My CEO Update for February 2025

Greetings Ferry Friends,

In this month’s report I’m excited to announce the theme of Interferry2025 in Sorrento, Italy; report on our recent Interferry Board of Directors meeting in Cancún, Mexico; and remind you to submit your GHG reducing projects to our Ferry Sustainable Showcase portal.

I would also like to draw your attention to our upcoming March Operators Policy Committee (OPC) meeting in Brussels, as well as our Onshore Power Supply (OPS) event we will host in Brussels as part of the 2025 European Shipping Summit (ESS).

And, last but not least, I would like to thank two departing Interferry directors for their contributions to our overall success.

Make “Connections” at Interferry2025

We think nothing better describes the ferry industry than this year’s conference theme of “Connections”. Whether it’s connecting with communities, connecting families and friends, connecting with your employees, connecting to the power grid or making sure your customer interface systems and your passengers have connectivity – “Connections” are key.

When our Call for Speakers is issued in March, we will ask for presentations on any of those topics that will educate and inform our delegates in Sorrento. So, put your thinking caps on and make sure you hit the mark because the competition to be on the main stage will be fierce.

Speaking of Interferry2025… based on the increased interest and number of inquiries we are receiving regarding our 49th annual conference, it’s not surprising that we are getting close to selling out most of our sponsorship packages. If you are interested in supporting Interferry and participating as a sponsor and/or exhibitor, please contact our Sponsorship Manager Karen Giffonas soon as you can. Complete sponsorship information is available on the conference website.

On a related note, we will open registration to Interferry members on May 1st. Registration for non-members opens on July 1st. Early bird pricing for members and non-members is available through August 15th. Check the conference website for complete registration information?or contact our Conference and Membership Manager Nicole Bond.

Winter Interferry Board Meeting ? Cancún

I’m pleased to report that the Interferry Board had another successful meeting on February 14th in Cancun, hosted by Mauricio Orozco of Ultramar Ferry. Prior to the meeting, board members were treated to an educational technical tour of Ultramar’s impressive operations.

At the meeting, in addition to recapping Interferry’s many successes in 2024, the budget and management objectives for 2025 were approved as we continue to implement Interferry’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan “All Aboard”.

Also confirmed in Cancún was that the next board meeting will be Genoa, Italy on June 13th and 14th, hosted by Matteo Catani of GNV. In addition, the board directed management to begin the selection process for the North American location and host for the Interferry2028 conference, with the selection to be finalized by the end of 2025.

Interferry’s Ferry Sustainable Showcase

As we recently announced, in an effort to let the rest of the world – especially government officials and key decision makers – know how the ferry industry is leading the shipping industry in the push toward zero emissions, we have launched the Ferry Sustainable Showcase submission portal on Interferry.com.

In order to make this initiative as successful as possible, we need your help! Please send us your projects – using the portal – in any format (PPT, video, PDF, etc.) and we will take care of the rest. It’s in the best interests of the Interferry membership to participate in the showcase if we want to see the investment and shoreside infrastructure required for accelerated onshore power supply (OPS) development.

Complete details and instructions for submitting your project can be found on the showcase portal page. Please contact Business Manager Jakki Corrigan if you have any questions.

Brussels OPC Meeting and the 2025 European Shipping Summit (ESS)

Our first OPC meeting of 2025 will be held in the afternoon of March 19th in conjunction with the ESS. This is one of three OPC meetings held each year that sets the priorities for our Regulatory Office which is managed by our Regulatory Affairs Director Johan Roos. The timing for this meeting is excellent given the many IMO sessions taking place in the first quarter of 2025.

During the morning of March 19th, as part of the ESS, Interferry will co-host a side-event along with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), focusing on what can be done to expedite the rapid advancement of OPS development. This one-hour panel will feature government officials and industry advocates discussing and debating a critical link in our chain to attaining our zero emissions goal.

Thanks to Our Departing Directors

To conclude my update this month, I would like to thank Interferry Directors David Sopta of Jadrolinija and Heidi Wolden of Norled for their dedication and commitment to Interferry over the years. Heidi and David have both left their respective companies and resigned from the Interferry Board. We wish them well in their future endeavors.

Thanks for reading and I hope to see many of you in Brussels in March.

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