TNormally, one DFDS cruise ferry is in Oslo and one in Copenhagen. Exceptionally both CROWN SEAWAYS and PEARL SEAWAYS were in Copenhagen, after the first returned from drydock.
Since 2009 DFDS has been hosting a Christmas lunch for homeless people on board PEARL SEAWAYS, while the ship is docked in Copenhagen.
Every year about 250-300 guests are boarding the ship to enjoy the grand Christmas buffet with beer, snaps and coffee. The crew is taking a day off to serve the guests. Before the guests leave the ship they get a gift bag and a pair of socks or gloves, knitted by a group of volunteers, something that is welcome on a cold winter day.
The event is made in close cooperation with We Shelter, an organization that has been doing social work for homeless and other vulnerable groups for more than 120 years.
DFDS reported a volume record on the Göteborg/Brevik – Ghent route, which was achieved during week 47, the last full week in November. But obviously, it didn’t take long to beat that.
Another record of cargo was shipped during week 48: exactly 55,001 lane meters were carried, which is 1,467 lane meters more than the week before.
Photo: North Sea Port
The first parts of the mega-block of the new DFDS 6,700 lane meter ro-ros are now visible in the building dock in Jinling, says DFDS. Until March the construction will be done in a temporary position because of another vessel. Once this vessel is launched, the mega-block will then be relocated to the correct position in the dock and the rest of the vessel erected.
DFDS has ordered four large ro-ro ships to service freight customers across the North Sea from 2019 and 2020.
January 2018 will see the introduction of a new buffet restaurant concept on board the two ferries of the DFDS Newcastle-Amsterdam route. Seven Seas Restaurant will be renamed Explorer’s Kitchen. It is still going to be an all-you-can-eat for breakfast and dinner, but there’ll be a range of new evening dishes for passengers to enjoy.
Tariffs have been changed too, with discounts of up to 34% when pre-booking.
Photo: Mike Louagie
- Freight is pushing the DFDS figures to record levels, while the passenger volumes stay the same.
- Strong performance for freight on North Sea routes: volumes up 8%
- Revenue DKK 3,922 (3,799) +3.3%
- EBITDA DKK 976 million (972 million) +0.4%
- EBIT DKK 742 million (738 million) +0.5%
- Profit before tax DKK 714 Million (732 million) -2.6%)
- The Group’s revenue growth for 2017 is now expected to be around 3% compared to previously around 4%, excluding revenue from bunker surcharges.
- At the Q&A session, DFDS CEO Niels Smedegaard said there were no plans for new cruise ferries. Current vessels can continue for 10 years if needed.
DFDS has developed a new app for its customers on the English Channel. More in this YouTube video.
DFDS got an award at the European Digital Communications Awards in Berlin, in the category Internal Communications. Look on this YouTube video why.
Photo © DFDS
“RailRoCargo”, the joint product of Cuxport, DFDS Germany and TRANSA Spedition, is celebrating a milestone: in September 2017, the five millionth ton of cargo was transported to the Cuxport terminal in Cuxhaven for onward shipping to the UK.
At the Cuxport terminal, the goods are transferred from the rail wagons onto DFDS MAFI roll trailers in a covered area. These are subsequently shipped by ro-ro ferry to Immingham, where DFDS takes over the storage of the freight and its distribution to British consignees by truck.
There are five weekly DFDS ferry crossings in each direction.
Photo © CuxPort
DFDS’s newest ro-ro ship TULIPA SEAWAYS has been delivered by Flensburg’s FSG yard and arrived in Vlaardingen, Rotterdam on Saturday September 30. She entered service on Monday, October 2.
Sister to the earlier delivered GARDENIA SEAWAYS, she too serves the Vlaardingen – Immingham route.
With more than 4,000 lane meters garage deck she can offer space to 262 trailers.
DFDS has an agreement with the owner –Siem Group– to bareboat-charter the two vessels for a five-year period, with a purchase option.
Photo © Karsten Seven, DFDS