M.s. PRINCE OF SCANDINAVIA was built in 1975. The ship
is currently deployed on the Amsterdam-Newcastle route
along with QUEEN OF SCANDINAVIA. The route opened in 1995
and passenger numbers have risen steadily.
When m.s. PRINCE OF SCANDINAVIA is handed over, m.s.
DUKE OF SCANDINAVIA will be re-deployed and moved to the
Amsterdam-Newcastle route. DUKE OF SCANDINAVIA currently
serves the Copenhagen/Trelleborg-Gdansk route, which will
be closed temporarily until DFDS finds appropriate
replacement tonnage.
The sale is part of the DFDS strategy to reduce the
average age of its fleet. KING OF SCANDINAVIA and ADMIRAL
OF SCANDINAVIA have already been sold as part of this
strategy - in March and June 2002, respectively. Despite
the fact that DFDS Seaways does not have replacement
tonnage at its disposal right away, the company decided to
accept the offer for PRINCE OF SCANDINAVIA because the
right buyer emerged.
As a result of the sale of m.s. PRINCE OF SCANDINAVIA,
DFDS has adjusted its full-year expectations downwards by
DKK 28 million to cover redundancy payments to the crew,
etc. and a minor loss incurred on the actual sale of the
ship.
For further information please contact Ole Frie,
telephone +45 3342 3400 or e-mail:olfr@dfds.com.