DFDS and CLdN have agreed to extend their space charter agreement on the Zeebrugge-Gothenburg route for an additional five years, while increasing freight capacity. This will enable both companies to better serve customer demand and continue to develop the route and reduce the environmental impact.

DFDS and TT Line have entered into a space charter agreement on three ferry routes in the Baltic Sea. With the agreement, DFDS will increase the number of sailings offered between Klaipeda and Karlshamn, as well as bring new services to Trelleborg and Travemünde.

DFDS marks the 150th anniversary of the iconic Esbjerg–UK route, a vital freight corridor that has connected Denmark and the United Kingdom since the inaugural voyage in 1875.

Erika Markvardsen is appointed Chief People Officer at DFDS as Anne-Christine Ahrenkiel is stepping down from her position to pursue an opportunity outside DFDS. Erika Markvardsen will formally step into her new role end of May.

DFDS celebrated 10,000 sailings in the Mediterranean connecting Türkiye, Europe and North Africa, highlighting the strategic importance of the Turkish market as the nearshoring trend drives increased investment and production shifts to the region.

DFDS has entered an agreement with the Danish Defence to provide freight ferries for the transport of military equipment. At a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty, the partnership will support military operations and missions. The contract extends the scope of the current contract and starts in 2026, running for up to six years.

DFDS is launching a weekly freight service connecting Spain and the Netherlands, aimed at serving the needs of industrial customers, freight forwarders and project cargo owners. In connection with the new route, DFDS and Hydro, a global aluminium and energy company, have signed an agreement for weekly shipment of aluminium.

The European ferry operator, DFDS, continues to set the standard in European ferry travel, celebrating a remarkable achievement at the World Travel Awards.

DFDS launches a new direct ferry service between Egypt and Italy, marking a significant expansion in the Mediterranean region. The establishment of a reliable and efficient connection between Damietta in Egypt and Trieste in Italy will support the trade flows between North Africa and Europe.

The Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen journey continues with new owners as DFDS is parting ways with the historic route. DFDS has operated the route since 1867 serving millions of passengers and generations of families.

DFDS is set to become one of the biggest operators of heavy-duty electric trucks in the UK with the introduction of 10 electric trucks to deliver goods in east and northwest England and in Ireland.

DFDS will leave the space charter agreement with P&O Ferries covering the Channel’s Dover-Calais route.

During the past year, H2 Energy and DFDS have worked together on a project to analyse the feasibility of retrofitting large ferries with a hydrogen propulsion system. Now, the project has been finalized contributing with important knowledge for further analysis on the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for sea and road transport. The project was supported by the Danish Maritime Fund.

Roskilde University and DFDS have entered into a partnership agreement that will contribute to new digital solutions for reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions in shipping and other transport sectors.

Import Control System 2 (ICS2) entering Europe 1 June 2024

World-record-holding offshore sailor Pamela Lee and co-skipper Tiphaine Ragueneau hope to make waves with the support of sponsor DFDS as they prepare for the 30th annual Transat Jacques Vabre race.

DFDS has entered an agreement to acquire FRS Iberia/Maroc, a ferry market leader on the Strait of Gibraltar, expanding its Mediterranean route network to market expected to benefit from nearshoring of supply chains.

DFDS has acquired 100% of the share capital of the Estron Group to strengthen our European and UK network within our Dry Logistics.

DFDS has announced that it will be launching a new unaccompanied freight service from Tilbury to Calais, replacing its existing Sheerness – Calais service.

DFDS and Aarhus University join forces on a new business PhD project that will bring new perspectives to the green transition challenges that face the maritime industry.

Danish Crown and DFDS enter into a historic multi-year partnership agreement that includes an intensified commitment to – jointly – ensure the transition to CO2-neutral transport. The agreement also includes the immediate deployment of six additional electric trucks.

DFDS is awarded a grand contract with kitchen appliances giant Miele for its warehouse solutions in the Nordics. The ability to offer high-quality, long term and flexible service was the decisive factor for Miele to choose DFDS as its logistics partner in the Nordics.

Today, 3 March 2023, DFDS launches a new fleet of 20 electric trucks in Gothenburg, Sweden. The fleet in Gothenburg, which will grow with an additional 30 electric trucks, forms a significant portion of the 125 electric Volvo trucks which DFDS expects to be in service by the end of 2023. The introduction of electric trucks is an important step in the company’s transition towards greener transport solutions.

30,000 litres of clean drinking water is right now on its way on a DFDS Ferry to Ukraine to alleviate the immediate needs of civilians caught in the war.

By the end of 2023, part of the DFDS ships that dock in Vlaardingen will receive electricity via a shore power installation. Rotterdam Shore Power B.V, a joint venture of Eneco and the Port of Rotterdam Authority, will supply this shore power. For now, Jinling roll-on-roll-off vessels for scheduled service to and from Immingham will use the shore power installation. The installation will be constructed by Actemium and has been partially made financially possible by subsidies from the central government and the province of South Holland.

In November this year, DFDS opened its first dry- warehouse and logistics office near Poznan, Poland, close to the East-German border.

On Tuesday, 18 October, it was confirmed that DFDS won a new five-year contract to operate the Newhaven-Dieppe route. Big congratulations to the team.

DFDS reported strong revenue growth of 67% due to passengers returning much faster than expected, alongside higher freight earnings. EBITDA increased 63% to DKK 1.46bn. Based on the strong performance, DFDS has upgraded its outlook for the full year.

A new passenger service between Ireland and France will launch from Friday 5th August on the company’s Rosslare-Dunkirk route.

DFDS has entered into an agreement to acquire Dublin-based Lucey Transport Logistics Ltd. This further strengthens DFDS’ logistics offering and allows DFDS to offer more comprehensive domestic and international solutions.

Volume report: Freight up 11%, passenger recovery on track

As the first in the world, DFDS is introducing a drone support system as part of the equipment on commercial ships. The drone system will support the captains onboard when docking and sailing in narrow waters. But what does a drone mean for daily operations?

DFDS is delighted to confirm that a third vessel last week joined its Rosslare – Dunkerque fleet last week, with the first departure from Dunkerque on Wednesday 11th May.

DFDS reported strong revenue growth of 52%, driven by acquisitions, higher freight and passenger volumes. EBITDA increased 9% to DKK 822m

Today, DFDS & primeRail signed an agreement to become one company as DFDS acquires the German rail operator company. The acquisition strengthens DFDS' rail offerings and is a testament to DFDS' ambition to find sustainable ways to continue providing reliable and valuable services. The acquisition also marks the launch of a new Rail business area in DFDS.

DFDS is excited to announce that we are introducing a new rail freight service from Séte to Calais. The new rail service connects London with Yalova in Turkey, as of 17th May. This will shorten transport time between London and Istanbul.

At DFDS, we are deeply saddened by the tragic and devastating war in Ukraine. Our thoughts are with all those directly and indirectly affected.

The acquisition of the Danish freight forwarder provides our customers with a greater range of transport options between Western Europe, the Baltic, Central Eastern Europe and CIS countries.

Since the beginning of 2021, DFDS has been increasing its activity in the port of Trieste.

To improve frequency and scheduling, that meets the demand for earlier arrivals into the UK from freight ferry customers, DFDS has entered into a Space Charter Agreement (SCA) with CldN.

This week DFDS released its Q3 financial results, making it clear that the global logistics crisis also impacted DFDS’ earnings.

We are very excited about the arrival of the first shipment of 650 new trailers from Krone at DFDS Logistics.

We have agreed with GA Åkerierna to acquire all of the company’s assets. This will further strengthen our opportunities to enter new segments and grow our logistics business in Sweden.

Over the weekend, we welcomed over 600 passengers on one hellish cruise as the Metal Cruise once again rocked away between Copenhagen and Oslo.

Continued Freight Growth offset by UK slowdown

DFDS places large commercial order of electric Volvo trucks which is one of the largest heavy-duty electric truck orders to date.

DFDS and CH Square will establish two new logistics centres totalling 60 000 m2 in Sweden.

We have, together with over 150 industry leaders and organizations, called for decisive government action to enable full decarbonization of international shipping by 2050. The private sector is already taking important steps to decarbonize global supply chains. Now governments must deliver the policies to make zero emission shipping the default choice by 2030.

In January 2021, DFDS signed an agreement with the owners of HSF Logistics Group, one of Europe’s leading cold chain logistics providers, to acquire the shares in the company. On 14 September, the two companies completed the transaction of shares to make HSF Logistics Group a part of DFDS.

New acquisition spearheads eastern European expansion

DFDS Peterborough gets 25% of its electricity from the sun

Starting at the end of 2020, trade between EU and Turkey has increased supported by depreciation of the Turkish Lira. High trade levels keep colleagues happy and busy as the Turkish economy is expected to continue its growth.

DFDS welcomes its newest ferry, Côte d’Opale, to the Dover-Calais route today on 4 August when it makes its maiden voyage to Dover.

The half-year shipping volumes in 2021 for the Cuxhaven-Immingham route exceed expectations and gives hope for continued successful development in the second half of 2021.

DFDS Mediterranean Business Unit is investing more in intermodal transport solutions that combine ferry and rail transport. Around 50% of all freight volumes passing through DFDS’ Trieste terminal is already today transported by rail to destinations in Europe

Gates at DFDS’ Logistics and Gothenburg RoRo Terminal Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden, will allow self-driving trucks to enter and leave without stopping.

DFDS reports monthly ferry volumes for freight and passengers to provide additional insight into the development of volume trends in DFDS’ European route network.

In August, DFDS will launch a new project to operate its first electric truck. The truck from Volvo Trucks will during a test phase transport parts to their truck factory near Gothenburg as well as gather the necessary data and experience to upscale and build a sustainable supply chain.

In January and February, Brexit proved to be as difficult as feared but come March things were in a much better place.

Every year the CFA Society Denmark, a community for finance and investment, gives an award to a Danish company for delivering outstanding communications about their financial position. This year, DFDS received it.

Every month, we publish the previous month’s ferry volumes to the stock exchange to provide additional insight into volume trends in DFDS’ European route network.

DFDS upgrades its vehicle fleet with 57 new Volvo FH trucks. With improved fuel efficiency and driver safety, the new trucks will help DFDS optimize logistics flows and reduce the environmental footprint of road transport.

The service will start on 1st June and will offer one daily sailing in each direction between the two ports.

A lot is happening at Guangzhou Shipyard International in China where our new combined freight and passenger ferry for the Baltic Sea is being built. On Friday 19 March, another milestone was reached as the inclining test was successfully carried out.

Every month, we publish the previous month’s ferry volumes to the stock exchange to provide additional insight into volume trends in DFDS’ European route network

Expanding part-load business with a new warehouse in November 2021.

DFDS introduces a fourth freight ferry on the Rosslare – Dunkirk route

The UK has left the EU. It means new processes and more paperwork for DFDS and its freight customers working between the UK and EU.

Positive signs after a tough year for DFDS in Turkey

DFDS has a new freight ferry route between Ireland and France. It provides direct and paperless transport between EU countries. It is already popular, enjoying near 100% utilisation from day one.

DFDS enjoys near 100% utilisation of new route

DFDS signs declaration for seafarer wellbeing

Today, DFDS has entered into an agreement to acquire HSF Logistics Group, one of Europe’s leading cold chain logistics providers to meat producers and other food producers that operates temperature-controlled supply chains.

35,000 m2 storage space. That is the capacity which DFDS will be able to offer customers when it adds a brand-new warehouse and centre of contract logistics excellence in the new and attractive industrial area in Borås, Sweden.

Every month, we publish the previous month’s ferry volumes to the stock exchange. December’s freight volumes were so impressive that it calls for a closer look.

DFDS is increasing the share of Volvo trucks in its fleet with the delivery of 27 new FH Globetrotter tractor units, each specified with Volvo’s intelligent I-See predictive cruise control that analyses and adapts to gradients ahead for maximum fuel saving.

Open for business: When Optima Seaways departed Rosslare Europort for Dunkirk on Saturday 2 January, it officially launched DFDS’ new Ireland-France freight ferry route.

In an agreement between France and the UK, ferry passengers and lorry drivers can again enter France with a negative Covid-19 test

Freight continues as usual on all routes, except on the Channel where the flow is reduced as lorry drivers are prohibited from entering France from the UK for at least 48 hours.

The ferries Visby, Kerry, and Optima Seaways are ready to welcome lorries and their drivers on the new Rosslare – Dunkerque freight route. From 2 January, the route will enable customers to keep their freight transport within the EU and avoid the customs formalities that will apply to transport passing via the UK.

As we reported last week, DFDS will commence sailings on a new freight ferry route between Rosslare in the Republic of Ireland and Dunkerque in Northern France on 2 January. The DFDS office in Rosslare is ready with Port operations Manager Dwain Rodgers and Port Assisting Manager Donna Lynch.

Winter has come to Jinling Shipyard in China, but the biting cold will not prevent the site team from ensuring that we get a brand-new ferry at the beginning of next year.

Monthly volume report: Freight boosted by stock building ahead of Brexit

DFDS and its partners have applied for EU support for development of a ferry powered by electricity from a hydrogen fuel cell which only emits water.

DFDS becomes the first-ever maritime member of RSSB.

The Channel BU will feel the full force of the upcoming new UK border rules from 1 January. The final end-to-end Eastern Channel testing of check-in, signage, infrastructure, customs, and clearance procedures between the UK and the continent is now complete – and everything works.

A diverse company is a solid company, but we have a way to go when it comes to gender

DFDS has been planning for the consequences of Brexit for years and now has the people, systems, and processes in place to ease the transition for customers. If customers are worried about their customs processes, DFDS can take care of them.

New travel restrictions due to mutated coronavirus will not affect sailings on DFDS routes.

COVID-19: One of the two ships serving DFDS’ passenger routes on Copenhagen – Oslo, and Frederikshavn – Oslo will be temporarily laid up due to tighter travel restrictions. Unfortunately, 20 waiters will be affected, whilst other colleagues will maintain their jobs as a result of a trade union agreement, relocation to other ships, etc.

DFDS is one of four companies that together will receive GBP 77.6 million for ensuring capacity for transport of essential goods from 1 January.

Our NorthSea Terminal in Brevik will from 31 October be added to Unifeeder's multi-port setup connecting Norway to Germany.

Vlaardingen has introduced digital document handling via tablets, to reduce physical contact and unnecessary paper.

DFDS is adding two weekly departures from both ports to the schedule, and sailing times are reduced by up to an hour.

From 4 October, there will be two daily departures on Paldiski – Kapellskär nearly every day. Patria Seaways will be moved to the route from the Paldiski – Hanko route, which will be closed due to unsatisfactory volumes.

DFDS and Danish Crown signed a contract that extends our cooperation on transport of meat to the UK by 2.5 years.

Today, on 28 September, our fifth mega freight ferry, Flandria Seaways, arrived in Vlaardingen following a successful maiden voyage. Captain Joakim Dahlberg and crew finally stepped ashore on European ground after a very prolonged stay in China and received a special greeting and present from Torben Carlsen.

Work on the extension is expected to start around the end of the year. With an efficient new layout, a new gate system and many other improvements, bottlenecks will be removed and emissions reduced.

Even though things are tough right now, opportunities to grow and collaborate still arise all over DFDS. This time, a new cooperation between DFDS and the shipping company, Smyril Line, was a welcoming addition to the business in Vlaardingen.

The Metal Maritime union and DFDS have agreed on a negotiated solution for most employees on the two Oslo ferries. The agreement ensures that the ferries can continue to operate on this route, in spite of the Norwegian quarantine rules causing a decrease in passenger numbers. Regretfully, 26 servers will be redundant.

• Newcastle to Amsterdam service to open to passengers on 16 July 2020 • Holland among list of countries to welcome British travellers in new travel arrangements • New measures onboard allow passengers to social distance while enjoying fresh air, open seas and the freedom of travelling by ferry

When DFDS resumes the Copenhagen – Oslo ferry operation on 25 June, the ferries will also service Frederikshavn – Oslo. There will be daily sailings on both routes.

To further expand and develop DFDS’ European logistics services, DFDS has acquired 100% of the share capital of the Finnish logistics company Freeco Logistics based in Turku, with additional offices in Vantaa, Finland, and Tallinn, Estonia.

To further expand and develop DFDS’ European logistics services, DFDS has acquired 100% of the share capital of the Dutch logistics company Huisman Group BV headquartered in Wijchen.

On Tuesday 19 November, a critical situation occurred as a large group of 25 migrants were trying to get to the UK hidden in a refrigerated trailer on board Britannia Seaways enroute from Vlaardingen to Felixstowe.

Econowind and Green Shipping project installed on Lysbris Seaways.

DFDS’ main Brexit focus is now on informing small and medium sized companies about how they can and need to prepare for Brexit.

Karina Deacon has been appointed new CFO for the DFDS Group starting on 1 January 2020.

Niklas Andersson to become new EVP and Head of Logistics Division. Eddie Green to move back to the UK to head all DFDS Cold Chain business.

On 7 March, DFDS’ largest ferry ever was named Ephesus Seaways at a naming ceremony in Istanbul and will soon set course for its first sailing to Trieste fully loaded with 450 trailers.

Niels Smedegaard has decided to step down as CEO of DFDS at the end of April.

DFDS is preparing for future growth with the construction of six new mega ferries in China. The first one was delivered to DFDS on 31 January and will be entering into service between Turkey and the EU during March.

DFDS will in 2019 invest DKK 300m to install scrubbers on 12 freight ferries deployed on freight routes in the Mediterranean between Turkey, Italy, Greece and France. The investment will ensure compliance with the new global rules that from 2020 aims to reduce sulphur emissions through limiting sulphur content in marine fuel oil to 0.5% or through other means, such as scrubbers, with at least a similar environmental effect.

DFDS has today ordered an additional freight ferry (ro-ro) newbuilding from the Chinese Jinling Shipyard

DFDS has been named ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator’ at the World Travel Awards™, for the seventh consecutive year.

DFDS has today ordered one additional freight ferry (ro-ro) newbuilding for delivery in the first half of 2020 from the Chinese Jinling Shipyard.

In April, European shipping and logistics group DFDS signed an agreement with the owners of the Turkish shipping company U.N. Ro-Ro to acquire the shares in the company.

Niels Smedegaard, newly elected Chairman of Danish Shipping and Anne Steffensen, Managing Director of Danish Shipping. Along with Niels, she hosted Danish Shipping’s successful Annual Day, which took place today 24 May, just after the association’s Annual General Meeting.

RDF – residue-derived fuel – is waste that has been processed and packed in bales so it can be used as fuel in power plants.

The Danish transport business seems to attract the country’s best leaders.

The new ship will be able to carry 3,100 lane metres of cargo and 1,000 passengers. It will be built in China and deployed on the Channel in 2021.

On Monday 16 April, a fire broke out in the engine room on board DFDS’ ro-ro freight ship Finlandia Seaways, which connects Rosyth in Scotland and Zeebrugge in Belgium. ​​

Last night at 22:13, a fire broke out in the engine room on board Finlandia Seaways on its voyage from Zeebrugge to Rosyth.

Danish shipping and logistics group DFDS has acquired Turkey’s largest operator of Ro-Ro freight ships and will be a major player in the strong and continuously growing trade between the EU and Turkey. U.N. Ro-Ro operates five routes connecting Italy and France with Turkey, 12 ships and port terminals in Trieste and in Pendik, Istanbul. U.N. Ro-Ro employs 500 people. The deal is subject to approval by the authorities.

Every week, DFDS ships large amounts of cars, trailers and containers on our freight ships from Ghent to Gothenburg in Sweden and from Zeebrugge to Rosyth in Scotland.

Luckily no-one was injured when Primula Seaways was hit by the container ship MSC Madrid on Saturday, and fortunately, there was no pollution in spite of the substantial damage to the hull.

On 2 March 2018, DFDS’ ro-ro ship Primula Seaways was hit by a container ship during the sailing from Ghent to Brevik. No persons were injured and no pollution occurred. However, the collision caused damage to Primula Seaways’ port side and to one of the trailers placed near the damaged part of the hull

DFDS’ Italian logistics activities are to be restructured following unsatisfactory results.

In 2018, DFDS will invest in further development of digital capabilities to enhance the customer experience and gain operational efficiencies. This is expected to entail additional costs of around DKK 100m as well as increased investments.

DFDS has just reported another record result for 2017. The operating profit of DKK 2.7 billion was based, among other things, on the continuing positive development in volumes on the company’s ten freight routes across the North Sea.

​​​DFDS' acquisition of 100% of the share capital of the Dutch company Alphatrans Group BV has been approved by the German competition authority.

The world is changing at an accelerating pace and it's more important than ever to understand the dynamics of that change. New technology that enables new behaviour or fundamental changes to existing markets is often the driver of that change.

To further expand and develop DFDS' European logistics services, DFDS has acquired 100% of the share capital of the Dutch company Alphatrans Group BV head-quartered in Rotterdam.

DFDS is activating its entire network to contribute to the important fight against breast cancer.

Yesterday (31 October) the last six of 12 migrants, who for three months had been on board DFDS' Lithuanian vessel Kaunas Seaways in the Black Sea, were taken off the ship in order to be flown back to their home countries via the airport in Odessa and Turkey. Six of the migrants were sent home to Algeria on 29 October, while six are underway today.

DFDS' logistics activities based in Belfast have been restructured to focus operations and improve the return on invested capital.

The new citizen of the world, Mustafa, was brought into the world on board Côte D’Albatre, when his mother went into labour before arrival in Dieppe.

DFDS is setting up a road service office in Vilnius to offer customers efficient road transport of part and full loads to and from the UK. It will also include a very fast service between Lithuania and Germany, Italy and other countries as well as full loads and special cargoes.

DFDS Logistics Division has started using biofuel for our own trucks in Gothenburg.

Tulipa Seaways is the second large ro-ro freight vessel from the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft destined to enter the DFDS fleet. The ship will be delivered during the autumn and will enter service between Rotterdam and Immingham.

In 2016 Ark Futura transported chemicals out of Libya for destruction in Germany.

DFDS invests Euro 22 million for approximately 1000 trailers and containers to ensure quality service and accommodate the growing business and special contracts.

Shipping and Logistics Group DFDS will acquire all shares in logistics company Shetland Transport. This is the result of an agreement signed today by EVP Eddie Green of the DFDS Group and Kathleen and Hamish Balfour, owners of Shetland Transport.

The strong increase in freight volumes and passenger numbers between the Continet and the UK is part of the DFDS' record results

DFDS and Forth Ports will invest in the future of the Rosyth-Zeebrugge freight route

DOVER SEAWAYS contacted the harbour wall when leaving Dover, passengers have been accommodated on the other DFDS ferries

DFDS Seaways, the Scottish Government and Forth Ports signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which they agree to continue the Rosyth-Zeebrugge freight shipping service under the management of DFDS Seaways

DFDS plans to close the Le Havre-Portsmouth route at the end of 2014 due to continued losses

DFDS acquires STEF's logistics activities in Scotland and STEF buys the continental distribution and handling activities of DFDS Logistics in Boulogne

Fire breaks in a passenger cabin on KING SEAWAYS en route from Newcastle to Amsterdam with a few suffering from smoke-related injuries

Fire breaks on CORORNA SEAWAYS on 4 December, 2013 en route from Fredericia - Copenhagen

DFDS acquires Karlshamn Express AB to expand logistics services in Sweden, the Baltics, Russia and the neighbouring countries

Due to an unaccepted bid for Scandlines, DFDS is no longer part of the sales process

The Copenhagen-Oslo route connects two Nordic capitals and annually attracts more than 700,000 passengers. The route also transports more than 200,000 lanemetres of freight per year

Fire broke on the main deck of VICTORIA SEAWAYS en route from Kiel to Klaipeda, the situation was under control and no injuries reported

DFDS has completed two newbuilding contracts with P+S Werften in Germany

Negotiations between DFDS and the German shipyard P+S about the two ro-ro vessels are still in the process

DFDS signs an agreement with two leading logistics providers with effect from September 2012

Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and DFDS completed a joint venture, which will support the development of a long term, sustainable operation on the Channel

DFDS cancels their contracts for two ro-ro ships with the German shipyard P+S Werften GmbH

As a pilot project, DFDS will introduce onshore power supply facilities in the ports of Immingham, Gothenburg, Ghent and six freight vessels

DFDS orders two ro-ro newbuildings at the German shipyard P+S Werften GmbH

DFDS and Volvo signs a new agreement for the transport of cargo on three DFDS routes

DFDS' acquisition of terminal in Gothenburg gets approved

DFDS takes over the AS Baltic Scandinavian Lines' freight and passenger route (ro-pax) between Paldiski, Estonia, and Kapellskär, Sweden

DFDS closes down the operation of the routes between Dublin and Birkenhead and Heysham, England, at the end of January 2011