The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is set to receive more than $410 million in US federal funding for fleet renewal, operations and terminal infrastructure.

The largest individual awards include $161.2 million for ferry operations serving more than 20 communities and $153.4 million for the design and construction of a replacement for LE CONTE, aimed at improving reliability, accessibility and fuel efficiency.

A further $37.6 million will support the Cascade Point Ferry Terminal, expected to shorten the Juneau–Haines–Skagway sailing by around one-third. $33.4 million has been awarded for modernisation of Kake Ferry Terminal, while $20.6 million will support expansion of Saxman Seaport. Another $4 million will go towards customer service and operational modernisation, including the reservation system.

The funding comes through the US Federal Transit Administration’s Ferry Service for Rural Communities programme.

Source: https://gov.alaska.gov/governor-dunleavy-and-alaskas-congressional-delegation-welcome-trump-administrations-historic-investment-in-rural-ferry-program/

And: https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/grant-programs/fta-ferry-grant-program-2026-selected-projects

DFDS will no longer acquire Armas’ Algeciras–Ceuta route or the fast ferry VILLA DE AGAETE, as the conditions imposed by the Spanish competition authorities were unacceptable to DFDS.

Negotiations are now underway to sell the route to another operator.

The acquisition of RoPax VOLCÁN DE TAMASITE and Armas’ Tanger Med operating licence by DFDS will proceed.

Source: https://ferrybalear.com/dfds-rechaza-quedarse-con-los-activos-de-trasmediterranea-de-la-linea-algeciras-ceuta-incluido-el-agaete

Photo Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=103472730

A Dutch foundation is preparing a collective legal claim on behalf of approximately 23,000 Filipino seafarers who allegedly received significantly lower wages than Dutch and German colleagues performing comparable work aboard Dutch ships.

The wage differences are based on the country-of-residence principle, under which salaries reflect living costs in the seafarer’s home country. In 2025, the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights concluded in two individual cases that differences based on a seafarer’s country of residence constituted discrimination.

The claim reportedly targets both Dutch shipowners and the Dutch State and could seek back pay dating to 2016. The case may have consequences for ferry and RoRo operators sailing under the Dutch flag if they employ non-European seafarers under similar arrangements. Possible effects include substantially higher crewing costs, retrospective claims and changes to crewing or flag strategies.

However, the legal proceedings are still at an early stage. Their wider impact will depend on whether the claim is admitted, the eventual judgment and which employment arrangements and collective agreements fall within its scope.

Industry representatives warn that abolishing the existing system in the Netherlands without international coordination could weaken the competitiveness of the Dutch fleet. The case will therefore be important to follow for Dutch-flagged ferry and RoRo operators.

Source (in Dutch):