By
Laura Hyde |
For 50 years, Interferry has brought together ferry operators from across the world. The organisation was founded in the USA in 1976 as the International Marine Transit Association and has evolved into an influential voice for the global ferry industry, representing its interests in regional and international regulatory arenas.
“When we first came together, it was for networking and social association,” says Mike Corrigan, CEO of Interferry. “The aim was to get operators from various parts of the world together to identify similarities and challenges, as well as to discuss how we could work together. That’s still a big part of it, but we’ve become much more focused, particularly when it comes to representing the industry in regulatory arenas, whether it’s at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the European Union (EU) or other organisations. We make sure the voice of the ferry industry, which makes up just three to five per cent of the shipping industry, is heard.”
The Operators Policy Committee (OPC) plays a key role in shaping Interferry’s collective approach to regulation. The committee, comprising 24 of the largest ferry operators, meets two to three times a year to discuss regulatory priorities and develop responses to industry challenges. Established in 2011, it provides operators with a forum to share concerns and discuss solutions. “If we don’t have our most influential members working together in the same direction, we’re not going to get anywhere,” says Corrigan. “While our members compete fiercely on routes, especially in Europe, they realise the benefit of good regulation; it helps everyone to grow and survive.”
Reflecting on Interferry’s achievements over the last five decades, Corrigan highlights the organisation’s longevity and diverse membership. “You can’t dismiss the fact we’ve held a conference almost every year for 50 years; that’s pretty amazing,” he says. “Our diverse membership is also a point of pride; we represent everything from family-owned passenger-only ferry services right up to mega companies, such as Grimaldi Lines or GNV, which operate big ro-pax and ro-ro ferries. Interferry brings together and represent all segments of our membership.”
Interferry has also worked hard to advance safety, which remains a core priority. Its FerrySafe initiative, for example, was created to identify and help resolve safety issues on domestic routes in developing nations. “We’ve been to Africa and the Asia-Pacific region a number of times and the project is gaining more traction, so that’s definitely going to be a priority for us for the next 10 to 20 years,” says Corrigan.
The Interferry2025 conference was held in Sorrento, Italy, and centred on a theme of ‘Crossroads’, tackling major industry issues such as greenhouse gas regulations, electrification and safety (Photo: Interferry)
Corrigan believes the next few years will see numerous changes, especially as the industry transitions towards achieving zero emissions in line with EU regulations. He says one of the biggest barriers to progress is lack of shore power facilities in ports. “Operators have hybrid-LNG systems and battery-powered vessels in their fleets, but many destinations lack the necessary infrastructure; it’s the missing link in the whole equation,” he says. “Some of our operators have told us that it doesn’t matter whether they’re in Scandinavia, Canada or the USA, it’s going to take 10 years to get the right infrastructure at their docks, quays and terminals to be able to electrify their fleets.”
The financial impact of environmental regulation is another growing concern for ferry operators, which is why Interferry is increasing its focus on ensuring revenues generated through measures such as the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) are reinvested into the sector. “We’re seeing our industry paying billions of dollars into taxes for emissions and getting nothing in return,” he says. “We really want those dollars fed back and ring-fenced so they can help us in our drive to become more environmentally friendly.”
Corrigan warns the rising cost of ETS could ultimately affect ferry demand. “ETS charges are increasing operating costs at a time when businesses are already facing growing financial pressures, making it more difficult to keep services running,” he says. “I was at an Interferry board meeting in the Isle of Wight in the UK in May and islanders told us how much the increase in ferry fares is affecting their economy. It’s costing more and more for ferry operators to run their essential services. If you increase the cost of the ferry, it’s going to affect prices and drive down demand. That’s just the reality of it.”
Interferry aims to address these challenges, and many others, at its annual conference, in Bangkok, Thailand, from 31 October to 4 November 2026. Corrigan hopes members will present a united front in line with Interferry’s ‘Stronger Together’ motto.
“We are a stronger voice when we’re united because we’re such a small segment of the shipping industry,” he says. “When we go to Brussels for the OPC and have three or four of our biggest members come with us to meetings, that has a huge impact on regulators and politicians. We’ve had such success with the OPC we’ve formed a Small Ferry Operators Committee to help our smaller operators to share knowledge and learn from others. There’s something at Interferry for everybody. It may be a bit different in terms of what people want out of it, but there’s something there for everybody.”
Looking ahead, Corrigan is cautious about making long-term predictions for an industry that is rapidly adapting to new technologies, stricter regulations and economic changes. “We’re currently developing our next three-year strategic plan, which is a more realistic timeframe than the 10- or 15-year plans of old; you can’t think that far ahead anymore,” he says. “Our focus will remain on improving safety in the developing world, supporting the drive towards zero emissions, and making sure our industry-specific operational requirements are heard by regulators. I also expect shore power development, alternative fuels and levelling the playing field around ETS to remain high on the agenda.”
Discover more insights on 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.