Senior executives, technical experts and operational leaders from the global ferry industry will gather at the Interferry2026 conference – to be held at the Shangri-La Bangkok on the banks of Thailand’s Chao Phraya River from 31 October to 4 November – to discuss the sector’s most pressing challenges and biggest opportunities.
Delegates will participate in a programme structured around the industry’s principal operational areas and debate critical topics under three main headings: ‘People – Our Most Important Assets’, ‘Lifeline and Commuter Services’, and ‘Large Ferry Operators Perspectives’.
After a weekend of pre-event tours and activities, Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan will open the conference and conference host and Interferry president Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram, chairperson of Chao Phraya Express Boat Co., will welcome delegates to Bangkok.
Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram, the current Interferry president and chairperson of Chao Phraya Express Boat Co, with Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan (Photo: Interferry)
A defining hallmark of Interferry2026 is its deep regional integration, which is reflected in the choice of the first keynote speaker, Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri of the Royal Thai Navy. Kongsiri will officially welcome the delegates to Thailand before offering opening perspectives on maritime history, regional security, and current global geopolitical dynamics impacting trade and passenger movement.
The second keynote speaker, Charlotte de Jong of environmental project The Ocean Cleanup, will address the issue of environmental protection, highlighting the crucial work in intercepting river plastics before they reach the ocean. Her speech will also serve as an introduction to the conference’s ‘Electric Mobility & River Sustainability Experience’ technical tour along the Chao Phraya River.
Programme sessions will cover a range of topics from regulation to electrification, and regional spotlights will examine operational and market conditions across Southeast Asia, with particular attention to Thailand and Singapore.
Technical sessions dedicated to decarbonisation will delve into real-world operational challenges, grid infrastructure bottlenecks, and battery integration strategies experienced by early adopters.
“Electric propulsion systems have become well established in the ferry industry,” said Corrigan. “As shore power facilities continue to be expanded in ports around the world, the conditions are being created to further accelerate the transition. By sharing hard-earned lessons and best practices, we can collectively speed up the adoption of electric and low-emission technologies without reinventing the wheel.”
The event will bring a number of regional operators into the global dialogue, reflecting the rapid growth of waterborne transit across Southeast Asia. Among the participants are Thai Smile Boats and host operator Chao Phraya Express Boat from Thailand, Singapore’s Batamfast, Penguin Group, and Singapore Cruise Centre, alongside ASDP Indonesia Ferry, which will be showcased in a dedicated operator profile.
“As we celebrate 50 years of Interferry, our strength continues to lie in our diverse global community,” Corrigan emphasises. “Whether operating island lifelines, urban commuter runs, or large international routes, coming together in Bangkok allows us to learn from one another and build a cleaner, safer, and more resilient future for ferry transport.”
Innovators at Interferry
CFR picks out three organisations that will be showcasing innovative products and services at Interferry2026
RINA (Gold Sponsor)
At Interferry 2026, RINA will showcase its strengthened consultancy offering for ferry operators, following the recent acquisition of Foreship, bringing expertise in ship design, engineering, digitalisation, innovation and decarbonisation. As the world’s leading classification society for ferries, RINA classes over 380 vessels (5.5 million GT) and has an orderbook of 41 newbuilds (1.2 million GT).
RINA supports newbuilds, retrofits, conversions and energy efficiency improvements, helping ferry lines achieve safer, efficient and future-ready operations while enhancing passenger experience and operational performance.
RINA will showcase how it helps ferry lines achieve safer and more efficient operations (Photo: RINA)
FerryHawk (Booth #35)
FerryHawk, which was built by operators for operators, is a software-as-a-service reservation platform for vehicle, passenger and freight ferry services. Combining real-world ferry operating experience with innovative technology, FerryHawk delivers low upfront costs, simplified implementation and a platform that is continually evolving. The system modernises alongside an operator’s business with little to no operational disruption, helping them to improve efficiency, enhance customer experience and make better decisions. It provides a smarter, more flexible approach to ferry reservation management.
FerryHawk provides a software-as-a-service reservation platform for vehicle, passenger and freight ferry services (Photo: FerryHawk)
SeaCat Ships (Booth #36)
SeaCat Ships will showcase its expertise in designing and constructing high-performance aluminium catamarans. Specialising in custom passenger ferries ranging from 10 to 60 metres long, the company delivers strong, lightweight and fuel-efficient vessels built to international standards at its shipyard, just 90 minutes’ drive from Bangkok, Thailand. Visitors can learn about the company’s latest fast ferry, hybrid and expedition catamaran projects, along with its complete design, engineering and turnkey shipbuilding services tailored to the operational requirements of ferry operators around the world.
SeaCat Ships will demonstrate its expertise in designing and constructing high-performance aluminium catamaran (Photo: SeaCat Ships)
Register for Interferry2026
Discover more insights from the passenger shipping industry in the Autumn/Winter 2026 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review. To get content like this on a regular basis, subscribe to the print editions or free digital editions of our Cruise & Ferry publications.