DFDS buys new, large passenger vessel

DFDS has purchased the passenger vessel VAL DE LOIRE from the French shipping company Brittany Ferries. Following refurbishments, the ship will be placed in service on the DFDS Amsterdam-Newcastle route in March 2006, and its name will be changed to KING OF SCANDINAVIA. The ship will replace the passenger vessel DUKE OF SCANDINAVIA, which will be chartered to Brittany Ferries at the same time.

"We have experienced a very positive development on our Amsterdam-Newcastle route and have been searching for a long time for a new, large passenger vessel that could replace the DUKE OF SCANDINAVIA. The route has been affected by a major imbalance in capacity, and the new vessel matches the other ship on the route, the QUEEN OF SCANDINAVIA," says Søren Jespersen, COO.

"Our search has now succeeded, and we look forward to offering our customers the improvements that the KING OF SCANDINAVIA will bring to the route. It is our goal that our passengers should experience the same product with respect to comfort and service, irrespective of which ship they sail with on our routes, and this upgrade fulfils that goal. In addition, the purchase of the new ship marks another important step in the implementation of DFDS’ strategy, which is based on the idea of creating shipboard experiences for the customers, in contrast to the more transport-oriented part of the passenger ship business."

The ship can carry 2,053 passengers and around 600 cars and has increased freight capacity. In 1993 the ship went through a thorough rebuilding, and its facilities encompass restaurants, a children's area, a swimming pool, two cinemas, bars and a night club. 

Overviewer:

Val de Loire

Tekniske specifikationer

Technical specifications:

For further information, contact Søren Jespersen, COO, at: tel +45 33 42 31 40