Germany
Erik Bombard – Catalina Express, USA
Christophe Mathieu – Brittany Ferries, France
Nell Payne – NRMA, Australia
Walter Rushbrook and Massimo Soprano – Interislander, New Zealand
Alessandro Morace – Liberty Lines, Italy
Matt McDonald – Searoad Ferries, Australia
Governor Jay Inslee – Washington State Ferries, USA
Niclas Mårtensson – Stena Line, Sweden
Shane McMahon – StraitNZ / Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries, New Zealand
Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram – Chao Phraya Express Boat, Thailand
Matthew Portelli – Virtu Ferries, Malta

I hope you’ll agree that the list above provides a great cross section of our Interferry membership in terms of size, geography, operation characteristics and ownership structure.

Hobart Conference • Tours, Sponsorships and Exhibition Stands

Just a quick note to let you know that there are still a few more spots available on select tours if you haven’t signed up.

There’s room on the Bruny Island Cruise PreTour on Saturday, as well as on the Monday Partner Tour to MONA and the Botanical Gardens and the Tuesday Partner Tour to Richmond, Bonorong Wildlife Santuary and Puddleduck Vineyard. Check those links to the conference website for complete information, or you can go directly to the Online Registration page to sign up today.

Also, as we continue to receive inquiries from our supplier network regarding exhibition spaces, I’m pleased to report that our team has managed to free up a couple of more spots. If you’re interested, please let us know right away, as they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. You can contact Karen Giffon, Interferry’s sponsorship manager at karen.giffon@interferry.com.

Interferry2024 • Marrakesh Update

As the scope of the sheer devastation and human impact of the recent earthquake in Morocco has now set in, on behalf of the entire Interferry family, I want to express my sincere condolences and sympathy to the people of this great African nation. Shari and I have had the privilege of visiting Marrakesh and its surrounding area a few times, including the Atlas Mountains where the epicenter of the earthquake and vast majority of its destruction occurred.

As expected, I have been asked if the earthquake will affect the delivery of our Interferry2024 conference in Marrakesh. I’m confident in saying that, based on direct contact with our associates on the ground in Morocco and other creditable reports, the 2024 conference will proceed as planned.

Trusted reports we have received indicate that the damage sustained in Marrakesh is estimated to be about 1 to 2% – with most occurring in the Medina and Souks. Encouragingly, these sites are still open to tourists. We are optimistic that, given the significance of tourism to the Moroccan economy, Marrakesh will essentially be rebuilt to its former state by the time we arrive in about 13 months.

As further assurance, in the coming days – from October 9 to 15 – Marrakesh will host the World Bank’s and International Monetary Fund’s annual global conference with over 14,000 participants expected to attend.

See you in Hobart!

I’m very much looking forward to welcoming those of you attending the Hobart conference in about a month or so. I’m confident that we won’t disappoint.

Since I will be traveling and in Australia helping to finalize conference activities, I won’t be able to provide an October update next month. My update will return the following month with a conference wrap up, as well as notable outcomes from Interferry’s Board of Directors meeting being held on November 4 in Hobart.

Until next month, take care and travel safely…
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Hi Ferry Friends,

The focus in this month’s update is really all about what’s happening as we enter a very busy second half of 2023 – culminating with our 47th annual conference taking place in Hobart, Australia from November 4-8.

Besides a conference update, I would like to tell you about a very important workshop we are co-hosting in September at the European Shipping Summit in Brussels; our third Operators Policy Committee meeting of the year; and a presentation I am giving at the Canadian Ferry Association’s (CFA) conference in Vancouver.

Hobart Speakers Program • Ferry Leaders Panels participants confirmed

As has become a tradition due to their popularity, we are excited to end each day of the two-day Speakers Program with an hour-long Ferry Leaders Panel session. These panels bring together a broad array of leaders in our industry, both in terms of operational profile and geographic location, to provide their views on what they have seen and heard at the conference. Each session will include some opening comments from the panelists, followed by a conversation among the group and Q&A involving the audience via the Interferry2023 conference app.

Here’s a breakdown of the participants for each of the sessions:

Day One • November 6

Götz Becker – FRS, Germany
Erik Bombard – Catalina Express, USA
Christophe Mathieu – Brittany Ferries, France
Nell Payne – NRMA, Australia
Walter Rushbrook – Interislander, New Zealand

Day Two • November 7
Jay Inslee – Washington State Governor, USA
Niclas Mårtensson – Stena Line, Sweden
Shane McMahon – StraitNZ / Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries, New Zealand
Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram – Chao Phraya Express Boat, Thailand
Matthew Portelli – Virtu Ferries, Malta

Interferry to co-host European Shipping Summit workshop urging short sea cargo increase

Interferry is co-hosting a workshop at next month’s European Shipping Summit in Brussels to stress the importance of shifting more goods transport from road to short sea services, notably through better use of European Union funding to enhance the sector’s competitiveness.

The workshop – ‘How to increase the share of maritime transport in Europe’s trade’ – takes place at 09:30 on September 19 at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts and is open to all interested professionals.

Shipping associations from Cyprus, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain are co-hosting the session, where Interferry’s key input will be provided by Regulatory Affairs Director Johan Roos and Brittany Ferries CEO / Interferry Director Christophe Mathieu.

Ferry shipping is beyond doubt a very efficient means of transport, with policy makers and the industry united in their goal of shifting more volumes from road to sea. However, the realities required to achieve this ambition are too often lacking.

The European transport system is widely over-reliant on the road network, leading to congestion and infrastructure rundown, whereas short sea shipping can offer a more viable economic and environmental alternative. We look forward to welcoming decision makers and industry participants to our discussion on how best to support our vision while keeping a level playing field and improving the overall sustainability of the transport system.

The main Summit website is here, and registration for the workshop is available here.

Operators Policy Committee (OPC) meeting • Brussels • September 18

We are holding our third OPC meeting of the year at NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon hotel for Interferry Level 1, 2 and 3 operator members. Once again, we expect a strong turnout – especially as many members will be in town for the above-mentioned European Shipping Summit hosted by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA).

OPC Chairman Götz Becker and Johan Roos will have a full agenda of regulatory items to present for comment/discussion and will be seeking strategic direction from the Committee, as required. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to get to Brussels due to an engagement in Canada as discussed below.

Canadian Ferry Association (CFA) Conference • Vancouver • September 17–19

I’m very much looking forward to attending CFA’s annual conference in my home province and catching up with industry colleagues and our many Interferry members from Canada. My roots in the ferry industry include being a Director of CFA from 2008 to 2012.

I’m also pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the conference speakers program with my presentation on ‘A Global Perspective: how ferries support local economies, safety and the environment’. Please come by and say hi if you’re going to be in Vancouver.

Conference Updates

As I wrap up this month’s report I have two conference-related items to note.

The first item is that the Early Bird Discount pricing ends on September 15. So, make a note on your calendar to register before then in order to get the best deal. Complete registration details are here on the conference website.

Also, by the time many of you read this update, our conference venue, the Grand Chancellor Hobart, will likely be sold out. But not to worry! We have secured a second hotel for conference attendees, the Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, which is just 500 metres from the Grand Chancellor. Click here to find the Mövenpick details and hotel registration link on our conference website.

Until next month, take care and stay safe…
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Greetings Ferry Fans,

After much anticipation, in this month’s report I want to focus solely on our Hobart Speakers Program. The Call for Speakers received a record number of high-quality submissions and after careful consideration I am pleased to be able to share the official speakers program for this year’s conference.

As always, delegates can expect unparalleled programming as we explore the theme: The Leading Edge – Elevating Customer Experience and Sustainability. Both days of the program will be capped with our signature, one-hour Ferry Leaders Panels featuring global industry leaders and experts. Stay tuned for an end-of summer announcement with the participant details for both panels.

Speakers Program Day 1 • November 6

On the opening day of the 47th annual Interferry Conference, the program will kick-off with keynotes by two Aussie tourism experts. Rob Pennicott (Pennicott Wilderness Journeys) is an Australian tourism legend who will discuss how he and his passionate local staff have been creating unforgettable moments for their customers since 1999. Robert Dougan (Tourism Australia) will share his insights and views on global tourist travel trends and patterns coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following our keynotes, delegates will hear how automation is becoming a useful tool for operators to avoid service interruptions – despite a forecasted labour shortage for the foreseeable future – in the Automating the Customer Journey and Elevating Ticketing and Booking sessions.

It is no secret to our industry that electricity is becoming an increasingly utilized option when designing the vessels of the future. An Electric Futurewill be a session exploring batteries, electrification and the many considerations involved. Delegates will also be presented with three impressive passenger-only vessels developed to meet the increasing environmental regulations in their region in the Passenger Vessel Features session, before closing out the day with our first-of-two Ferry Leaders Panel.

Speakers Program Day 2 • November 7

The concluding day of the program will begin with the Safety and Regulatory session encompassing top-of-mind safety and regulatory topics including Interferry’s official regulatory update. We then move on to Improving Environmental Impact – a session crafted to provide starting points and take-aways which operators can begin to implement immediately to reduce their impact on the environment.

Under coming regulations, operators are facing the fact that many of their existing vessels – with an abundance of useful life – will be rendered inoperable unless they can be operated more sustainably. The session on Increasing Sustainability in Existing Vessels will look at options for retrofitting and operating with increased efficiency, as well as the role of proper exterior maintenance and bio-fouling management.

While sustainability remains a key focus, Optimizing Operations and Safety will be a session centered on how operators can optimize operations and safety – while not losing sight of decarbonization targets – through the efficient use of operational data.

In the afternoon, the focus will shift to some of our operator members. Delegates will get a peek into two southern hemisphere operators’ new build projects in the New Builds – Large Operators session, followed by the Operator Spotlight session during which two additional operators will share insights into operations, fleet renewal strategies and infrastructure upgrades.

Delegates will once again be enlightened and inspired by the thoughtful conversations during the final Ferry Leaders Panel which closes out the conference.

Click here to see full program and read about the speakers and moderators on interferryconference.com.

Conference Hotel Filling Fast as Early Bird Deadline Draws Near

We have been advised by the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart that there are only about 40 rooms left in our block booking – so please act quickly to avoid being disappointed.

On a related note, our early bird reservation deadline ends next month on September 15. There is no better time than now to register to save on your conference registration costs and guarantee your room for Hobart.

Limited Exhibition Spaces Remain

On the sponsorship side of things, we have very few “exhibition only” spaces remaining. So, if you’re interested in presenting your products and/or services at the conference, check out the Sponsorship Information page as soon as possible to find out about the remaining sponsorship options.

Until next month, take care and stay safe…
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Greetings Ferry Friends,

As expected, June was a very busy month for the Interferry team with a Board meeting in Sweden, a site visit to Italy for the 2025 conference, the submission of a record number of Call for Speakers proposals for the Hobart conference and the continued onboarding of many new Interferry members.

Interferry Board Meeting • Gothenburg, Sweden • June 8/9, 2023

A special thank you to Stena for hosting a very successful and productive Interferry Board meeting in Gothenburg. In addition to our regular agenda items – which included approval of KPMG’s 2022 audit financial statements – the majority of the meeting was spent developing our next three-year strategic plan starting in 2024. Based on considerable input and discussion from Directors, management is now tasked with presenting a draft 2024-2026 Strategic Plan to the Board for final approval at our next meeting in Hobart on November 4, 2023.

We had 13 Directors attend our two-day event in Gothenburg with many bringing their spouses – which is very much encouraged.

Interferry2025 • Sorrento Site Visit

While in Europe, we took the opportunity to visit Sorrento and the neighbouring region to continue preparations for the Interferry2025 conference being hosted by Grimaldi Lines. I’m pleased to report that the contract with the conference hotel – the Sorrento Hilton – has been executed. In addition, we were able to finalize the evening event sites and most of the partner/delegate tours. We will likely have to return to Italy one more time to tie up loose ends and finalize a technical tour in conjunction with Grimaldi Lines.

Thanks to Paul Kyprianou (r) and Domenico Ferraiuolo (l) from Grimaldi Lines for spending a day with me as we toured Grimaldi’s operations at the busy port of Salerno. It was very impressive to see the continual movement of vehicles and trailers on and off Grimaldi’s huge RoRo vessels.

Hobart Conference • Speakers Program and Registrations  

Well, we’ve certainly got our work cut out for us given the record number of submissions we received to be on stage in Hobart – with almost 50 in total. As previously communicated, we will be notifying everyone who submitted proposals by no later than mid-July. We will be selecting submissions that will best educate and inform conference delegates in the areas of customer experience and sustainability.

On a related note, we are pleased to confirm our two keynote speakers – Robert Dougan and Rob Pennicott.

Robert Dougan, Tourism Australia’s Executive General Manager, Strategy & Research will share his insights into customer experience in his opening keynote speech. As the vast majority of ferry operators rely heavily on tourist travel, they will be interested to hear Robert’s views on global tourist travel trends and patterns coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rob Pennicott, our second keynote speaker, is an Australian tourism legend. His namesake company, Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, operates cruises and day tours from Hobart. Rob and his passionate local staff have been sharing Tasmania’s scenery, wildlife and produce since 1999.

On the registration front, I’m happy to report that with four months to go before the start of the conference we are still on pace with last year’s record setting Seattle conference. This bodes well for our final numbers as we know the majority of people register in the last month or so. However, this year due to travel logistics etc., it is strongly encouraged to sign up as soon as you can. Also, if you haven’t already done so, please check the post tour options on our conference website for some things to do before or after the conference in the Land Down Under.

Welcome to Our New Members

It is always a pleasure to welcome new members to the Interferry family. This year we are pleased to acknowledge our 10 newest members. As always, and where appropriate, please look to our supplier members first when considering your various business needs.

ADEC Kedge • AUSTRALIA
Blue & Gold Fleet • UNITED STATES
China Merchants Industry • CHINA
Corsica Ferries SAS • FRANCE
Fullers360 • NEW ZEALAND
Liberty Lines • ITALY
NAPA Ltd. • FINLAND
OCEA • FRANCE
PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) • INDONESIA
Seatransport Pty Ltd • AUSTRALIA


That concludes this month’s update. As we enter the busy summer season in many parts of the world, here’s wishing you a safe and productive few months.

Until next month, take care and stay safe…
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Greetings Ferry Fans,

In this month’s report, I would like to update you on a couple of Hobart conference-related items; tell you about the launch of a watershed initiative addressing sustainable ferry interiors; and highlight some proposed changes to the entry/exit requirements for non-European Union citizens visiting the EU.

Interferry2023 Call for Speakers Deadline Extended to June 9

To give those interested in being on stage at our annual conference in Tasmania this November a bit more time to submit their proposals – since we are now requiring more upfront information – we’ve extended the Call for Speakers deadline to June 9 in response to the feedback we’ve received. We will still be notifying those selected by mid-July. Special thanks go to those of you who have already submitted your proposals in our portal. You can find all the information you’ll need on the Call for Speakers page on the conference website.

On a related note, I’m pleased to report that our first month of registrations for Interferry2023 in Hobart has been very brisk and, in fact, on pace with the first month of registrations for last year’s Seattle conference. Based on this response, I once again encourage those of you planning to join us in Australia to make it a priority to get registered and lock down your hotel room.

European Entry/Exit System (EES) and Electronic Authorization Systems

Just as we are all finally experiencing the barriers to travel coming down as a result of COVID related testing and travel restrictions being lifted, there’s a new challenge on the horizon – the European Entry/Exit System. The EES is a sophisticated electronic border control system that digitally records the entry and exit of non-EU passport holders. Essentially it captures biometric data and electronically stamps passports. While the timeline for implementation is still subject to debate at the European Commission, it not a matter of if but when.

The first time a non-EU citizen enters an EU border control area, they will have to have their biometric data (fingerprints, eye scan) recorded. This added complexity will not only be a challenge for travellers but also operators who provide service between EU and non-EU ports – as it could take up to almost a minute per passenger to collect the data. For ferries with hundreds, if not thousands, of passengers, the knock-on negative effects on scheduled arrival and departure times will be enormous. Adding even more angst to the situation is uncertainly as to how EES will be operationalized by the various EU countries – including whether it will go live on a phased-in or big bang approach.

Also in the works after the EES implementation – likely about six months later – is the European Travel Information and Authorization System. This is an electronic on-line authorization system for visa-exempt, non-EU visitors to digitally check that they are allowed to enter the EU for three years. It is worth noting that the UK is also planning to implement a similar system for non-UK/Ireland citizens entering their domain.

In order to help our operator members work through this quagmire, Interferry is in the process of establishing an EES/ETIAS working group. If you or your company is interested in participating, please drop Johan Roos an email.

Sustainability for Maritime Interiors

In the spirit of one of the themes of our Speakers Program for Hobart, I’m pleased to introduce the Sustainable Maritime Interiors declaration that was launched on May 30. Two Interferry members have been involved in this initiative from the outset: Jon Ingleton from Cruise & Ferry Review publishers Tudor Rose, and Andrew Sheen from Irish Ferries. I too have now added my personal endorsement to the declaration.

This is really about a healthy planet mindset and the concept of demonstrating continuous sustainability improvement as it relates to the refurbishment and construction of our ferries. I encourage you to read all about it at www.sustainablemaritimeinteriors.com. I’m sure it will be a topic of much discussion at our conference in Tasmania.

Upcoming Activities in June

June will be another busy month as we travel to Gothenburg, Sweden, for the Interferry Board meeting hosted by Stena. The key topic of discussion will be the development of Interferry’s 2024-2026 strategic plan. We will then travel to Sorrento, Italy, to continue planning for our 2025 annual conference with hosts Grimaldi Lines. Upon our return, we look forward to reviewing Call for Speakers submissions as work proceeds on delivering yet another informative and engaging conference program to make Hobart on November 6-7 a not-to-be-missed event.

Thanks for reading this month’s update. And as usual, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to drop me a line.

Take care and stay safe…
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Hello Ferry Friends,

Let me start by saying how great it was to see so many of you at the Shippax Ferry Conference. Thanks to Elizabeth and Victor Mandersson and their staff, as well as Interferry member Grimaldi Lines and Emanuele Grimaldi, for hosting our Interferry team onboard the Cruise Barcelona. It’s always nice to catch up with so many of our members and industry colleagues. I was extremely encouraged to hear how many people have booked, or are about to book, their travel arrangements to Hobart, Australia for Interferry2023.

In addition to talking about the Shippax Ferry Conference in this month’s report, I would like to highlight our April 24 Operators Policy Committee meeting; reflect on our visit to Marrakesh, Morocco, to prepare for Interferry2024 next year; and remind you that Interferry’s conference registration site for Hobart is now open.

Shippax Ferry Conference

Johan Roos, Interferry’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, and myself each had the opportunity to present to delegates at the recent Shippax Ferry Conference. Johan focused on the European Union/IMO emissions reduction regulations and taxation, as well as recent findings about electric vehicle battery fires from the EU’s LASHFIRE project on ro-ro fire safety, in which we are partners. Johan was pleased to report that comprehensive testing has shown that fires emanating from battery electric vehicles have a similar risk profile to those from conventionally-fueled vehicles. In other words, the carriage of electric vehicles on ferries presents no greater risk than transporting petroleum cars – provided of course that onboard firefighting crews are properly trained for both scenarios.

In my portion of our presentation, I gave the audience an Interferry update focused on the two key issues that continue to face our industry: (1) how we attract, train and retain people for a career in the ferry industry; and (2) shipping’s ongoing challenges in trying to develop a clear path forward to comply with the variety of emissions reduction regulations entering force in the upcoming years. There is still much uncertainty in the overall industry as to which fuel might provide the best pathway towards zero emissions. Thankfully, however, it is much clearer for ferries – electrification and/or hybrids is the horse we want to hitch our wagon to, depending on the length and duration of route. For short routes taking about one hour or less, batteries are most able to provide the best solution, while on longer routes a hybrid option combining batteries and another fuel source likely makes the most sense.

Operators Policy Committee (OPC) • Barcelona meeting • April 24

We continue to break records with the number of participants at our OPC meetings – our Barcelona meeting was attended by 23 participants representing 17 companies. The OPC meets three times per year (twice in person and once virtually), enabling the heads of our Level 1, 2 and 3 operator members to discuss and agree on the regulatory priorities for Johan and myself to pursue at the IMO and EU. The Committee adheres to a strict anti-trust code and only deals with regulatory matters affecting the entire ferry industry. At this meeting, the topics were mostly the same as those in Johan’s brief to Shippax delegates as detailed above. We ended by setting July 12, 2023 as the date of our next meeting, which will be conducted virtually.

Marrakesh Site Visit for Interferry2024

Prior to Barcelona, Götz Becker, CEO of FRS and Interferry2024 host, Shari Corrigan, Interferry’s Conference and Finance Director, and I took the opportunity while relatively nearby to visit Marrakesh to continue preparations for our 48th annual conference. We were all very pleased to see the excellent state of the conference hotel, Movenpick, and the other conference venues. It has been a few years since I’ve been to Marrakesh and the progress it is making in becoming a world-class city and tourism destination is quite remarkable. After what I’m sure will be a highly successful event this year “Down Under” in Hobart, we are set up extremely well to host our first-ever event in Africa – while at the same time being very close to central Europe and well served by international flight connections.

Interferry2023/Hobart registration now open and Call for Speakers deadline approaching

By now you probably know that we are open for business for this year’s conference and, if you haven’t already done so, it’s high time that you register. To avoid disappointment, we always recommend that you sign up asap… especially with regard to securing your room at the conference hotel.

Click here to go to our conference online registration page.

Our Interferry family in Hobart includes conference host Bernard Dwyer, CEO of Spirit of Tasmania; Technical Tour hosts Robert, Kim and Craig Clifford of Incat; and former Interferry chairman Mike Grainger, managing director of Liferaft Systems Australia (LSA).They are all extremely excited to show you a great time in November.

Bearing in mind the conference theme – “The Leading Edge: Elevating the Customer Experience and Sustainability” – I want to remind you that the Call for Speakers portal to submit your proposal is open until May 31. It is important that submissions should include all the requested information, with particular attention to the specifics of what we are looking for relative to the theme of presentations.

Click here to go to the Call for Speakers page and portal.

Thanks for reading this month’s report. Please feel free to pass along any comments, questions or suggestions you may have for me at any time.

Take care and stay safe…
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Hello Ferry Friends,

This month we are pleased to present our semi-annual Ferry Business report published in partnership with Cruise & Ferry Review; highlight the long-awaited agreement between the European Union Parliament and Council on the EU Commission’s proposed FuelEU Maritime regulation; officially launch our Call for Speakers for the Interferry47 annual conference in Hobart; remind you that there’s still time to register for the LASH FIRE “Fire on a Ro-Ro Deck” webinar; and highlight our upcoming April meetings and conference participation.

Ferry Business Report • Cruise & Ferry Review

The Ferry Business section of the Spring/Summer 2023 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review magazine is packed with executive interviews highlighting our industry and many of our members.

In this edition, following an introduction from me:

  • Yasuo Iritani of Japan’s leading ferry operator SHK Line Group explains why the company is at the forefront of autonomous shipping in a country that, like almost everywhere else in the world,  is contending with labour shortages and environmental challenges
  • Matteo Della Valle presents Italy-based Grandi Navi Veloci‘s  strategy to deliver high-quality services that will exceed customer expectations and win business back in the post-Covid era
  • Heidi Wolden of Norwegian ferry operator Norled AS – and Interferry Board member – highlights  plans to become a zero-emissions organisation by 2040
  • Viking Line’s Jan Hanses explains how the Finnish operator is continuing to improve its environmental footprint
  • As Stena Line celebrates its 60th anniversary, Ian Hampton provides an interesting insight into the brand’s enduring success
  • Murat Orhan of Turkey’s İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri (IDO) tells how the brand is continually developing to enhance passenger expectations
  • P&O Ferries’ Peter Hebblethwaite discusses the revitalisation of its fleet pending the arrival of its two massive double-ended newbuilds Pioneerand Liberté
  • Columnist and long-time ferry enthusiast Michael Grey explains why the secret to successful ferry operations lies in having helpful staff and well-equipped, well-located ports

Click here to read the Spring/Summer 2023 Ferry Business Report online.

EU’s Parliament and Council reach Green Deal agreement on FuelEU Maritime

On March 23, the co-legislators agreed on this new EU regulation, which sets the stage for decreases in shipping’s greenhouse gas (GHG) fuel intensity over time – starting from 2% in 2025 to as much as 80% by 2050.

FuelEU Maritime will help reduce GHG emissions by promoting cleaner fuels and energy sources that mandate a gradual reduction of the carbon content in ship fuel. In addition, other types of GHG emissions including methane and nitrous oxides will be taken into account.

These regulations also mandate the use of Onshore Power Supply (OPS) or alternative zero-emissions technologies at berth by passenger ships and containerships.

Interferry will continue to push for Emissions Trading System revenues to be used in constructive ways to help our operator members meet these targets. We will also work hard to ensure that pending parallel regulations on the shore side, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations (AFIR), provide ports with the proper incentives to invest in OPS infrastructure.

Interferry47 Call for Speakers • Hobart • November 4-8, 2023

On April 17, we will officially open the conference website portal for potential speakers at our 47th annual conference to submit their proposals on the theme of ‘The Leading Edge – Elevating the Customer Experience and Sustainability’.

This year’s event will focus on highlighting innovations that have already been successfully implemented – or that will be operationalized in the very near future – to improve customer service and environmental stewardship.

We are seeking presentations that reflect leading edge solutions for elevating the customer experience and increasing sustainability. And let me emphasise – the focus will be on proven technologies and projects that have been or are soon to be implemented.

Customer Experience submissions should exemplify innovative ways to improve the passenger experience while simultaneously improving operators’ efficiency, revenues and ultimately their bottom line. We will look for presentations that clearly demonstrate successful customer-centric initiatives from when customers first consider ferry travel until they get to their final destinations.

As for Sustainability submissions, we require proposals that definitively show how the ferry industry can reduce its environmental footprint on a total lifecycle basis. In addition to ways of reducing all types of emissions, we are keen to hear about innovations such as the handling of various types of vessel discharge; new ship construction methods; and maintenance practices ranging from on-the-run to refits and dry-docking. Presentations on sustainable shoreside and port practices are also welcomed.

We will announce the Call for Speakers with an Interferry News post (which also gets sent to our mailing list) as well as with posts on LinkedIn and Twitter. The Call for Speakers page on our conference website will have all the details on how to submit your proposal.

LASH FIRE “Fire on a Ro-Ro Deck” Webinar

There’s still time to register for the LASH FIRE “Fire on a Ro-Ro Deck” webinar taking place on April 5 between 14h00 and 15h30 (CET). Interferry is a partner in the LASH FIRE consortium, a wide-ranging maritime fire safety research project which most recently assessed the efficacy of drencher systems in case of a battery thermal runaway. In this respect the results are encouraging, as there is no indication that such an incident would pose a larger risk than a fire in a conventional vehicle.

Interest is very high as there are already more than 550 registrants. The free webinar will include a welcome by Interferry’s Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos.

Click here to register and for more information about topics and presenters.

Upcoming Meetings and Presentations

April is going to be a very busy month for Interferry. We start with a site visit to Marrakesh, Morocco to continue preparations for our 2024 conference together with Götz Becker – CEO of host company FRS – and his team. Then it’s off to Brussels, where we will meet with EU officials and decision makers regarding various regulatory topics, including those covered in this update. Next, we will hold what is looking to be a very well attended Operators Policy Committee meeting in Barcelona on April 24. And shortly after that, we’ll be on board the Grimaldi ferry Cruise Barcelona for the trip from Spain to Italy and back to attend and present at the 2023 Shippax conference.

I hope to see many of you this month somewhere on our travels.

Take care and stay safe…
Mike Corrigan, CEO – Interferry