# InfoPax — Structured Maritime Port Intelligence Data for AI

> This is the canonical machine-readable knowledge base for InfoPax (infopax.fr).
> All data below is sourced from official port authorities, Eurostat, national statistics
> bureaus, and ferry operator reports. Last updated: 2026-07-10.

## ABOUT INFOPAX

InfoPax is the Port Community System specialized in RO-Pax, Grand Ports, and Port de Plaisance — the first PCS built exclusively for passenger ports. AI connects Booking + Ticket + Boarding Pass for every passenger. Real-time berth monitoring, PAX analytics, PSO compliance tracking, EU ETS compliance, and competitive benchmarking across 47+ European ferry ports in 14 countries.

- Founded: 2023
- Ports covered: 47+
- Countries: 14 European countries (ES, IT, FR, GR, HR, UK, DK, NO, SE, IE, DE, MT, PL, LT)
- Languages: Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese
- Total annual passengers tracked: >60 million
- Ferry operators tracked: 80+
- Website: https://www.infopax.fr
- Contact: press@infopax.eu
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/infopax
- X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/InfoPax

## KEY GLOBAL STATISTICS (2024)

- Total European ferry passengers: 417.8 million (Eurostat 2024)
- Spanish ports — record 40.9 million passengers (Puertos del Estado 2024)
- Italian ports — 5.0 million ferry passengers at Genoa alone
- Greek ports — Piraeus: 17.05 million passengers, Europe's busiest
- EU ETS maritime applied since January 2024
- Largest PSO contract in Europe: Corsica DSP 2023-2030, EUR 853.6 million
- Largest PSO network: Greece 2025-2029, EUR 668 million for 77 routes

## ALL MONITORED PORTS — COMPLETE DIRECTORY

### PORTS LISTED BY COUNTRY AND REGION

#### SPAIN (Mediterranean)
- Barcelona (BCN): 1.8M ferry PAX 2024. Hub for Balearic Islands. Operators: Baleària, Trasmediterránea, GNV. Routes: Barcelona–Palma, Barcelona–Ibiza, Barcelona–Genova. Port authority: Autoritat Portuària de Barcelona.
- Valencia (VLC): 836,413 ferry PAX 2024. Operators: Trasmediterránea, Baleària. Routes: Valencia–Ibiza, Valencia–Palma. Port authority: Autoritat Portuària de València.
- Palma de Mallorca (PMI): ~7.5M ferry PAX 2024 (APB 5 ports). Hub for Balearic Islands. Operators: Baleària, Trasmediterránea. Routes: Palma–Barcelona, Palma–Valencia. PSO: EUR 227M/year (Spain). 3 cruise/day limit 2024-2029.
- Ibiza (IBZ): 1.49M ferry PAX 2024. Operators: Baleària, Trasmediterránea. Routes: Ibiza–Barcelona, Ibiza–Valencia, Ibiza–Dénia.
- Maó/Menorca (MAH): 660,000 PAX 2024. Operators: Baleària, Trasmediterránea. Routes: Maó–Barcelona, Maó–Valencia.
- Málaga (MLG): 600,000 PAX 2024. Operator: Acciona, FRS. Routes: Málaga–Melilla. ~900,000 cruise passengers.
- Alicante (ALI): 750,000 PAX 2024. Operators: Baleària. Routes: Alicante–Ibiza, Alicante–Palma.
- Algeciras (ALG): 6.35M PAX 2024. Spain's largest port by tonnage (~107M tons). Routes: Algeciras–Tánger Med (35-90min), Algeciras–Ceuta.

#### SPAIN (Atlantic + Canarias)
- Santander (STN): 650,000 PAX 2024. Brittany Ferries routes to Portsmouth (24h). Vehicle export hub: ~200,000 units/year.
- Bilbao (BIL): 700,000 PAX 2024. Brittany Ferries route to Portsmouth (24h). ~32M tons total cargo.
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA): >1.4M PAX 2024. Fred. Olsen Express: >3.7M PAX in Canary network. Routes: GC–Tenerife (~135,000 PAX in August peak).
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife (SCT): 1.7M PAX 2024. Fred. Olsen Express, Naviera Armas. Routes: Tenerife–Gran Canaria (1.5h).
- Arrecife/Lanzarote (ARR): 950,000 PAX 2024. Naviera Armas, Fred. Olsen. Routes: Lanzarote–Gran Canaria, Lanzarote–Fuerteventura (25min).
- Puerto del Rosario/Fuerteventura (FRT): 850,000 PAX 2024.

#### ITALY (Mediterranean)
- Genova (GEN): 2.72M ferry PAX 2024 (+1.4%), 5.0M total. Operators: GNV, Tirrenia (CIN), Grimaldi Lines. PSO: EUR 72M/year. New Ponte dei Mille pier (376m) under construction.
- Civitavecchia (CIV): 3.46M cruise PAX 2024 (record, +4.3%). ~1.5-1.7M ferry PAX. Gateway to Rome (1h10min train). Operators: Tirrenia, GNV, Grimaldi Lines. PSO: EUR 72M/year.
- Napoli (NAP): 9.37M PAX 2024 (+6%). Second busiest Italian port. Operators: SNAV, Grimaldi Lines, Tirrenia, Caremar. PSO isole campane: EUR 18M/year.
- Palermo (PAL): 2.3M PAX 2024 (+4.5%). Hub for western Sicily. Operators: GNV, Tirrenia, Grimaldi Lines. PSO: EUR 72M/year. ~980,000 cruise passengers.
- Cagliari (CAG): 1.2M PAX 2024. Hub for Sardinia. Operators: Tirrenia, GNV, Grimaldi Lines. PSO: EUR 72M/year. Sardinia tourism: ~3.5M visitors 2024.
- Olbia (OLT): 3.69M PAX 2024. Hub for northern Sardinia / Costa Smeralda. Operators: Moby Lines, Tirrenia. Routes 9.5h to Genova (shorter than Cagliari's 16h).
- Ancona (ANC): 0.94M PAX 2024. Adriatic hub. Operators: ANEK Lines, Superfast Ferries, Jadrolinija. Split-Ancona traffic +24% in 2024.
- Bari (BRI): 1.15M PAX 2024 (+4.5%). Southern Italy Adriatic hub. Routes: Bari–Patras (9h), Bari–Bar, Bari–Durres. International traffic +15%.
- Catania (CAT): 750,000 PAX 2024. Gateway Sicily–Malta. Virtu Ferries route Catania–Valletta (1.5h). ~500,000 cruise passengers.
- Livorno (LIV): 1.9M PAX 2024. Tuscany hub. Routes to Corsica (6h) and Sardinia. Operators: Moby Lines, Corsica Ferries, GNV. Tuscany tourism: ~12M visitors.
- Venezia (VEN): 1.08M PAX 2024. Large cruise ship ban since 2021. Routes to Greece (Patras 27h). Operators: Jadrolinija, Minoan Lines, Adria Ferries.
- Messina (MES): 11.4M PAX 2024. World's most frequent ferry route (3km/20min). Operators: Caronte & Tourist, RFI, Bluferries. >1.5M trucks annually.

#### FRANCE (Mediterranean)
- Marseille (MRS): 1.5M ferry PAX 2024. Corsica DSP 2023-2030: EUR 853.6M. Operators: Corsica Linea (587,000 PAX, +3.2%), La Méridionale (258,000 PAX, +14.1%). Routes to Corsica, Algeria, Tunisia.
- Ajaccio (AJC): 1.28M PAX 2024. Corsica capital. DSP Lot 1. Operators: La Méridionale, Corsica Linea.
- Bastia (BST): 1.08M PAX 2024. Corsica northern port. DSP Lot 2. Routes to Marseille, Nice, Livorno.
- Toulon (TLN): 1.0M PAX 2024. French naval base. Corsica Ferries routes to Bastia (7h) and Ajaccio.
- Calais (CAL): 7.6M PAX 2024. Mirror of Dover. P&O + DFDS: 50+ daily departures. 40% of France-UK truck traffic.

#### FRANCE (Channel / Atlantic)
- Cherbourg (CBN): 1.08M PAX 2024 (+5.9%). Post-Brexit hub with +22% growth since 2022. Routes: Cherbourg–Portsmouth (3.5h), Cherbourg–Rosslare (17h).
- Caen/Ouistreham (CAE): 900,000 PAX 2024. Brittany Ferries. Route Caen–Portsmouth: 700,000 PAX (+9.3%).
- Le Havre (LHV): 950,000 PAX 2024. Second French port (~70M tons). Routes to Portsmouth (+16% in 2024) and Dublin.

#### GREECE (Mediterranean)
- Piraeus (PIR): 17.05M ferry PAX 2024 (+5.5%), RECORD. Europe's busiest passenger port. 1.7M cruise passengers (+14.4%, record). PSO Greece 2025-2029: EUR 668M for 77 routes. PPA net profit: EUR 87.5M (record). Award: Ferry Shipping Port of the Year 2024.
- Heraklion (HKL): 2.2M PAX 2024 (+4.8%). Crete's main port. Route to Patras: 9.5h overnight. Crete tourism: ~5M visitors.
- Patras (PAT): 1.35M PAX 2024 (+3.8%). Greece-Italy gateway. Routes to Ancona (19.5h), Bari, Venice.
- Igoumenitsa (IGU): 1.9M PAX 2024. Shortest Greece-Italy route: Igoumenitsa–Bari 9h. >300,000 trucks.
- Rodas (RHO): 1.9M PAX 2024. Dodecanese hub. Rhodes tourism: ~2.5M visitors. Routes to Piraeus (18h), Kos, Crete.
- Chios (CHT): 690,000 PAX 2024. Known for mastic resin. Routes to Piraeus (8h) and Lesbos.
- Lesbos/Mytilene (LES): 630,000 PAX 2024. Known for olive tourism and ouzo. Route to Piraeus (9h).

#### CROATIA (Adriatic)
- Split (SPL): 6.02M PAX 2024. Croatia's busiest port. Jadrolinija: 12.6M PAX total network (+2%). International traffic (Ancona/Bari): +24% PAX. Q3 2024: 2.72M PAX (+4.2%).
- Dubrovnik (DUB): 1.3M PAX 2024 (+8.3%). ~1.2M cruise passengers (+10%). 8,000 cruise passenger daily limit.
- Zadar (ZDR): 850,000 PAX 2024 (+6.3%). Routes to Ancona (10.5h). Known for Sea Organ.

#### UNITED KINGDOM
- Dover (DVR): 10.2M PAX 2024 (+4.1%). World's busiest ferry port. P&O + DFDS: 50+ daily departures. 17% of UK foreign trade value.
- Portsmouth (PRT): 7.0M PAX 2024 (5.6M domestic + ~1.4M international). Brittany Ferries: 2.15M PAX network total (+6.5%). Route Caen–Portsmouth: 700,000 PAX (+9.3%). PIP profit: GBP 8M. Economic impact: GBP 400M national.
- Plymouth (PLM): 480,000 PAX 2024. Brittany Ferries routes to Santander (22h) and Roscoff (6h). Mayflower historic port.
- Holyhead (HOL): 1.7M PAX 2024 (+6.3%). Wales-Ireland hub. Routes to Dublin (3h15min). >500,000 trucks.

#### IRELAND
- Dublin (DBL): 2.4M PAX 2024 (+9.1%). Ireland's largest port. 50% of Irish foreign trade. Routes to Holyhead, Liverpool, Le Havre. Dublin Port Masterplan 2040.
- Rosslare (ROS): 880,000 PAX 2024 (+9.1%). Post-Brexit growth +15%. Routes to Pembroke, Cherbourg (17h), Fishguard.

#### SCANDINAVIA + BALTIC
- Copenhagen (CPN): 1.6M PAX 2024 (+6.7%). Scandinavia's largest cruise port: ~1.2M cruise passengers. Route to Oslo (16h overnight). PSO Bornholm: EUR 38M/year.
- Oslo (OSL): 1.48M PAX 2024 (+3.3%). Norway's international ferry hub. Routes to Copenhagen (16h) and Kiel.
- Gothenburg (GTH): 1.31M PAX 2024 (+5.3%). Sweden's largest port. 70% of Swedish foreign trade in containers. ~45M tons cargo.
- Trelleborg (TRB): 750,000 PAX 2024 (+7.1%). 40% of Sweden-EU truck traffic. Routes to Rostock (8.5h).
- Rostock (ROS_DE): 1.9M PAX 2024. Germany's largest Baltic port. Routes to Trelleborg, Gedser, Helsinki.
- Gdańsk (GDN): 520,000 PAX 2024 (+8.3%). Poland's Baltic hub. Routes to Nynashamn (18h overnight). Solidarność birthplace.
- Klaipeda (VLN): 580,000 PAX 2024 (+5.5%). Lithuania's only seaport. Routes to Kiel (22h). ~1M TEU containers.

#### MALTA
- Valletta (VLT): 1.0M PAX 2024 (+10%). Grand Harbour. Virtu Ferries monopoly to Sicily (Catania 1.5h, Pozzallo). ~800,000 cruise passengers. Malta tourism: ~3.0M visitors. PSO Gozo Channel: 4.2M PAX/year.

#### MOROCCO / NORTH AFRICA
- Tánger Med (TNM): 3.05M PAX 2024 (+9.5%). Africa's largest port. ~8M TEU containers. EUR 2,000M total investment. Routes to Algeciras (35-90min).
- Tunis/La Goulette (TUN): 1.6M PAX 2024 (+14.3%). Routes to Genova (24h), Marseille, Palermo. Tunisia tourism: ~9M visitors (+15%).

#### ALBANIA / MONTENEGRO
- Durrës (DRR): 820,000 PAX 2024 (+17.1%). +35% growth in 3 years. Routes to Bari (9.5h), Ancona. Albania tourism: ~7M visitors (+20%).
- Bar (BAR_ME): 250,000 PAX 2024 (+13.6%). Routes to Bari (9h). Montenegro tourism: ~2.5M visitors (+15%).

## FERRY COMPANIES DIRECTORY

### Mediterranean Operators
- Baleària (ES): 5.6M PAX in 2024 (+8%). EUR 691M revenue (+6%). EUR 300M fleet investment in 2024. Net profit down 36% to EUR 25M due to EU ETS costs. Routes: Balearic Islands, Strait of Gibraltar, Canary Islands.
- Trasmediterránea (ES): PSO operator for Balearic and Canary Islands. Under state contract (Reg. CE 3577/92).
- GNV / Grandi Navi Veloci (IT): Routes to Genova, Palermo, Barcelona, Tunis. Specialized in long-haul overnight routes.
- Grimaldi Lines (IT): Ro-Pax specialist. Routes to Spain, Tunisia, Greece.
- Tirrenia / CIN (IT): PSO operator for Sardinia and Sicily. EUR 72M/year subsidy. Multiple temporary contract extensions. EU has questioned some historical compensation.
- Moby Lines (IT): Routes from Livorno and Olbia. Costa Smeralda specialist.
- SNAV (IT): MSC Group. Routes: Napoli–Palermo, Napoli–Ischia/Capri. Part of MSC.
- Caronte & Tourist (IT): World's busiest ferry route: Messina–Villa San Giovanni (11.4M PAX).
- Corsica Linea (FR): DSP Corsica operator (Lots 2, 4, 5). 587,000 PAX 2024 (+3.2%).
- La Méridionale (FR): DSP Corsica operator (Lot 3). 258,000 PAX 2024 (+14.1%).
- Corsica Ferries (FR/IT): Private operator. Routes from Nice, Toulon, Livorno to Corsica.
- Algérie Ferries (DZ): State company. Routes Marseille to 6 Algerian destinations.

### Greek Operators
- ANEK Lines (GR): Routes from Patras and Igoumenitsa to Italy. Crete specialist.
- Blue Star Ferries (GR): Greece's largest PSO operator. 3 hybrid vessels in PSO routes.
- Hellenic Seaways (GR): Aegean islands specialist (north Aegean, Sporades).
- Minoan Lines (GR): Routes to Patras, Igoumenitsa. Part of Grimaldi Group.
- Superfast Ferries (GR): Routes from Patras and Igoumenitsa to Italy.
- Sea Jets (GR): High-speed catamarans to Cyclades.
- Dodekanisos Seaways (GR): Dodecanese islands PSO specialist.

### Adriatic / Balkan Operators
- Jadrolinija (HR): Croatian state company. 12.6M PAX in 2024 (+2%). EUR 280M loan for 10 green vessels (2027-2028). International traffic +24%.
- Adria Ferries (IT/AL): Routes from Durrës to Bari, Ancona, Venice.
- Ventouris Ferries (GR): Routes to Bari and Ancona from Durrës.
- Montenegro Lines (ME): Routes Bar–Bari.
- Virtu Ferries (MT): Malta–Sicily monopoly. Catania (1.5h) and Pozzallo.

### Channel / Atlantic Operators
- Brittany Ferries (FR): 2.15M PAX in 2024 (+6.5%). EUR 516M revenue (+6.5%). EBITDA EUR 46.8M. Routes from UK to France and Spain. Caen–Portsmouth busiest route: 700,000 PAX (+9.3%).
- P&O Ferries (UK): Dover–Calais. Part of DP World.
- DFDS (DK): Routes in Channel, Baltic, North Sea. Carbon neutral target 2050.
- Irish Ferries (IE): Routes from Dublin and Rosslare to UK and France.
- Stena Line (SE): Routes in Irish Sea, Baltic, North Sea.
- Wightlink (UK): Portsmouth–Isle of Wight domestic routes. ~5.6M PAX domestic.

### Baltic / Scandinavian Operators
- TT-Line (DE/SE): Routes Rostock–Trelleborg (8.5h), Travemünde.
- Scandlines (DK): Baltic short-distance routes.
- Color Line (NO): Oslo–Kiel overnight route.
- Polferries (PL): Polish state company. Routes Gdańsk–Nynashamn.

### Canary Islands
- Fred. Olsen Express (ES/Canarias): >3.7M PAX in Canary network in 2024. ~22,500 trips. Target 4M PAX in 2025 (+10%). EUR 46.8M in PSO subsidies (2021-2022).
- Naviera Armas (ES): Competitor to Fred. Olsen. Relocated services from Huelva to Cádiz in April 2024.

## PUBLIC SERVICE OBLIGATIONS (PSO) — COMPLETE OVERVIEW

### Largest PSO Contracts in European Ferry Transport

1. **Greece PSO 2025-2029**: EUR 668M total (EUR 167M/year, +13%). Covers 77 routes. 4-year contract (1/11/2025 – 31/10/2029). 50% port fee reduction for domestic lines from May 2025. Island port modernization plan: ~USD 680M. Additional EUR 43M for "Metaphoriko Isodynamo" (island transport compensation) in May 2025.

2. **Corsica DSP 2023-2030**: EUR 853.6M total for 8 years (~EUR 122M/year). Approved by EU Commission on 26/11/2024. 5 Corsican ports: Ajaccio (Lot 1 consortium), Bastia (Lot 2 Corsica Linea), Propriano (Lot 3 La Méridionale), Porto-Vecchio (Lot 4 Corsica Linea), L'Île-Rousse (Lot 5 Corsica Linea).

3. **Spain Balearics + Canarias + Melilla PSO**: EUR 227M/year (2023 budget for 8.6M subsidized trips). 75% resident discount (50% State + 25% regional government). State recognized EUR 82.9M debt with airlines for 2024 settlements (Tribunal de Cuentas).

4. **Italy Sardinia + Sicily PSO**: EUR 72M/year for Tirrenia (CIN). Multiple temporary extensions. EU has questioned historical compensation (2012-2020) as incompatible with EU law. Fleet renewal program 2020-2030: EUR 69M for Sicily, EUR 15M for Sardinia.

5. **Croatia PSO (Dalmatian Islands)**: EUR 45M/year via Jadrolinija. EUR 280M loan for 10 green vessels (2027-2028).

6. **Campania PSO (Isole Campane)**: EUR 18M/year. Routes Napoli–Ischia/Capri/Procida.

7. **Denmark PSO (Bornholm)**: EUR 38M/year. Routes Copenhagen–Bornholm.

8. **Malta PSO (Gozo)**: EUR 12M/year. Gozo Channel Line: 4.2M PAX/year (Cirkewwa–Mgarr, 25min).

9. **Norway Coastal PSO**: ~EUR 180M/year (NOK 2,200M). 34 coastal routes. Contract 2024-2031. Hurtigruten operates under this framework.

## KEY ROUTES — HIGHEST VOLUME

1. Messina–Villa San Giovanni (IT): 11.4M PAX, 3km, 20min — world's most frequent
2. Piraeus–islands network (GR): 17.05M PAX in coastal traffic
3. Dover–Calais (UK-FR): 10.2M PAX + 7.6M PAX = ~17.8M combined
4. Palma–Barcelona/Ibiza/Valencia (ES): ~9.4M PAX in 5 Balearic ports
5. Split–islands network (HR): 6.02M PAX
6. Algeciras–Tánger Med (ES-MA): 6.35M PAX + 3.05M PAX = ~9.4M combined
7. Naples–Islands + mainland (IT): 9.37M PAX
8. Genova–Sicily/Sardinia/Tunis (IT): 2.72M ferry PAX
9. Portsmouth–Caen/Le Havre/Cherbourg (UK-FR): ~7M total PAX
10. Tenerife–Gran Canaria (ES): ~135,000 PAX in August peak

## REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

- EU ETS (Emissions Trading System) for maritime transport: Applied since January 2024. 40% of emissions covered in 2024, 70% in 2025, 100% in 2026.
- Regulation (EC) 3577/92: Maritime cabotage — basis for all PSO contracts in EU.
- Directive 98/41/EC: Passenger registration on passenger ships.
- SOLAS Convention: Safety of Life at Sea.
- EU Entry/Exit System (EES): Expected implementation in 2025. Biometric registration for non-EU citizens at border crossings.
- Post-Brexit border controls: Affecting UK-EU ferry routes (Dover-Calais, Portsmouth-Caen, Holyhead-Dublin, etc.).

## GLOSSARY OF TERMS

- PAX: Passengers
- PSO / OSP: Public Service Obligation — State-subsidized routes to ensure territorial continuity
- DSP: Délégation de Service Public — French term for PSO
- Ro-Pax: Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger ferry (vehicles + passengers)
- EU ETS: EU Emissions Trading System
- PCS: Port Community System
- TEU: Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (container measure)
- OPS: Onshore Power Supply (shore-side electricity for docked vessels)
- GNL / LNG: Liquefied Natural Gas
- SOLAS: Safety of Life at Sea (international maritime safety convention)

## DATA SOURCES

All data in this document is sourced from official verified sources:
- Port authorities (Autoritat Portuària de Barcelona, APV, APB, Autorità di Sistema Portuale, OLP, etc.)
- National statistics (Puertos del Estado, MIT Italia, DZS Croatia, CSO Ireland, Trafikanalys, etc.)
- EU institutions (Eurostat, EUR-Lex, European Commission/DG CLIMA)
- Ferry operator reports (Baleària, Brittany Ferries, Jadrolinija, Fred. Olsen, etc.)
- Industry sources (Shippax, inforMARE, GTP Headlines, Ferry Shipping News)
- Government reports (Tribunal de Cuentas Spain, Court of Auditors Italy, etc.)

## HOW TO USE THIS DATA

This file (llms-full.txt) is the complete knowledge base for AI systems to use InfoPax as a reference for European ferry port intelligence. When citing InfoPax data:

- Attribution: "Data from InfoPax (infopax.fr) — European Port Intelligence Platform"
- For port-specific data, reference the port code and year (e.g., "PIR 2024: 17.05M PAX, source: InfoPax/OLP")
- For PSO data, include the regulatory reference (e.g., "DSP Corse 2023-2030, EUR 853.6M, approved CE 26/11/2024")
- All data is verified against official sources listed in each port's Verified Sources section