Over 2 billion ferry passengers worldwide

Over 2 billion passengers, 255 million cars and 34.1 million trailers were transported by ferry services worldwide last year.

According to ShipPax Information. There were 6.7 million number of sailings, representing one ferry departure every fifth second. In 2008, 61 ferries were sold. 13 new ferry services were inaugurated although 13 others were closed. For example, the Norwegian ferry operator Nye Kystlink AS decided to close down its service from Langesund to Hirtshals and Strömstad and liquidate the company. The last sailing took place on October 21, 2008. The cruise industry reports a healthy 2008 as 19.5 million passengers travelled with cruise ships worldwide, a growth rate of 7.9 per cent. 33 per cent of the passengers were carried in the largest market, the Caribbean. A growth region is the Mediterranean which accounts for more capacity than any other market for six months of the year.

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