DFDS May volumes: freight slowdown as expected, passengers up 31%

By | 2023 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

FRS announced that it has acquired the high-speed Incat catamaran HSC ARTEMIS to enhance its operations in the Strait of Gibraltar.  The fast ferry has been renamed PONIENTE JET and is undergoing a complete refurbishment.

It can accommodate 640 passengers, 180 vehicles, and up to 330 linear meters of cargo.

The PONIENTE JET will join the FRS fleet in July.

Previously the vessel was in service with Ponte Ferries, starting in November 2021, followed by a complete stop in September 2022.

DFDS launches new initiative to protect sperm whales in Southern Greece

By | 2023 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Together with a coalition of NGOs, including IFAW, Ocean Care, Pelagos Cetacean Institute, and WWF Greece, DFDS has developed initiatives to reduce vessel-whale collisions in the Hellenic Trench in Southern Greece:

  • Route Adjustments: DFDS has redefined vessel routes to avoid high-risk areas known for frequent sperm whale sightings.
  • Slow Steaming: DFDS has limited vessel speeds in these high-risk zones to minimize the potential of collisions.
  • Spotting and Reporting: DFDS has initiated a policy encouraging all Masters to maintain vigilance, identify whales, and communicate sightings promptly to DFDS vessels and other ships in the vicinity.

 While the route adjustments and slow steaming have extended trip durations, the impact has been minimal: an increase of 15-30 min per leg.

The changes apply to vessels calling Pendik, Trieste, Sete and Yalova.

DFDS April volumes: passenger growth continues, slowdown in freight

By | 2023 Newsletter week 19 | No Comments

DFDS Q1 2023: ahead of expectations

  • Revenue up 9% to DKK 6.3bn driven by the continued recovery in passenger numbers and spending, price increases for freight services to cover rising energy and other costs, and a positive impact from acquisitions.
  • EBITDA up 23% to DKK 1.0bn.
  • EBITDA for the freight ferry activities increased 4% to DKK 717m.
  • EBITDA for the Logistics Division increased 38% to DKK 299m.
  • EBITDA for passenger activities across the route network increased DKK 100m to DKK 9m which was on level with Q1 2019, the latest pre-Covid-19 year.
  • Freight volumes between the UK and Continent/Scandinavia declined in Q1, especially on the English Channel, while domestic transport volumes, also in the UK, were more robust. The war in Ukraine lowered freight volumes in the Baltic region compared to 2022.
  • For the last twelve months (LTM) 2023-22, EBITDA increased 4% to DKK 5,160m.
  • The outlook for EBITDA of DKK 4.5-5.0bn is unchanged. Revenue is overall still expected to remain at the same level as 2022. The investment outlook of around DKK 1.6bn is also unchanged, excluding acquisitions.

Read the Q1 2023 interim report here

DFDS April volumes: passenger growth continues, slowdown in freight

By | 2023 Newsletter week 19 | No Comments

Ferry – freight:

  • Total volumes in April 2023 were 18.7% below 2022.
  • Volumes were 7.7% below 2022 adjusted for Channel that is impacted by a general market decrease and overcapacity.
  • North Sea volumes were below last year due to lower volumes between mainly the Netherlands and the UK following a continued drop in Continental vegetable and fruit export to the UK.
  • Mediterranean volumes were just below last year adjusted for route changes due to congestion in the port of Mersin following the earthquake in February 2023 and some slowdown in activity ahead of the upcoming election.
  • Channel volumes were significantly below last year due to a continued market decrease, suspension of sailings by P&O Ferries throughout April 2022, and a negative impact from the entry of a third ferry operator, Irish Ferries.
  • Baltic Sea volumes remained negatively impacted by the war in Ukraine.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 8.0% to 40.1m from 43.6m in 2022-21. The decrease was 3.5% adjusted for Channel.

Ferry – passenger:

  • The number of passengers continued to recover and increased 22.3% to 406k equal to 84% of volumes in April 2019, the latest comparable month pre-Covid-19.
  • The number of cars equalled 79% of volumes in 2019.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total number of passengers was 4.2m compared to 1.4m in 2022-21 and 5.1m in 2019.

DFDS March volumes: freight in line with expectations

By | 2023 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

Ferry – freight

  • Total volumes in March 2023 were 12.0% below 2022.
  • Volumes were 6.1% below 2022 adjusted for closure of the Izmir-Tarragona route and Channel that is impacted by a market decrease and overcapacity.
  • North Sea volumes were below last year due to mainly fewer volumes between the Netherlands and the UK following an expectedly temporary drop in Continental vegetable and fruit volumes caused by high energy prices.
  • Mediterranean volumes were above last year adjusted for the closure of the Izmir-Tarragona route.
  • Channel volumes were below last year due to a continued market decrease, suspension of sailings by P&O Ferries in March 2022, and a negative impact from the entry of a third ferry operator, Irish Ferries.
  • Baltic Sea volumes remained negatively impacted by the war in Ukraine.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 6.0% to 40.8m from 43.4m in 2022-21. The decrease was 2.5% adjusted for the closed Izmir-Tarragona route and Channel.

Ferry – passenger

  • The number of passengers continued to recover and increased 76.2% to 235k equal to 85% of volumes in March 2019, the latest comparable month pre-Covid-19.
  • The number of cars equalled 76% of volumes in 2019.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total number of passengers was 4.1m compared to 1.1m in 2022-21 and 5.1m in 2019.

DFDS February volumes: freight lower as expected, continued passenger growth

By | 2023 Newsletter week 11 | No Comments

Ferry – freight:

  • Total volumes in February 2023 were 8.6% below 2022. Volumes were 5.8% below 2022 adjusted for Channel that is impacted by a market decrease and overcapacity.
  • North Sea volumes were just below last year due to some slowdown in volumes to and from the UK.
  • Mediterranean volumes were likewise just below last year as the earthquake in Turkey lowered flows for some weeks.
  • Channel volumes were below last year due to a continued market decrease and a negative impact from the entry of a third ferry operator.
  • Baltic Sea volumes remained negatively impacted by the war in Ukraine.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 4.7% to 41.3m from 43.3m in 2022-21. The decrease was 2.3% adjusted for Channel.

Ferry – passenger:

  • The number of passengers continued to recover and more than doubled to 211k equal to 89% of volumes in February 2019, the latest comparable month pre-Covid-19. The number of cars equalled 85% of volumes in 2019.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total number of passengers was 4.0m compared to 1.0m in 2022-21 and 5.1m in 2019.

ICG returns to profit in 2022

By | 2023 Newsletter week 10 | No Comments

Irish Ferries’ owner Irish Continental Group (ICG) returned to the black in 2022 with an operating profit of EUR 66.7 million (EUR 0.2 million loss in 2021).

The Ferry Division operating profit was EUR 46.4 million (EUR 17.4 million loss in 2021).  This includes charter revenue of EUR 17.2 million (2021: EUR 8.1 million).

  • Passenger, car and on-board revenue up 175.8% to EUR 162.7 million.
  • RoRo freight revenue up 95.2% to EUR 184.7 million.
  • Operating costs increased by 99.7% to EUR 304.2 million.
  • Company is confident of growth in 2023 despite global economic situation.
  • Dover – Calais route has met market share targets ahead of schedule and company has confidence in passenger carrying growth.
  • Traffic showing ongoing trend of returning from Ireland – EU routes to the Irish Sea landbridge.
  • Duty free sales performed in line with expectations on the Irish Sea, however the opportunity for increasing income exists, especially on the Channel.

2023 performance to date was also shared.

To access the reports click below