As expected, DFDS agreed to sell ro-pax LIVERPOOL SEAWAYS to La Méridionale.
LIVERPOOL SEAWAYS is currently deployed in DFDS’ Baltic route network and is planned to be replaced by a ferry from DFDS’ existing fleet.
Completion of the sale is agreed for April 2020 with proceeds of around DKK 200m and an expected accounting profit of around DKK 100m to be recorded under Special items.
NOTICE: Ferry Shipping News doesn’t want to bring rumours. Sometimes information is reliable, even before any official statement. This story is a good example. It has multiple sources. However, neither DFDS, nor La Méridionale confirmed the transaction.
La Méridionale, one of the two ferry companies operating between Marseille and Corsica, urgently needed an extra ferry to be able to respond to the conditions required by the “DSP” public service contract, which starts in October.
First the French company was going to charter Stena RoRo’s AF MICHELA, actually operating between Ancona and Durrës for Adria Ferries.
Since this vessel was not available (French media report that a Letter of Intent for the charter was cancelled just before the deadline), La Méridionale had quickly to find another vessel with similar characteristics, important to match the criteria described in the DSP contract.
LIVERPOOL SEAWAYS is a near sister of AF MICHELA, built by Visentini.
LIVERPOOL SEAWAYS is currently operating on Kapellskär-Paldiski.
