RoPax Ferry Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis, By Propulsion Type (Electric, Diesel, and LNG), By Application (International and Domestic), and Regional Forecast, 2025-2032

RoPax ferry is a type of ship that is designed to carry both passengers and vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and buses. The acronym “RoPax” stands for “roll-on/roll-off passenger,” which refers to the method of loading and unloading vehicles onto the ferry. These types of ships are commonly used for transportation between islands across bodies of water, such as seas, bays, and rivers.

The growing demand for larger and more advanced RoPax ferries that can accommodate passengers and vehicles and improved amenities and services is setting the trend in the market. Moreover, the electrification of RoPax ferries for a sustainable future is a major trend.

• In July 2022, Saronic Ferries signed a partnership with C-Job Naval Architects to design and develop a fully electric RoPax ferry in Greece. The electric RoPax ferry is designed to be 279 ft. long with a 52 ft. long beam. The ferry is assessed to accommodate 800 passengers and 85 cars or six trucks with 55 cars.

The advancement in ship design and propulsion technology to provide efficient and cost-effective RoPax ferries drives the demand for market growth. Moreover, RoPax ferries are often used to transport tourists to and from any desired vacation destination. Thus, an increase in tourism also contributes to the growth of the market. However, the high cost of construction and maintenance, along with disruption in operation due to extreme weather construction, restrains the market growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted the RoPax ferry market. The travel restrictions and reduced consumer demand have led to decreased revenue for ferry manufacturers and operators. Several major companies were forced to reduce their schedules or temporarily suspend operations. This led to financial difficulties for the manufacturers and operators. However, the acceleration due to the pandemic toward online ticketing and contactless payments, along with enhanced health and safety measures, has boosted the demand for the RoPax ferry market. Despite these challenges, the Ropax ferry market witnessed recovery post-pandemic soon after the restrictions were lifted.

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Key Industry Developments – Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships


• Porter’s Five Forces Analysis


• Technological Developments


• Impact of COVID-19 on the RoPax Ferry Market

Segmentation

Analysis by Propulsion Type

The RoPax ferry market parts into electric, diesel, and LNG segments based on the propulsion type. The diesel engine segment accumulated a larger market share and will continue to dominate in the upcoming years. Diesel engines offer more fuel efficiency than other types of engines, resulting in lower operating costs for RoPax ferry operators. Moreover, diesel engines are able to provide a large amount of power in compact packages. The advancement in diesel engine technology leads to more efficient and powerful engines that can help RoPax ferry operators and manufacturers meet the demand for transportation services. This drives the market growth of the segment. The advancement in electric propulsion technology to fulfill the zero-emission goal fuels the market growth of the electric propulsion segment.

Regional Analysis

The global market is geographically segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The Asia Pacific dominates the market due to its development of indigenous technology required to develop advanced technology-equipped, efficient RoPax vessels. Various major players are focused on research and development on the electrification of these vessels, providing fuel alternatives. Moreover, China dominates the market by holding a significant volume of ships operating throughout the region, thus driving the market in the region. Europe upholds the market with major players focusing on the development of the RoPax ships by increasing their efficiency, using alternative fuel technology, and increasing the capacity of the vessel. This fuels the market growth in the region.

Key Players Covered

The report includes the profiles of key players, such as Damen Shipyards Group, MacGregor, Incat Crowther, StenaRoRo, Abb, Almaco, KNUD E. HANSEN, and Evac.

Key Industry Developments

• In January 2023, Sembcorp Marine completed and delivered the final unit of zero-emission battery-powered RoPax ferry to Norled. The ferry will be deployed for the shortsea application, the Hella-Vangsnes-Dragsvik connections in Norway. This electric vessel is provided with a service speed of 10 knots, 82.4-meter-long multi-deck, 300 passenger capacity, along with 80 cars or ten cars and ten trailer trucks.


• In October 2022, Fosen Yard, a Norway Shipbuilder company, completed the LNG-fuelled RoPax ferry construction. The LNG-electric propulsion system complements four main engines, providing an output of 30,000 kW and two electric motors with two fixed-pitch propellers. The vessel provides a service speed of 22 knots.