At DFDS, we’re committed to protecting the incredible marine life that thrives in our oceans. For more than 15 years, our partnership with ORCA has been at the heart of this effort, helping us monitor and safeguard vulnerable species while inspiring our passengers to care about marine conservation. Together, we’ve worked to ensure that future generations can continue to experience the beauty and diversity of our seas. This collaboration is more than just a partnership – it’s a shared mission to protect what matters most.
Incredible sightings this season
Since our ORCA season began in April, there have been more than 1,000 magical marine life sightings on our crossings between Newcastle and Amsterdam, and Newhaven and Dieppe. Here are just a few of the amazing species spotted so far by our passengers and dedicated Ocean Conservationists:
Six minke whales
46 white-beaked dolphins
100 harbour porpoises
Scroll down to see the full list of sightings from July! These sightings are a testament to the rich biodiversity of our oceans and the importance of protecting these habitats.
A recap of ORCA season
ORCA season, running from April to October, is always a highlight of year for us at DFDS. On board, our dedicated ocean conversationists have been tirelessly spotting and recording marine life while captivating passengers with their knowledge and passion for conservation. Through interactive talks and deck watches, they’ve brought the magic of the ocean to life, creating unforgettable experiences for passengers of all ages.
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Q&A As the season draws to a close, we’re caught up with Tyler, our ORCA Ocean Conservationist on board King Seaways to reflect on the strides we’ve made together in raising awareness and protecting marine life... Tyler, what’s the most memorable marine life sighting you’ve had this season? The North Sea is always unpredictable, but it's full of more life than you'd expect! Recently, we had storm Floris pass through us and while we were unable to see anything during this time, the aftermath had stirred up a lot of nutrients and food for our local wildlife! Two days after the storm passed, we felt the benefit of this mixing when we spotted 150+ gannets diving into the water to feed. The gannets weren’t alone; there was a beautiful minke whale and a small pod of five dolphins joining in on the feast too. It was the busiest single sighting we have seen! When you’re out at sea, how will passengers be able to identify what they’re seeing? When you are on board with us, there are a few clues to figure out what you might be looking at! Dorsal fin shape and position – Our whales, like minke and humpback whales, have small dorsal fins compared to their body size, set about two-thirds down their back. But our dolphins and porpoises have larger dorsal fins in comparison to their body and are positioned centrally. Blows – Baleen whales (like minkes and humpbacks) are larger in size then their dolphin counterparts and are often first sighted by their large blows. They exhale misty spouts of air at the surface, making them easy to spot from a distance. Body colour and patterns – Lastly, some species will have specific body colouration and patterns. For example, the white-beaked dolphins sport a white “beak” and a striking grey “blaze” along their sides that catches the light beautifully. In contrast our bottlenose dolphins have no distinct patterns and are grey all over! Top tip – ORCA has a handy app called OceanWatchers which has an extensive species list that can also help you to identify whales and dolphins! It's free to download from the app store or play store and is a great tool to help you identify whales and dolphins! Don’t forget, you can join me and fellow Ocean Conservationists on select sailings in the North Sea and English Channel, and we'll help you spot some amazing wildlife! What can passengers do to help protect marine life? There are so many ways, big and small, that we can all make a difference for marine life. It can be as simple as sharing what you’ve learned from one of ORCA's Ocean Conservationists on board with your friends and family, saying no to single-use plastics, or joining a local beach clean-up. Every choice adds up!
You might even decide to take the next step and support ORCA's work by becoming an ORCA member or join us as a citizen scientist and help collect data about our wonderful whales and dolphins!
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A shared mission for the future
We can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds and are already gearing up for next year! Stay updated on all things ORCA through our socials, and we’d love to welcome you aboard our Newhaven – Dieppe or Newcastle – Amsterdam routes soon. Come and learn about these incredible species – you might even spot some yourself!
