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.

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.

DFDS acquires international transport network connecting Türkiye and Europe from Ekol Logistics, strengthening DFDS’ market position in the transport corridor between Türkiye and Europe. The transaction is expected to be completed in Q4 2024, pending EU merger control approval.

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.

At DFDS, our awareness of how our ferry and logistics activities impact biodiversity is growing. We are taking essential steps to protect marine life in the Mediterranean around the Southern part of Greece, a critical habitat for endangered sperm whales.

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.

Positive signs after a tough year for DFDS in Turkey

DFDS is further strengthening its supply chain services with a new rail connection between Nuremberg and Trieste. In combination with DFDS’ ferry and logistics activities, the Danish company can now offer an even wider transport infrastructure between Turkey and Europe. The new connection is operated in cooperation with Çobantur Boltas.

DFDS has started a new freight ferry service between Patras in Greece and Trieste in Italy. The new line offers two weekly round-trips.

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.

Following the completion of a missing rail link, DFDS now connects Sweden and Norway with Turkey and Southern Europe via efficient and environmentally sound routes that combine ferry and rail services.

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.