New Headquarters For DFDS

By | 2019 newsletter week 19 | No Comments

DFDS and the pension fund investor PensionDanmark signed an agreement to build a new head office for DFDS in Copenhagen.

It will be built at Marmorvej near the Copenhagen – Oslo route’s terminal.

The new headquarters will give the opportunity to gather all head-office staff and functions in the same building, and at the same time offer great and modern facilities.

The new head office will be constructed by PensionDanmark and rented by DFDS.

It will be a building offering six floors and 12,500 square meters for 700 people with offices, meeting rooms, fitness facilities, car and bike parking and a big auditorium, among other things.

DFDS plans to move in 2021.

DFDS Q1 On Track Strong Performance in North Sea

By | 2019 newsletter week 19 | No Comments

In Q1, revenue increased 11% to DKK 3.9bn driven by the expansion in the Mediterranean and stockpiling in UK ahead of the initial Brexit-date end of March. The Easter timing difference vs 2018 lowered passenger revenue.

EBITDA before special items increased 13% to DKK 677m driven by the Mediterranean expansion and strong performance in North Sea.

Baltic Sea’s result was lowered by one-off additional operating costs as capacity was maintained during dockings, one of which was extended. In addition, the Easter timing difference reduced passenger earnings compared to Q1 2018, especially in the Passenger business unit.

Logistics continued to improve performance in UK & Ireland. In Sweden and Belgium earnings were lower as Q1 2018 included peak earnings from a large contract.

The first in a series of six new freight ferries was delivered in February and successfully deployed in March between Istanbul and Trieste.

2019 EBITDA outlook unchanged: DKK 3.8-4.0bn (2018: DKK 3.6bn, restated)

Key figures Q1 2019

  • +11% Revenue: DKK 3.9bn (3.5)
  • +13% EBITDA: DKK 677m (597)
  • -22.3% Profit before tax DKK 159m (204)

Outlook 2019 Unchanged

  • 10-12% revenue growth
  • EBITDA-range of DKK 3.8-4.0bn (2018: DKK 3.6bn)

Keel-Laying Ceremony Initiates Construction Of Fourth Freight Ferry In China

By | 2019 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

The third DFDS freight ferry from China had not been outside the dry dock for long before the site team and construction crew started the construction of our fourth newbuilding.

March 27, the traditional keel-laying ceremony took place at the Jinling Shipyard to officially celebrate the start of construction of the fourth DFDS freight ferry. In line with Chinese tradition, a coin was placed under the keel and this time Chief Engineer Matti Thomsen was given the honour of sealing it as a symbol of luck throughout the construction process and while at sea.

The fourth freight ferry is expected to be delivered in the last quarter of 2019.

Port Of Ghent Welcomes DFDS Initiative To Get More Freight On Rail Instead Of Road

By | 2019 Newsletter week 9 | No Comments

As from 11 March, five trains per week will call at the DFDS terminal, to drop and pick-up trucks and containers.

DFDS has 8 freight ferries per week between Ghent and Gothenburg. The idea is to put more freight southward bound on trains.

In the meanwhile, the DFDS ro-ro terminal in Ghent is getting a facelift, with a new office building, and fully automated gates.

Ghent is one of the North Sea Ports (Ghent, Terneuzen, Vlissingen).