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.

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.

Ferry and logistics company DFDS has joined forces with one of Ireland’s most formidable offshore sailors, Pamela Lee, to launch #EmpowHer racing campaign. The initiative aims to support Lee’s quest to compete in the world’s longest and most challenging solo transatlantic race in 2026, the Route du Rhum, while inspiring more women to pursue maritime careers.   

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.

DFDS and the government of Jersey have signed a contract for Jersey’s ferry services. Over the next 20 years, DFDS will provide freight and passenger services connecting Jersey of the Channel Islands to the UK and France beginning 28 March 2025.

On December 3, 2024, it was announced that DFDS is the preferred bidder to take on the 15-year contract to provide ferry life-line freight service and passenger services to Jersey of the Channel Islands from 28 March 2025.

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.

DFDS will sell mini-cruise route between Norway and Denmark to Swedish shipping company Gotlandsbolaget. The decision will ensure that the route receives the future focus and investments needed to further develop, while DFDS strengthens the focus on its core business within freight, passenger transport and logistics. The sale price is around DKK 400m.

DFDS’ female cadet programme Waves of Talent is expanding to the Strait of Gibraltar with a new partnership agreement with the Higher Institute of Maritime Studies (ISEM) in Morocco to increase the representation of women in the shipping industry.

DFDS is announcing a substantial €1 billion investment in battery electric vessels, marking its unwavering commitment to decarbonising maritime traffic in the English Channel.

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.

Following a visit by the French Minister for Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Olivier Becht, DFDS commits to investing in battery-powered vessels to decarbonise the maritime traffic across the English Channel.

Global ferry operator DFDS continues to make waves across Europe following a record-breaking award-win at the prestigious World Travel Awards.

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 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.

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.

DFDS, a leading European transport and logistics provider, has agreed to acquire the family-owned McBurney Transport Group for a debt-free price of DKK 1.2 billion.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The UK cold chain business unit of DFDS has acquired a 21,000-pallet cold store in Liverpool, two years on from taking over the lease of the facility.

DFDS has today entered into sale and lease-back agreements comprising two sideport and container ships with Godby Shipping.

We are thrilled to announce that DFDS has been given three awards this year

On 9 December, we had the great pleasure of taking delivery of the first newbuilt passenger vessel contracted by DFDS since SCANDINAVIA was delivered in 1982.

A new shore power facility was inaugurated today at the DFDS terminal in Copenhagen by, among others, Copenhagen’s Lord Mayor Lars Weiss. The facility significantly reduces the ships’ CO2 emissions while they are in port, thus ensuring cleaner air for the benefit of the environment and even more so for the neighbours on Østerbro.

Continued Freight Growth offset by UK slowdown

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.

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

Pearl and Crown will finally cast off and set sail for Norway with passengers today.

The work to establish a shore power facility at the DFDS Seaways ferry terminal in Copenhagen is in full swing. The initiative is a joint collaboration between CMP and DFDS, with the Swedish company Actemium as contractor and COWI as technical advisor.

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

Oslo – Frederikshavn – Copenhagen route will resume sailings on 2 July for Pearl Seaways and 3 July for Crown Seaways.

DFDS & P&O have today entered into a mutual space charter agreement on the Dover-Calais ferry route to shorten freight customers’ waiting times and improve the flow of freight traffic across this vital arterial trade link between the UK and the EU.

Aistė Tunaitytė and Vilma Songailaite in Klaipeda have interviewed colleagues that work on our Baltic routes to share an authentic glimpse into the work onboard the ferries. The interviews show that everyone plays an important role in the operation to ensure an excellent customer experience. We will continue to share interviews so you can get to know our colleagues a little better.

The combined freight and passenger ferry, Côte d'Opale was delivered to DFDS today, six weeks ahead of schedule. DFDS has signed a long-term charter agreement with Stena RoRo. The ferry will, with its 216 metres, become the longest ferry operating on the English Channel.

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

DFDS has today, on Friday 30 April, been awarded the tender to operate a new duty-free shop at Calais that will open in October.

From finance to a life at sea

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

Vilma Songailaite, Marketing & Communications Manager, and Aiste Tunaityte, Digital Content Specialist, in Klaipeda have interviewed colleagues that work on our Baltic routes to share an authentic glimpse into the work onboard the ferries.

After Brexit: A new freight ferry route between Rosslare and Dunkerque offers lorries and their drivers direct and paperless transport between EU countries.

The Danish Armed Forces and DFDS enter into an agreement on providing ships for the transport of military equipment.

The second of our new combined ferry for the Baltics was launched at the Guangzhou Shipyard on 13 November

DFDS’ operating result benefits from a very resilient freight ferry business.

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.

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.

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.

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

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the ships left Vlaardingen fully loaded. The many trailers caused delays on the roads leading to the terminal.

The Frederikshavn – Oslo leg has proven to be a success for the Copenhagen – Frederikshavn – Oslo route. Teamwork and collaboration have created success for freight sales for the route.

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.

COVID-19: As infection levels have decreased on Zealand, the Norwegian government has decided that the region should move from 'red' to 'yellow' status, i.e. travellers coming from the region can now enter Norway without having to be quarantined.

More cleaning, ample space to keep your distance, face masks for passengers and a dedicated Covid-19 task force aim to make passengers safe on our ferries and ensure we can continue operating and servicing our customers.

Despite the Brexit uncertainty, DFDS has set the course towards a 4 % growth in revenues in 2020 driven by the initiatives introduced as part of the company’s Win23 strategy. Win23 will drive growth by focusing on initiatives in four strategic pillars.

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.

Changes of vessels on DFDS routes