What Interferry does

Interferry is a non-profit global trade association founded in 1976 that represents the worldwide ferry industry, headquartered in Victoria, Canada with regulatory affairs operations in Brussels, Belgium and a presence in Sweden. The association aggregates more than 290 member companies — including ferry operators spanning RoPax, RoRo, cruise, fast, and passenger-only categories, as well as industry suppliers (shipbuilders, marine equipment manufacturers, naval architecture firms, crewing and training companies, IT and logistics providers, and classification societies) — representing over 2,200 individuals across more than 40 countries.

Its core offerings center on three pillars: regulatory affairs representation at the International Maritime Organization (where Interferry holds consultative status) and at EU institutions including EMSA; the FerrySafe project and Domestic Ferry Safety Committee addressing safety in developing nations; and the annual Interferry Conference, which in its 2024 iteration attracted record attendance in Marrakech and will mark the 50th anniversary with Interferry2026 in Bangkok. Supporting products include the Oxford Economics-commissioned Global Ferry Market Study, the bi-annual Ferry Business section in Cruise & Ferry Review, regulatory reports from Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos, the "E-cars on Board" safety brochure, and Onshore Power Supply advocacy materials.

The business model is a hybrid of recurring membership dues (paid by ferry operators and suppliers for regulatory updates, networking, and discounted conference access) and annual conference revenue (registration, sponsorship, and exhibition fees open to both members and non-members). The association is governed by a Board of Directors elected from member companies — currently chaired by Tim Mooney of Fire Island Ferries — and led by CEO Mike Corrigan (formerly President and CEO of BC Ferries) with a small executive team. There is no equity ownership, no parent company, and no disclosed revenue or financial statements.

Name

Interferry

Legal name

Interferry

Website

https://interferry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Interferry is a global non-profit trade association, founded in 1976, representing 290+ ferry operator and supplier member companies across 40+ countries. It provides regulatory representation at the IMO and EU, hosts an annual industry conference, and runs the FerrySafe domestic safety initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Ferry operators and suppliers pay membership fees to join Interferry, gaining access to regulatory updates, networking opportunities, and discounted conference registration.
2. Annual conference revenue: Interferry generates revenue through conference registration fees, sponsorship, and exhibition fees from its annual international conference, which is open to members and non-members.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Interferry is a global trade association representing the worldwide ferry industry. It provides regulatory advocacy at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and EU institutions, hosts an annual international conference, runs the FerrySafe safety initiative for developing nations, and delivers networking and knowledge resources to ferry operators and industry suppliers across 40+ countries.

Product overview

Interferry is a global trade association representing the ferry industry worldwide, not a product company. Its core offerings include annual industry conferences, the FerrySafe safety initiative for developing nations, regulatory affairs representation at the IMO and EU, and knowledge resources including the Ferry Business publication and Global Ferry Market Study. The association connects ferry operators and suppliers through networking opportunities and advocates for fair regulations governing safety, security, and environmental sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FerrySafe: A project focused on improving ferry safety on domestic routes in developing nations, originally launched in Asia-Pacific and expanded to Africa through cooperation with the IMO.
• Interferry Conference

Products and services

• Interferry Annual Conference Annual international conference open to members and non-members, featuring industry expert presentations on leading-edge ideas and technologies, networking opportunities, and association growth. Includes discounted registration for members and access to archived presentations.
• FerrySafe Project Safety initiative focused on enhancing safety for domestic ferry transportation in developing nations, primarily in Asia-Pacific and Africa, delivered through seminars, workshops, and regional conferences in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
• Regulatory Affairs Representation Advocacy service providing ferry operators with direct access to the regulatory and policy decision-making process at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) where Interferry holds consultative status, as well as EU institutions and other regulatory bodies.
• Ferry Business Publication Bi-annual Ferry Business section in the Cruise and Ferry Review magazine featuring insightful interviews and articles about the ferry industry, including executive interviews, operator updates, sustainability strategies, and industry analysis.
• Global Ferry Market Study Comprehensive economic impact assessment quantifying the global ferry industry's direct, indirect, and induced economic contributions, including passenger throughput, vehicle transport, GDP contribution, and employment data; used by Interferry and ferry operators to influence regulators and decision makers.
• E-cars on Board Brochure Safety resource addressing battery electric vehicle (BEV) concerns on ro-pax ferries, providing Q&A-format information on fire risk comparisons, extinguishing methods, safe storage practices, and on-board charging safety.
• Onshore Power Supply (OPS) Advocacy Advocacy initiative urging governments, port authorities, and electricity utilities to prioritize Onshore Power Supply (OPS) infrastructure development to support ferry electrification and hybrid propulsion technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of ferry fatalities occur on domestic routes; 60,000 deaths over 50 years; 66% of fatalities concentrated in 7 countries (Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia leading)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2024Interferry and LASWA officially inaugurated Africa's first Ferry Safety Development and Mentoring Program in Lagos in May 2026. The 18-month initiative aims to enhance operational safety, technical competence, and regulatory compliance across Lagos's ferry network, building on Interferry's FerrySafe project.
• ShippaxminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2017Shippax, a leading provider of ferry industry news and market intelligence, co-brands its weekly online news bulletin with Interferry under the credit 'In association with Interferry'. All Interferry members receive the co-branded Shippax News Bulletin alongside Interferry News.
• International Cruise & Ferry ReviewminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Interferry partners with International Cruise & Ferry Review magazine to produce the Ferry Business section, featuring executive interviews, operator updates, sustainability strategies, and industry analysis. Interferry CEO provides a commentary in each edition.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterferry holds consultative status with the IMO, enabling direct engagement in the development of international shipping regulations. The two organizations co-host regional ferry safety seminars, including the Africa Ferry Safety Seminar (Dar es Salaam, April 2024) and the Lagos Ferry Safety Mentoring Program (2026).
• Oxford EconomicscoreOthersOxford Economics was engaged by Interferry to conduct a comprehensive Ferry Market Study quantifying the economic impact of the global ferry industry, including direct, indirect, and induced economic contributions. The resulting data is used by Interferry and ferry operators to influence regulators, politicians, and decision makers.
• Lash Fire ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterferry actively participated in the Lash Fire project, a European research initiative aiming to reduce the risk of fires on board ferries. Findings from Lash Fire informed Interferry's 'E-cars on Board' brochure on battery electric vehicle safety on ro-pax ferries.
• Mercy ShipsminorOthersMercy Ships is Interferry's Charity of Choice. Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to transform lives and serve nations, aligning with Interferry's commitment to maritime safety and humanitarian impact.
• European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterferry works closely with EMSA on ro-ro deck fire protection following high-profile fire incidents. The collaboration involves identifying required, relevant, and realistic changes to fire protection regulations, including work on the Firesafe ro-ro project.
• EU InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterferry engages with EU institutions on ferry-specific regulatory matters including EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, emissions regulations, and short sea shipping policies. The association holds observer status in SAGMAS (Stakeholder Advisory Group on Maritime Security).
• European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterferry co-hosted a workshop at the European Shipping Summit alongside ECSA and shipping associations from Cyprus, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, advocating for a pan-European eco-bonus system for short sea shipping.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BIMCO: World's largest direct-membership shipowner association providing contracts, standards, and regulatory engagement; comparable association model and member-driven advocacy approach serving overlapping maritime stakeholders.
• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS): Principal international trade association for the global shipping industry, representing the full merchant fleet including operators that overlap with Interferry's members; comparable as a higher-level shipping advocacy body that some Interferry members also belong to.
• Intertanko: International association of independent tanker owners engaging IMO and EU on tanker-specific regulation; structurally identical association model to Interferry, focused on a specific vessel segment rather than the full fleet.
• Intercargo: Trade association for dry bulk carrier operators with IMO consultative status; comparable in advocacy model and segment-specific focus, serving an adjacent shipping sub-sector.
• World Shipping Council: Global trade association for liner shipping companies focused on regulatory, safety, and environmental policy; comparable association model targeting IMO and EU engagement on behalf of vessel operators.
• International Association of Classification Societies (IACS): Association of major ship classification societies; operates as a technical-standards trade body in the same regulatory ecosystem Interferry engages with at IMO and EU, with overlapping member companies.
• European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA): Confederation of European national shipowner associations representing all vessel types; Interferry already co-hosts EU workshops with ECSA, making it a directly adjacent lobbying counterpart in Brussels on ferry-specific regulation.

Emerging players

• Shippax: Ferry industry news, market intelligence, and conference organizer; already a content partner of Interferry ('In association with Interferry'), serving the same ferry operator and supplier audience with media and events.
• International Cruise & Ferry Review: Bi-annual trade magazine covering cruise and ferry sectors; Interferry produces the Ferry Business section of this publication, making it a directly aligned media partner targeting the same operators and suppliers.

Direct peers

• Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA): Global trade association representing the cruise industry with consultative status at IMO; structurally analogous to Interferry as a passenger-marine trade body providing regulatory advocacy, safety standards, and an annual conference.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/interferryorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/interferry
• Instagraminstagram.com/interferryorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Interferry