| DFDS Seaways has purchased the passenger ship m.s. Fjord Norway from the Norwegian shipping company Fjord Line. She will be delivered 16 October 2006. After refurbishment and change of name, the vessel will be deployed on the previous Fjord Line route Bergen-Haugesund-Stavanger-Newcastle from the start of November, which will be a new route of DFDS Seaways’. "We are convinced that there is a large market potential, which will increase for passengers and for freight, on both sides of the North Sea, and we have the know-how required to develop operations with good profit margins on this traditional route,” DFDS COO, Søren Jespersen, said. Fjord Norway will sail under Danish colours. A thorough refurbishment and upgrade will bring the ship up to DFDS standard. Fjord Norway has large public areas, seven restaurants, a nightclub, piano bar, a 500m2 tax-free shop, conference facilities and a play area for children. She has 501 cabins and can accommodate 1,600 passengers and 580 passenger vehicles. Freight capacity: 1410 lane metres. Fjord Norway is sister ship to KING OF SCANDINAVIA, which was acquired by DFDS Seaways in February 2006 and deployed on the Amsterdam-Newcastle route. As a consequence of the acquisition of the Fjord Line's route to England, DFDS Seaways’ current Gothenburg/Kristiansand-Newcastle route will close 1 November 2006 and the passenger ship PRINCESS OF SCANDINAVIA has been sold to interests abroad as a result. The parties have agreed not to disclose the sales and purchase price of the vessels. The purchase of Fjord Norway and the sale of PRINCESS OF SCANDINAVIA will not have any significant impact on DFDS’ expected annual result for 2006. For further information please contact COO Søren Jespersen, +45 3342 3140 or CEO Ole Frie +45 3342 3400 |