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.

Hi Ferry Fans,

Well, it’s hard to believe that our first global conference on the African continent is now less than a month away – and all indications are pointing towards another marquee and sold-out event!

As expected, the majority of the Interferry team’s energy over the past month – as well as that of host Ronny Moriana Glindemann and his DFDS team – has been focused on delivering another world-class event in Marrakech. Somehow, Interferry’s Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos found the time to travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia to address the Canadian ferry community, and also to London to represent our industry at the IMO’s “Carriage of Cargos and Containers” deliberations, where the transportation of battery electric vehicles was debated.

Interferry2024 • Marrakech, Morocco • October 26 – 30

As I write this update, we now have just a handful of registration spots available – with the Monday night reception already sold out! Also, there is very limited availability on peak nights at the Mövenpick Marrakech – our conference hotel – so if you want to be where the “who’s who” of the global ferry community will gather, I encourage you to act quickly.

For those of you who have already registered, here are some events you may want to consider participating in at Interferry2024, if you haven’t already signed up…

• The OSK Design Golf Tournament at the beautiful Fairmont Royal Palm Golf & Country Club tees off on Sunday morning, October 27. Join your peers for a great day of golf, where passion for the game meets the spirit of friendly competition.

• The IMS Marrakech Run Crew takes place Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings before the start of the conference day. The planned routes allow you to choose your distance and pace, so you can set out in company of a like-minded group and enjoy the sights and sounds of Marrakech. Sign up soon to get your free IMS Marrakech Run Crew T-shirt!

• The Interferry2024 DFDS Technical Tour will be another unforgettable event as we travel from Marrakech, Morocco to Tarifa, Spain during this unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We have managed to free up a few extra spots on the Technical Tour, so reserve your spot soon!

• Last but not least, there are some great Pretours and Partner Tours available. Check out the webpages for complete information.

Africa Ferry Safety Workshop at Interferry2024

Building on the success of the Africa Ferry Safety Seminar held in Dar es Salaam during April, we will host a half-day follow-up invitation-only Africa Ferry Safety Workshop in Marrakech in conjunction with Interferry2024.

Promoting the highest standards in domestic ferry safety has been a key strategic objective of Interferry for many years. Through collaboration with African ferry leaders, we aim to create a comprehensive Africa Ferry Safety Program that will improve safety standards across the continent and contribute to reducing the high level of incidents in some of its states. The workshop in Marrakech will be a strategic planning exercise, utilizing roundtable discussions to prioritize initiatives identified through post-seminar surveys. Participants will then work together to explore ways that Interferry can support the implementation of these initiatives.

This October 30th event will bring together African ferry operators and regulators with a focus on practical solutions and potential initiatives including: fostering best practices sharing through networking events; enhancing crew training and capacity building; and supporting the use of technology to improve safety and operational efficiency. The positive spirit and commitment at the Africa Ferry Safety Seminar in Dar es Salaam was truly inspiring, and this follow-up workshop allows us to leverage that momentum and work together to tackle the challenges of ferry safety in Africa.

Interview with Ripple Operations

I recently had the opportunity to sit down – virtually – with Bertine Kviteberg of Ripple Operations to talk about the upcoming Interferry2024 conference in Marrakech. Click here to see the complete interview.

Regulatory Update

Later this month, our Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos will share a regulatory update when he returns from this week’s 82nd session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 82). For now, I’d like to focus on the Carriage of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and give you a heads-up of what’s on the agenda of MEPC 82.

After five years of deliberations and a final revision of IMO rules in 2022, we were of the opinion that there was a general consensus that the carriage of BEVs on ro-pax vehicle decks posed a different but not higher risk than vehicles with an internal combustion engine. Apparently, following a number of BEV-related fire incidents on Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs), the IMO is addressing the carriage of BEVs once again. It has cost us blood, sweat and tears explaining the difference between a ro-pax ferry and a PCTC. While a battery fire in a BEV is difficult to extinguish indeed, the approach to fire incidents on ferries is to contain the fire and return to port to have it extinguished by professional fire-fighters similar to a fire in a trailer which is sometimes as difficult to extinguish at sea.
Our stance is that seawater drencher systems on ro-pax ferries are perfectly capable of containing a BEV fire. We keep spreading the word to all stakeholders concerned.

During this week’s MEPC 82, the IMO Greenhouse Gas Fuel Standard (GFS), Financial Mechanism and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) are discussed among other topics. GFS is a requirement for continuous reduction of the carbon content of energy used on board ships, very much along the same lines as the FuelEU Maritime carbon requirements that will enter into force next year. Many stakeholders are pushing for the IMO to link the GFS to a financial contribution system, seeking to minimize the cost differential between zero and near-zero GHG emission fuels compared to traditional fuels, and to use some of the generated revenue to support a fair and equitable transition for all member states. When it comes to CII, a regulation that is already in force but not enforced yet, we keep arguing that it is not possible to regulate ro-pax and ro-ro ferries’ operational efficiency, as there are too many parameters that are out of the operator’s control. In short, CII penalizes port visits and time spent at quay, which is unfair for all segments, but totally unacceptable for ferries. But more on that in Johan’s next regulatory update!

Canadian Ferry Association Conference • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

From September 8-10, Interferry staff including Johan Roos; Conference and Membership Manager Nicole Bond; and Business Manager Jakki Papps attended the 2024 Canadian Ferry Association Conference in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia. Our team took the opportunity to connect with our Canadian operator members including: BC Ferries, Hullo Ferries, Owen Sound Transportation, Northumberland/Bay Ferries, Seaspan Ferries, Marine Atlantic, Groupe CTMA and Société des traversiers du Québec, as well as many of our valued supplier members.

Johan presented to delegates how Interferry’s work at the IMO positively impacted Canadian ferry operators. As expected, sustainability and innovation remained at forefront of the conversation throughout the conference, with many examples of how Canadian operators were building the next generation of vessels for a greener future.

Johan Roos presenting at CFA. 

L to R: Niclas Blomström and Maria Åkersten of member company Hogia; Johan Roos and Nicole Bond of Interferry; Meghan Raza of member company EMCS Industries; and John Bertell of member company Carus.

That’s it for this month. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you in Marrakech very soon!

P.S. I will not send an update in October due to the conference, but I look forward to reporting back to you in November.

Safe travels and take care,
Mike Corrigan – CEO, Interferry

Hello Ferry Fans,

The month of August proved to be pleasantly busy as we attended to conference registrations and sponsorship activities, and both are expected to remain brisk with the September 14 Early Bird registration deadline rapidly approaching.

As for September, our travel schedule will pick up as some of our team travel to participate in the Canadian Ferry Association’s (CFA) annual conference in Nova Scotia.

In addition to highlighting key Interferry2024 conference activities in this update, I’m pleased to be able to present the latest Ferry Business section in the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of Cruise and Ferry Review – published in association with Interferry – as well as draw your attention to the celebration of the IMO’s World Maritime Day which takes place on September 26.

Canadian Ferry Association Conference • Halifax, Canada • September 8-10, 2024

If you are attending CFA, the Canadian ferry industry’s marquee event in the beautiful east coast city of Halifax, I invite you to take in the presentation by Interferry’s Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos. Johan will speak about a number of regulatory issues affecting all global ferry operations – whether domestic or international – and how Interferry represents our industry at the IMO and other regulatory bodies to ensure we receive fair and equitable treatment.

Accompanying Johan to Halifax to meet and mingle with Interferry members and conference delegates will be Interferry’s Membership and Conference Manager Nicole Bond, and Interferry’s Business Manager Jakki Papps. Please take the time to say hi to our team while they are in Nova Scotia.

The Ferry Business Section in Cruise and Ferry Review

Here’s a link to the Ferry Business section in the latest issue of Cruise and Ferry Review. Produced biannually in association with Interferry, the section highlights “movers and shakers” in our industry. In addition to my article about Interferry2024 in Marrakech and Interferry’s continued call for carbon tax revenues to be used to invest in onshore power supply, read about our following members…

Ronny Moriana Glindemann of FRS Iberia Maroc / DFDS explains how the Strait of Gibraltar ferry operator is becoming a fully integrated member of the ever-growing DFDS family.

Frederic Pouget, Arnaud Le Poulichet and Joëlle Croc detail how five new E-Flexer vessels are renewing Brittany Ferries’ fleet.

Steve Nevey relates how Washington State Ferries are proactively addressing issues posed by their aging vessels.

David Sopta of Jadrolinija describes how new ferries are helping deliver lifeline services for locals and enhancing tourism in Croatia.

Mary Ann Pastrana of Archipelago Philippine Ferries summarizes the company’s progress towards its ambitious vision of having 30 vessels in operation by 2030.

Mathieu Girardin discusses DFDS’s plans to invest in new technologies on the organization’s journey toward net zero.

Michael Grey, a respected mariner and journalist, explains how fleet standardization can help reduce ferry operators’ costs and simplify building new vessels.

International Maritime Organization World Maritime Day • September 26

By having consultative status at the IMO and actively participating in all relevant committee and working group sessions, Interferry is proud to help celebrate World Maritime Day and the theme “Navigating the Future: Safety First!”. It is not by coincidence that one of the themes of our Marrakech conference is safety… especially with our conference in Africa and having recently co-hosted the Africa Ferry Safety Seminar in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania with the IMO.

It should not be lost on any of us the magnitude and influence the ferry industry has on the world economy – as can be seen in the graphic below illustrating a recent Oxford Economics Study commissioned by Interferry – and the absolute need to operate safely!

Interferry2024 Conference Update

OSK Design Golf Tournament
2024 marks the first year that OSK Design has taken the reins from Carus and will host our long-standing and fun golf event. I can confidently say that this year’s course, the Fairmont Royal Palm Golf and Country Club, is one of the best venues we’ve been afforded to play. Join us as we chase a little, white, non-hittable sphere while cursing and swearing for 18 holes!

Conference Early Bird Registration Ends September 14
All good things must come to an end – and so do the discounts for registering early for Interferry2024. In about two weeks’ time, it will cost a few hundred dollars more per delegate to sign up for the global ferry industry’s annual marquee event. Here’s a link to the conference registration page so you can minimize your costs while maximizing your enjoyment!

Expecting an Early Sell Out!
Based on our current registration activities and past trends, all indications are pointing towards another sold out event! As you may recall, we suspended registration a couple of weeks before our Interferry2023 in Hobart. It is very likely that this may happen again this year… so don’t miss out! This also applies securing a hotel room at the Mövenpick Marrakech as rooms are going fast!

Industry Leaders and Operators Attending Interferry2024
If you are considering attending but haven’t made up your mind, here’s a list of ferry operator members that have already signed up, with many more to come in the following weeks. I’m confident that there is no better opportunity to interact with key decision makers in the ferry industry on a global stage.

As I’ve said many times, if you’re a supplier to the ferry industry you can spend tens of thousands of dollars traveling around the world hoping to meet with one or two key decision makers from our operator membership… or you can spend a fraction of the cost and come to our annual conference where you’re guaranteed to rub shoulders with the industry’s “who’s who” in a relaxing and enjoyable environment.

The following ferry owners and operators will be represented at Interferry2024…

Archipelago Philippines Ferries Corporation
Attica Group
Balearia
BC Ferry Services Inc.
Black Ball Transport Inc.
Brittany Ferries
Chao Phraya Express Boat Co., Ltd.
Condor Ferries Limited
CORSICA LINEA
DFDS A/S
Dream Ferries S.A.
Fire Island Ferries Inc.
FRS GmbH & Co. KG
Grandi Navi Veloci
Grimaldi Group
Hornblower Group, Inc
Indonesia Ferry
Jadrolinija
Liberty Lines
Massachusetts Bay Lines Inc.
Moby Lines
MSC Group
Naviera Ocean GM SA DE CV
Northumberland/Bay Ferries Limited
Royal Doeksen
San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ)
Spirit of Tasmania
Stena Line
Stena RoRo
Stena Teknik
StraitNZ Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries
Thames Clippers
The Maritime Company For Navigation
Virtu Ferries Ltd.
Volta Lake Transport Company
Wasaline
Washington State Ferries

Speakers Program • Safety, Security and Sustainability

And, last but not least, there’s our world-class Speakers Program with the theme of “Safety, Security and Sustainability” where you will learn about current trends, technologies and best practices in the ferry industry.

In closing, I cannot over-emphasize the need to act quickly to register for Interferry2024 and also to secure your Mövenpick Marrakech hotel room!

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

Hi Ferry Fans,

I’m writing this update on the way back home after a productive and enjoyable visit with our operator members in the New York area – which you will hear more about later in this report.

This month I’m pleased to be able to announce our full Speakers Program for Interferry2024 in Marrakech. In addition to the two Ferry Leaders Panels that wrap up each day of the program, I’m confident that with our two-day lineup of presenters and speakers, conference participants will leave Morocco much better informed and educated in all three areas of our conference theme – “Safety, Security, and Sustainability”.

Interferry2024 Speakers Program Overview

Speakers Program Day 1 • October 28

On the opening day of the 48th Annual Interferry Conference, the program will kick off with two well-respected industry keynote speakers. Bud Darr, Executive VP, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs for the MSC Group will provide a strategic overview of the conference themes relative to one of the largest shipping companies in the world – including his take on how greenhouse gas regulations are affecting the maritime industry and how MSC is addressing these challenges and opportunities.

Next up will be Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA). Sotiris will enlighten the audience on his association’s key areas of focus with the European Union officials in Brussels that are relative to our conference themes. He will also provide an overview of how ECSA and Interferry work together for the benefit of the ferry industry.

Following our keynote addresses, Interferry’s Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos will discuss Interferry’s top regulatory priorities while engaging the perspectives of fellow industry experts and leaders from member companies in a conversational panel format.

The afternoon sessions will dive into security topics with presentations on cybersecurity and physical security, as well as a closer look into some alternative fueling solutions, before closing out the day with the first Ferry Leaders Panel of the conference which will feature large vessel operators.

Speakers Program Day 2 • October 29     

The second day of the program will begin with a regional spotlight session focusing on the African continent. Delegates will hear an update on the first-ever successful Africa Ferry Safety Seminar and learn about Interferry’s overall strategy to encourage domestic ferry safety in the developing world. Following this update, we are proud to welcome leaders from throughout Africa to the main stage to showcase their respective organization’s commitments to improving safety and sustainability in the region.

As environmental regulations continue to tighten, operators are looking to build vessels as sustainably and cost-effectively as possible. The mid-morning session will explore building the next generation of sustainable vessels from the perspectives of shipbuilders, designers and operators.

The future of battery-electric solutions and alternative fuels for powering ferries and the vehicles they carry is a timely and popular topic. The afternoon session will explore the fire and safety considerations for building and powering the electric vessels of the future, as well as the transportation of battery-powered vehicles onboard.

Delegates will once again be enlightened and inspired by the thoughtful conversations during the closing Ferry Leaders Panel which will feature small to medium-sized vessel operators.

Click here to see the full program along with the speaker’s bios.

Conference Hotel Filling Fast as the Early Bird Deadline Draws Near

We have been advised by the Mövenpick Hotel Marrakech that our dedicated block of rooms is filling up fast – so please act quickly to avoid being disappointed. Click here to see the hotel registration information.

On a related note, our early bird reservation deadline ends next month on September 14. There is no better time than now to save on your conference registration costs and guarantee your room for Morocco.

And, on a final note, our once-in-a-lifetime Technical Tour which includes a charter plane flight and Strait of Gibraltar ferry crossing courtesy of conference host, DFDS, now has just a handful of spots left!

Limited Sponsorship and Exhibition Spaces Remain  

On the sponsorship side of things, we have very few exhibition 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.

Conference Registration Opens to Non-members on August 1

With registration being available to Interferry members for two months, it is now time to open it to anyone who wants to join us in Morocco. As of August 1, we are pleased to accept registrations from industry participants who are not Interferry members. History has proven that many of these new attendees will become part of the Interferry family once they participate in their first conference and see the value of membership.

New York Member Operators Visit

Since our travel schedule is usually so hectic in the fall, winter and spring, we don’t like to stray too far from our Vancouver Island home during the summer. However, this year proved to be a welcomed exception as Interferry’s Director of Conferences and Finance Shari Corrigan and I had the pleasure of visiting many of our operator members in the New York area.

We were first hosted by Tim Mooney, Interferry Chairman and CEO of Fire Island Ferries. Tim – together with his wife Jane and daughters Morgan and Brittany – made us feel so welcomed at their beautiful beach front home in Kismit. Tim’s operation is quite impressive with almost 50 pieces of equipment plying the waters. As usual, Tim does a good job of understating the operation that he and his dad built. On a busy day, Fire Island Ferries moves about 30,000 passengers from Long Island to Fire Island and back… and this doesn’t include all the freight and essential services they take to and from the island.

After Fire Island, we travelled to Brooklyn and Manhattan to visit NYC Ferries and the Staten Island Ferry, respectively. We also stopped in to check out SeaStreak, another Interferry member, as part of our adventures.

We met with Tim O’Brien and Jonathan Figueroa of NYC/Hornblower at their operational headquarters in Brooklyn at the Navy Yard. We were impressed not only with the size of their fleet but also at the complexity of the NYC operation – which includes heavy lifts, ops center, a full-service warehouse and at least a dozen or so berths. We finished our visit with a ferry trip back to midtown Manhattan on one of NYC Ferries’ vessels.

The next day we had the pleasure of spending with John Garvey, head of the Staten Island Ferry. John gave us the full tour which included a return ferry trip to Staten Island from Lower Manhattan and a walk through their two major terminals – Whitehall and St. George. We also were able to see their state-of-the-art bridge simulators, as well as their crewing and operations centers. If you haven’t travelled on the Staten Island Ferry system, I encourage you to do so. With continual 30-minute departures from both sides and 24/7 operations, it’s no wonder that they are one of the busiest ferry systems in North America with almost 16 million passengers being transported each year.

That’s it for the busy month of July. October and Interferry2024 will be here before we know it! As usual, I look forward to your questions and comments.

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

Greetings Ferry Fans,

As I write this update, those of us in the northern hemisphere are looking forward to a busy and profitable summer ferry season, while many of our members south of the equator are preparing for their annual refit and maintenance period.

In this month’s update I’m excited to be able to announce our exceptional lineup of ferry leaders and keynote speakers who have confirmed their participation in our Interferry2024 Speakers Program. In addition, I will update you on other conference activities; draw your attention to our regulatory initiatives and recently issued Regulatory Report; and wrap things up by officially welcoming our newest members to the Interferry family.

Ferry Leaders and Keynote Speakers at Interferry2024 in Marrakech

I’m happy to announce the senior ferry leaders and keynote speakers from around the globe who will be on the main stage in Marrakech. If you haven’t already registered for Interferry2024, I’m confident that this roster of ferry executives who represent an excellent cross section of our operator members – both globally and by operational type – will entice you to do so.

We expect to announce our full schedule with sessions and all speakers for the two-day Speakers Program – taking place on October 28 and 29 – by no later than the end of August.

Götz Becker has been with FRS for three decades and was appointed CEO in 2005. He is also Vice Chair of Interferry’s Board of Directors.

Greta Bédard, the first woman to hold the position of President and CEO of the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ), shares insights from the Eastern Canadian ferry scene.

Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS, brings his financial and leadership expertise.

Matteo Catani, CEO of GNV, a major player within the MSC Group, offers the perspective of a company from the Western Mediterranean.

Bud Darr, Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs at MSC Group, delivers a keynote address.

Elisabeth Lönne, CCO of Stena Line, reports first-hand on the transformation efforts at the Swedish company.

Ronny Moriana Glindemann of FRS/DFDS, will be a prominent presence at the conference, continuing the tradition of conference hosts acting as annual Interferry presidents.

Ettore Morace, the well-respected CEO of Trasmed GLE relies on +40 years of industry experience.

Steve Nevey of Washington State Ferries shares his insights from leading the United States’ largest ferry system.

Ira Puspadewi, CEO of ASDP Indonesia Ferry, gives her first-hand perspectives from one of the key ferry markets in Asia.

Sotiris Raptis, Secretary-General of ECSA, the European Community Shipowners’ Associations, delivers a keynote address.

Mark Wilson joins the discussion as recently appointed President and CEO of Northumberland/Bay Ferries.

Interferry2024 Conference Update • Registration and Sponsorships

As I think you all may know by now, due to the overwhelming demand in Hobart that saw us sell out a few weeks before our conference Down Under, we made the decision this year to open up registration to members only on June 1 – with general registration available starting August 1.

Based on registration numbers to date, it’s looking like we made the right choice, as we currently are outpacing last year’s lofty numbers! So, I encourage you to take the time to register for the conference and secure your hotel room on InterferryConference.com before heading off to your summer break.

To our supplier community who are still considering a sponsorship opportunity, those too are filling up fast with only a few spots left at the upper tier levels. With the above list of top-level decision makers participating in Marrakech, coupled with the strong registration numbers, I strongly suggest that you move quickly to avoid disappointment.

You can see complete sponsorship information on InterferryConferfence.com or contact our Sponsorship Manager Karen Giffon directly by email.

Regulatory Update

I now draw your attention to our Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos’ recently issued Regulatory Report for a comprehensive overview of Interferry’s involvement in pending IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) regulations. In a nutshell for those of you that have not yet read Johan’s report… at MEPC 81, industry stakeholders had hoped for an in-depth discussion on the 2026 review of short-term measures in relation to the CII, but those issues were deferred to MEPC 82, which takes place September 30 through October 4.

We have drafted a proposal to implement a Fleet-Balancing mechanism that should be in the spirit of the CII framework and the uptake of new fuels and technologies. We are also promoting another submission to MEPC 82 in which stakeholders share their experiences of the CII and identify the areas that need to be addressed if the CII is ever going to be enforceable like other IMO instruments.

Johan covers this topic in depth in his June 2024 Regulatory Report on Interferry.com.

Besides GHG regulations, there are a number of other regulatory files we are involved with via our consultative status at the IMO and with other regulatory bodies. Here’s a brief review of some of the primary issues that we are concentrating on.

We plan to ask for further clarification from the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers regarding the difference between different ship types and the types of vehicles they carry.

In June, we joined a research project under the coordination of RISE, seeking new solutions to electronic monitoring equipment for reefer units connected to the ship’s grid, with a view to minimise the incidence of fire events.

The EU’s pending entry/exit system (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) remains a hot topic on our regulatory agenda and Interferry is currently engaged in a cross-industry initiative to highlight significant concerns over the implementation of EES.

Welcome to New Members

It is always a pleasure to welcome new members to the Interferry family, and we are pleased to acknowledge our 11 newest members who have come on board in the last 6 months. As always, and where appropriate, please look to our supplier members first when considering your various business needs.

AFerry Ltd – UNITED KINGDOM
Arcsilea Ltd
– UNITED KINGDOM
Candela Technology AB
– SWEDEN
CORSICA LINEA
– FRANCE
DCARB Australia Pty Ltd
– AUSTRALIA
Experiencias Xcaret Parques SA DE CV
– MEXICO
GIT Coatings
– CANADA
Red and White San Francisco Bay Cruises
– UNITED STATES
Strategic Marine (S) Pte. Ltd.
– SINGAPORE
SWITCH Maritime LLC
– UNITED STATES
Wabtec Charging & Power Transfer
– GERMANY

Well, that about does it for this update! I look forward to your questions and comments.

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

Hello Ferry Friends,

There’s a lot of exciting news I would like to share in this month’s report, including the location of our annual global conference in 2027, the official opening of registration for Interferry2024 in Marrakech, and the outcome of our meeting with the Secretary General of the IMO.

I also want to draw your attention to changes to the Regulatory Affairs section of Interferry.com which highlight the many regulatory initiatives we are engaged in on behalf of our membership.

Finally, on an extremely sad note, I want to pay respect to one of our most influential members and Interferry Directors who recently passed.

Interferry2027 • Mariehamn, Åland Islands

It gives me great pleasure to announce that during the Interferry Board of Directors meeting held on May 12 in Stockholm, our Directors unanimously approved Mariehamn as the location of our global event in 2027. Long-time operator member Viking Line and its CEO, Jan Hanses, will serve as the hosts of Interferry2027.

The Åland Islands truly are the epicentre of ferries in the Baltic with five international ferry companies connecting Sweden, Finland and Estonia – as well as the numerous small ferry runs providing lifeline services to the region’s archipelago. Åland’s storied maritime history, coupled with its natural beauty, will provide delegates with many options for exploration and entertainment. Mariehamn is fortunate to have a world-class conference center that is the perfect size to host our conference and with many hotels within a block or two of the conference center, delegates will be able to chose one that meets their taste and budget.

The video that Viking Line presented to the Board is sure to whet your appetite…

Member Registration Opens for Interferry2024 in Marrakech on June 1

Well, the long-awaited date is finally here! Starting on June 1, members can register for all Interferry2024 events here on InterferryConference. Due to the anticipated demand to attend our conference in Morocco – and the fact that we sold out Interferry2023 in Hobart a few weeks before that event – we have made the decision to stage registrations this year so that non-members’ first opportunity to register will be on August 1.

As we work our way through the many speaker proposals we have received, we expect to begin announcing keynote and high-profile speakers within the next month, with the rest of program revealed shortly thereafter. I’m confident in saying that we will have an “A” list of operator and industry leaders participating in Morocco as we expand on our triple “S” theme of “Safety, Security and Sustainability”.

Building on our very successful Africa Ferry Safety Seminar held in Tanzania in April, we also look forward to welcoming the African ferry community to Marrakech. Since this will be Interferry’s first conference on the African continent, it is only appropriate that one of the sessions on the main stage will be dedicated to the rapidly advancing African ferry industry, as well as areas where we can assist. Additionally, as a follow-up to our seminar in Tanzania, we have scheduled a half-day ferry safety session during the morning of October 30 for invited guests.

Shortly afterwards, attendees who have signed up for the Technical Tour will board a charter flight to Tangier that will ultimately lead to a Strait of Gibraltar ferry crossing along with accompanying port tours in Tangier and Tarifa provided by conference host FRS/DFDS.

Interferry Meeting with the Secretary General of the IMO

On May 16 at the IMO’s London world headquarters, Interferry’s Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos and I had the distinct pleasure of participating in a 90-minute meeting with Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General of the IMO.

l to r: Corrigan, Dominguez, Roos

Topics discussed included: continued co-sponsorship of developing world ferry safety initiatives; finalization of greenhouse gases regulations; and potential changes to the High-Speed Craft Code to include slower speed vessels.

The meeting took our positive relationship with the IMO to the next level and led to further meetings the following day with other senior IMO officials.

We were extremely impressed with Mr. Dominguez’ knowledge and passion for our industry – and would like to thank the Secretary General for the warm reception and engaging dialogue.

Improved Regulatory Communications to Members

One of the key deliverables stated in our newly minted 2024-2026 Strategic Plan “All Aboard” is to improve communications to our members with status updates regarding our regulatory priorities, as well as an up-to-date quick reference site for all our regulatory files.

In addition to quarterly Regulatory Updates from Johan Roos and my monthly CEO Updates, we have revamped the Regulatory Affairs section of our website to include detailed discussions and analyses on the many regulatory issues we are actively involved in including: Decarbonization / GHG Emissions; STCW Fire-fighting Training; Carriage of BEVs and Reefer Units; changes to the HSC Code; Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems; the EU Maritime Package; EES/ETIAS; Passenger Rights; and the IACS Working Group.

I invite you to visit the updated Regulatory Affairs section of our website and provide us with your feedback.

The Passing of Long-Time Interferry Director and Treasurer Mark MacDonald

It is always difficult to end my update with sad news, but unfortunately sometimes it is warranted.

On May 5, 2024, we lost a truly remarkable man… Mr Mark MacDonald, President and CEO of Northumberland and Bay Ferries. Mark was a dedicated and passionate 11-year Interferry Board member and our Treasurer for the past seven years. He truly loved our industry and its family atmosphere.

Mark is survived by his wife, Dr. Joann MacDonald, and their two daughters Dara and Charlotte. A special thank you to many of you who passed along your condolences to Joanne and me.

“Fair winds and following seas” Mark… you will be greatly missed and never replaced.

Until next time, take care, stay safe and now more than ever, cherish every day!
Mike Corrigan, CEO – Interferry

Greetings Ferry Fans,

I’m pleased and proud to share with you this month the overwhelmingly positive results from our Africa Ferry Safety Seminar in Tanzania. In addition, I want to highlight the outcomes of another successful Operators Policy Committee (OPC) held in Genoa, Italy, and – with Interferry2024 now only about six months away – there is a lot to report on regarding the lead up to our 48th annual conference in Marrakech. Finally, I want to draw your attention to the latest Ferry Business report in the Spring/Summer 2024 edition of Cruise & Ferry Review, published in association with Interferry.

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

In the mutual interest of improving ferry safety, a cooperation agreement between the African ferry community, Interferry and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was established at this month’s Africa Ferry Safety Seminar in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The seminar leads up to Interferry2024, our first conference on the African continent taking place in Marrakech, October 26-30.

Click here for complete information about the Africa Ferry Safety Seminar.

Held in partnership with the IMO, the two-day seminar was a collaborative effort to elevate ferry safety standards in Africa. Over 100 participants from across the African ferry industry, the IMO and Interferry´s global network convened in Dar es Salaam, united in the wake of recent regional tragedies.

We fielded a delegation of 14 seasoned professionals from our worldwide operator and supplier members whose purpose was to listen, exchange experience and share best practices on both operational and regulatory levels. Open discussions focused on critical areas impacting safety, including ticketing and passenger counting; cargo loading and stowage; vessel design and classification; insurance and financing; management culture and technical management; incident reporting; and the crucial role that political will plays in driving safety improvements.

This event represents a vital step forward in prioritizing ferry safety across Africa. The collaborative spirit and commitment from all attendees were truly inspiring. Together, we can address existing challenges and build a safer future for African ferry operations.

A special thank you goes to Oliver Weiss, Interferry’s voluntary Domestic Safety Committee Chairman, and Shari Corrigan, Interferry’s Director of Conferences and Finance, for taking the lead on organizing the event.

Operators Policy Committee (OPC) Meeting • Genoa, Italy • April 11

Another productive session of the OPC was graciously hosted by Matteo Catani of GNV at GNV’s head office on the Port of Genoa waterfront. Once again, we had a strong showing from committee members at the meeting with the majority of Level 1, 2 and 3 operator members participating.

At the beginning of the meeting – in addition to directing participants attention to the Committee’s anti-trust policy – OPC Chairman Götz Becker announced that he was stepping down as Chairman after a long tenure. Götz will be replaced for a two-year term by Paul Kyprianou of the Grimaldi Group. Paul’s first meeting as Chairman will be a virtual session on July 2, 2024 followed up by an in-person meeting on November 14, 2024 in Lisbon.

Johan Roos, Interferry’s Regulatory Affairs Director, briefed the committee on a number of regulatory files that Interferry was actively engaged in including: IMO GHG Strategy; Carriage of Battery Electric Vehicles; proposed changes to the HSC, EU Energy Taxation Directive; and EES/ETIAS. The majority of the meeting’s time and discussion centered around two items that Johan sought direction on from the OPC – the Open Loop Exhaust Gas Scrubber System (EGCS) and the IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).

After much discussion, the committee agreed on the following Interferry position regarding EGCS and CII…

EGCS:

  1. Investments made in good faith should be protected via a grandfathering provision;
  2. There shouldn’t be an additional limitation place on EGCS within EEZ waters (200 nm) other than the already existing limitations within territorial waters of 12 nm;
  3. Support the development of an IMO database that summarizes which ports and sea areas prohibit the discharge of EGCSs.

CII:

  1. Continue challenging CII as a mandatory instrument for ro-ro/pax;
  2. Promote the concept of “fleet averaging” for ro-ro/pax for submission to MEPC 82 this fall.

Interferry2024 • Marrakech • Oct 26–30 • Member Registration, Call for Speakers, Technical Tour and Sponsorship

Member Conference Registration: The Interferry team is getting excited to open member registration on June 1. Based on the number of inquiries we are getting – and the interest in the Technical Tour – we expect another strong turnout. Since we sold out Interferry2023 in Hobart and stopped taking registrations a few weeks before that event, we have decided that the first phase of registration for the Moroccan event will only be open to Interferry members. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks. And remember… “membership does have its privileges”.

Call for Speakers: Hopefully, you have noticed that we opened our Call for Speakers this month. With the theme of “Safety, Security and Sustainability” we expect to get a great cross section of proposals. If you are interested in being considered for the main stage, please submit your proposals no later than May 24, 2024 via the submissions portal on InterferryConference.com. I’d like to remind you that Interferry members and conference sponsors will be given first priority for speaking slots subject to the merits of their respective submissions. From past experience, we have to turn away about 50% of submissions due to demand, so please take the time to ensure that your proposal is on topic, informative and educational for the audience.

Technical Tour: If you are interested in joining our unique Technical Tour, I strongly recommend that you contact Registration and Conference Manager Nicole Bond as soon as possible to secure your seat, as we only have a few spots remaining on the charter airplane. During this exciting tour, we will fly from Marrakech to Tangier where we will stay overnight, and next day we will sail across the Strait of Gibraltar to Tarifa aboard the FRS/DFDS vessel Tarifa Jet. At the conclusion of the tour, busses will take you to the international Malaga Airport. Complete Technical Tour information is on InterferryConference.com.

Sponsorship Opportunities: The Interferry team tells me that there are still a select few sponsorship packages available – which now include annual benefits – so please contact Sponsorship Manager Karen Giffon to lock down your business development opportunity before it’s too late. Perennial supplier members continue to tell me that there isn’t a more cost effective and efficient way to meet with senior decision makers from the operator community than at our annual global event. Suppliers can spend tens of thousands of dollars traveling the world hoping to meet with one or two prospects – or, conversely, they can ensure success by sponsoring and exhibiting at our conference which gives them access to dozens of C suite personnel from our operator community.

Ferry Business Report in the Spring/Summer 2024 Cruise & Ferry Review

The Spring/Summer 2024 edition of Cruise & Ferry Review’s Ferry Business Report once again provides an excellent variety of articles spotlighting leaders and companies in our industry that are pertinent regardless of type of service you provide. After my introduction sets the stage for Interferry’s 2024 priorities, Stena Line’s female leaders discuss a more inclusive workplace and meeting customer demands; BC Ferries’ new CEO, Nicolas Jimenez, outlines the company’s long-term transformative journey to reshape its coastal British Columbia ferry services; and Will Dady of StraitNZ provides his insights into meeting customers’ expectations in New Zealand. As in the past, this edition is concluded by some wise words from ferry aficionado Michael Grey.

May Activities • Interferry Board Meeting, Shippax Conference, IMO Secretary General Meeting

With only a few days back in Canada after April’s whirlwind travel schedule, I will be back on a plane to Europe in a few days to host the second Interferry Board meeting of the year in Stockholm on May 12. Immediately after the board meeting, Chairman Tim Mooney and I will hop on board the Tallink ferry Baltic Queen to take part in the Shippax 2024 annual conference as we sail a roundtrip from Stockholm to Tallin, Estonia. During the conference, Tim and I will present an Interferry update to delegates. After the Shippax Ferry Conference, I will travel to London to attend the IMO’s MSC 108 (Maritime Safety Committee) meeting with Johan, where I will also take the opportunity to meet with IMO General Secretary Mr. Arsenio Dominguez.

Once again, it’s another very busy Interferry month, and I hope to see many of you during my travels.

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

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://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