Cruise
Anglo-Eastern supports Four Seasons Yachts’ entry into ultra-luxury yacht sector. Cruise & Ferry Review
Global Ports Holding has signed a 24-year operating concession for Acapulco Cruise Port in Mexico, its first port concession in the country (Cruise Industry News). GPH was selected as preferred bidder by ASIPONA, the national port system administrator for Acapulco, and will take on responsibility for operating and developing the cruise terminal. The deal extends GPH's already substantial global concession portfolio and gives the company its first foothold in Latin America's second-largest country by cruise capacity.
VidantaWorld has launched its new cruise brand in the Mediterranean, with VidantaWorld Elegant entering service as a yachtlike luxury vessel offering late-night stays and overnights in port, according to Seatrade Cruise. The debut marks an expansion beyond the Mexico-focused resort model the parent company is best known for, positioning the brand squarely in the ultra-luxury expedition-adjacent space where overnights in destination are an increasingly prominent selling point.
Anglo-Eastern Cruise Management has confirmed it supported the maiden voyage of Four Seasons I, the first vessel in Four Seasons Yachts' fleet, which completed its inaugural sailing in the Mediterranean in March 2026 (Cruise & Ferry Review). Anglo-Eastern, which has been involved in the project since 2024 during construction at Fincantieri's Ancona yard, will continue as the vessel's technical ship management partner. The delivery and successful maiden voyage mark the formal entry of the Four Seasons brand into the ultra-luxury yacht segment, a space that has attracted growing investment from hospitality groups in recent years.
MSC Poesia has returned to service following a nearly two-month modernization at Palumbo Shipyard in Malta, ahead of what will be MSC Cruises' debut season in Alaska (Cruise Industry News). The work is part of a broader program to bring all of MSC's Musica-class vessels up to updated standards. The Alaska deployment represents a meaningful geographic expansion for the line, which has been steadily broadening its North American itinerary footprint.
AIDAprima will operate new sailings from Kiel, Gran Canaria and Tenerife in fall and winter 2026-27 after its planned Middle East season was cancelled in mid-March due to ongoing regional security concerns (Cruise Industry News). The redeployment is the latest in a series of itinerary adjustments across multiple cruise lines prompted by the security situation affecting Gulf and Red Sea routing. Royal Caribbean similarly cancelled the Mariner of the Seas' April 2027 transatlantic crossing from New Orleans to Southampton, citing ongoing itinerary planning adjustments, with the line notifying booked guests directly (Cruise Industry News).
Enchanted Princess was forced to skip its scheduled call at Ajaccio, Corsica on April 9, becoming the latest cruise vessel disrupted by ongoing protests over rising fuel costs at French ports, according to Cruise Hive. Separately, Ambassador Cruise Line's Ambition returned to Antwerp shortly after departure when an oil spill by another vessel prompted authorities to close the Scheldt River, requiring the ship to delay its sailing (Cruise Hive). The two incidents underscore the continued vulnerability of European itineraries to both political disruption and waterway closures.
Anglo-Eastern Cruise Management supported the successful maiden voyage of Four Seasons Yachts’ first ship, Four Seasons I, in the Mediterranean in March 2026. The sailing marked the brand’s entry into the ultra-luxury yacht segment. Anglo-Eastern, the brand’s technical ship management partner, has been involved in the project since 2024 when the yacht was being constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri at its Ancona shipyard. The company will be responsible for ongoing technical manag
Global Ports Holding (GPH) has signed a 24-year operating concession agreement for Acapulco Cruise Port in Mexico, marking the company’s first port concession in the country, according to a company statement. GPH was selected as the preferred bidder by the Administration of the National Port System Acapulco (ASIPONA) and will operate and develop the cruise...
VidantaWorld Elegant debuts a spacious, yachtlike luxury experience with late-night stays and overnights in port.
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Originally built for Renaissance Cruises as Renaissance VII, Hebridean Sky is an ice-rated expedition cruise ship that has operated extensively in Antarctica and the Arctic. The vessel was acquired by Noble Caledonia in 2014 and now operates alongside sister ships Island Sky and
View vessel profile →Ferries & Tech
Hanwha Engine finalises deal for electric propulsion specialists SEAM. Maritime Sustainability News
Norwegian operator Boreal AS has placed an order for 20 Candela P-12 electric hydrofoil vessels, making it the largest electric high-speed passenger fleet commitment announced to date ([Ferry Shipping News](source)). The P-12 uses foil-borne operation to cut energy consumption dramatically compared with conventional high-speed craft, and the scale of the Boreal order marks a significant step toward commercial viability for the technology in scheduled public transport. The deal underscores growing confidence among Scandinavian operators in battery-electric propulsion for short-sea passenger services.
Gotlandsbolaget, alongside Interogo Infrastructure and Lægernes Pension, has agreed to acquire a 30% stake in Nordic Ferry Infrastructure for approximately €510 million, with EQT Infrastructure V retaining the remaining 70% ([Ferry Shipping News](source)). The transaction is structured through a newly established holding company, NP HoldCo AS, and remains subject to regulatory approval ahead of an expected Q3 2026 close. The move extends Gotlandsbolaget's strategic footprint beyond vessel operations into ferry infrastructure ownership, a notable shift in positioning for the Swedish operator.
Hanwha Engine has completed its acquisition of Norway-based SEAM, a specialist in electric propulsion and system integration for the maritime sector ([Maritime Sustainability News](source)). The deal gives the South Korean conglomerate direct access to established electric drivetrain expertise and an existing European client base, reinforcing the broader Hanwha Group push into low-emission maritime technology. Combined with the group's recently signed MOU with RINA covering battery-hybrid propulsion for RoRo ferries, Hanwha is assembling a vertically integrated offer spanning classification support, system design, and engine supply ([Ferry Shipping News](source)).
Two recent Seajets acquisitions are progressing through preparation works ahead of entry into Hellenic coastal service. HSC TERA JET 3, the Incat-built wave-piercing catamaran formerly known as NATCHAN WORLD, arrived at Piraeus on 7 April and moved to Spanopoulos facilities for refit work ([Ferry Shipping News](source)). Separately, the RoRo vessel CABO entered the PIRAEUS III dry dock at Perama on 30 March for maintenance and is expected to complete its yard stay around 15 April ([Ferry Shipping News](source)).
Finnlines is marking two years of operations on its Malmö-Świnoujście route with the addition of extra Saturday evening departures on 18 and 25 April, responding to what the company describes as steadily growing demand on the southern Sweden and Copenhagen-area corridor ([Ferry Shipping News](source)). The route has carried over 200,000 passengers and drivers since its April 2024 launch, a milestone that supports the case for continued capacity development on the link.
Africa Morocco Link has opened bookings for a seasonal Nador-Almería service running from 10 June to 15 September 2026, targeting peak summer traffic across the Alboran Sea ([Ferry Shipping News](source)). The route marks AML's return to a corridor it last served in 2017, and the timing ahead of the annual Operation Marhaba migration season positions the operator to capture significant demand from Moroccan diaspora travellers crossing from Spain.
Irish Continental Group reported robust full-year 2025 financial performance, with growth across freight volumes, pricing, and asset utilisation ([Ferry Shipping News](source)). The results reflect the operator's continued discipline on cost management and capacity deployment across its Irish Sea ferry and container terminal activities, and point to a resilient demand environment for short-sea freight and passenger operations in the region.
Gotlandsbolaget, together with Interogo Infrastructure and Lægernes Pension, has agreed to acquire a 30% stake in Nordic Ferry Infrastructure (NFI) for approximately €510 million (≈ SEK 6 billion). The investment is made via newly established NP HoldCo AS. EQT Infrastructure V remains majority owner with 70%. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in Q3 2026. Source
Norwegian operator Boreal AS has ordered 20 Candela P-12 electric hydrofoil vessels, marking the largest electric high-speed passenger fleet announced to date. Technology & Operations Strategic Significance… Source
Hanwha Engine, a division of South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group, has acquired Norway-based electric propulsion and system integration specialist SEAM
On this day in 2005, the Sapphire Princess departed Los Angeles on her maiden voyage, the largest cruise ship ever to homeport on the US West Coast at the time.
General Shipping
Oil Spill While Bunkering Containership Disrupts Port of Antwerp. Maritime Executive
An oil spill in the Deurganckdock at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges has forced authorities to close a section of the River Scheldt to shipping, disrupting traffic at one of Europe's busiest maritime hubs (gCaptain). The spill, detected during a bunkering operation on a containership, triggered an environmental response and significant disruption to vessel movements in and out of the port, Maritime Executive reports. Cleanup operations are under way, though the timeline for full restoration of normal traffic has not been confirmed.
The European Union dramatically increased its imports of Russian LNG from the Yamal project in the first quarter of 2026, taking nearly all available cargoes and paying an estimated €2.88 billion to Moscow, even as a future EU import ban looms over the trade, gCaptain reports. The figures underline the continued dependence of European buyers on Russian supply and the commercial urgency driving purchasing decisions ahead of any regulatory cutoff. The surge will intensify political pressure on EU institutions to accelerate and clarify the ban's implementation timeline.
NATO member Estonia has decided against detaining Russian shadow fleet tankers transiting the Baltic Sea, with a senior military commander citing concerns that boarding or seizing sanctioned vessels could prompt a direct military response from Moscow, gCaptain reports. The statement highlights the practical limits of Western efforts to enforce sanctions against Russia's opaque oil export infrastructure at sea, and is likely to inform the posture of other Baltic NATO members weighing similar enforcement questions. The shadow fleet has continued to move Russian crude largely unimpeded through regional waters despite repeated calls for stronger interdiction.
Three days into the announced ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to normal commercial traffic, and the waterway's reopening has emerged as a central demand in nascent US-Iran peace negotiations. President Trump publicly called on Tehran to restore access as a precondition for broader talks, according to gCaptain, while renewed Israel-Hezbollah exchanges added further uncertainty to the diplomatic process. A Russian-flagged supertanker's passage through the strait in the opposite direction drew close attention from traders monitoring every transit through the strategically critical chokepoint (gCaptain). Saudi Arabia's oil exports via the Red Sea are meanwhile holding steady for the time being, though the pipeline damage reported earlier this week continues to shadow supply security in the region (gCaptain).
The Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Hunain responded to a distress call from a Chinese-flagged bulk carrier reported to be on fire approximately 200 nautical miles off the Pakistani coast, Maritime Executive reports. Details on the extent of casualties or cargo damage were not immediately available, but the incident adds to a series of vessel emergencies in the broader region in recent days, including a medevac operation in the English Channel after a cargo ship fire that required coordination between HM Coastguard and the RNLI (Maritime Executive).
Port Tampa Bay welcomed its largest-ever containership on April 9, setting a new record for vessel capacity at the Florida gateway as the port continues to invest in accommodating larger boxship calls (Maritime Executive). The milestone reflects broader trends in containerised cargo growth along the US Gulf and Southeast Atlantic coastline, where ports are competing to upgrade berth depth and crane capacity. Separately, Australia's Prime Minister traveled to Singapore to pursue bilateral agreements securing fuel supply chains disrupted by the ongoing Middle East conflict, with maritime energy logistics forming a central part of the discussions (gCaptain).
The Port of Antwerp, one of the busiest ports in northern Europe, reported that shipping operations have been disrupted after an oil spill was detecte...
The European Union sharply increased imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Yamal LNG project in the first quarter of 2026, taking nearly all available cargoes and paying an estimated €2.88 billion, according to new analysis, even as a future import ban threatens to curb flows.
An oil spill in the Deurganckdock at the port of Antwerp-Bruges has forced authorities to close a stretch of the River Scheldt to shipping, disrupting traffic at one of Europe’s busiest maritime hubs and raising concerns about environmental damage.
Anglo-Eastern Cruise Management supported the successful maiden voyage of Four Seasons Yachts’ first ship, Four Seasons I, in the Mediterranean in March 2026. The sailing marked the brand’s entry into the ultra-luxury yacht segment. Anglo-Eastern, the brand’s technical ship management partner, has been involved in the project since 2024 when the yacht was being constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri at its Ancona shipyard. The company will be responsible for ongoing technical manag
Interferry is marking a historic milestone in 2026: our 50th year as the single voice of the global ferry industry. While this jubilee is a time for celebration, it also finds us at a critical regulatory and operational crossroads. From the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, UK, to the shores and waterways across the globe, our mission remains clear: to ensure the ferry sector remains safe, sustainable and economically viable. One of our most important
One Norwegian Breakaway sailing in October 2027 is completely adjusted, but guests have plenty of time to change their plans. Norwegian Breakaway’s Canada Cruise Gets a Complete Port Shake-Up
Carnival Cruise Line has made it clear that fishing onboard, even from cove balcony cabins, is not allowed. One Guest Asked to Fish From Their Balcony and Carnival’s Answer Was Firm
From its massive propellers and luxury lounges to the poop deck, where passengers made their last stand. Plus, what the Titanic’s stern looks like on the ocean floor today. The Titanic Stern: Why It’s More Wrecked Than the Bow
Gotlandsbolaget, together with Interogo Infrastructure and Lægernes Pension, has agreed to acquire a 30% stake in Nordic Ferry Infrastructure (NFI) for approximately €510 million (≈ SEK 6 billion). The investment is made via newly established NP HoldCo AS. EQT Infrastructure V remains majority owner with 70%. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in Q3 2026. Source
On 7 April 2026, Seajets’ HSC TERA JET 3 (ex NATCHAN WORLD) arrived at the port of Piraeus and proceeded to Spanopoulos facilities. The vessel was sold in January 2026 and delivered after 15 February. HSC TERA JET 3 is a sister ship to HSC TERA JET 2 (ex NATCHAN RERA, 2007), which was also acquired by Seajets in January 2024. Built in Tasmania (Australia) by Incat in 2008, the vessel has a… Source
Africa Morocco Link (AML) has opened bookings for a seasonal Nador–Almería service, scheduled to operate from 10 June to 15 September 2026. The route targets peak summer demand across the Alboran Sea and marks AML’s return to the corridor, where it previously operated in 2017. Source
Since launching the Malmö–Świnoujście route on 10 April 2024, Finnlines has transported over 200,000 passengers and drivers. To mark the two-year milestone, the company will add an extra Saturday evening departure from Malmö on 18 and 25 April, offering two departures on those dates. Finnlines reports steadily growing demand for the route, which connects southern Sweden and the Copenhagen area… Source
Norwegian operator Boreal AS has ordered 20 Candela P-12 electric hydrofoil vessels, marking the largest electric high-speed passenger fleet announced to date. Technology & Operations Strategic Significance… Source
As many as 17 national and regional maritime clusters have underlined their commitment to improved like-minded cooperation and the worldwide sharing o...
The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) is sounding the alarm over rising numbers of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean. It highlight...
A crew from HM Coastguard led the medevac of an injured seafarer from a cargo ship in the English Channel on April 8. The RNLI at Salcombe also dispat...
Soon, tourists and commuters along Norway’s stunning coastline will travel aboard “flying” electric ferries.Norwegian operator Boreal AS—a leader in s...
The Maritime Authority of Jamaica has said paper-based processes are no longer fit for purpose in modern maritime operations, warning that outdated pr...