DFDS Pearl ferry at sea

Press Release

DFDS ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF TWO NEW SHIPS FOR ROUTE AMSTERDAM NEWCASTLE THIS YEAR ON

Moby Wonder and Moby Aki will re-enter the fleet in October 2019 and begin operation in early 2020.

DFDS has signed an agreement with the Italian ferry company Moby for the exchange of two passenger ferries . The aim of the measure is to improve the border experience and to increase the transport capacities for passengers as well as freight customers.

Moby will purchase from DFDS the two passenger ferries currently operating on the route from Newcastle to Amsterdam: the KING SEAWAYS (built in 1987) and the PRINCESS SEAWAYS (built in 1986).

At the same time, DFDS is acquiring two passenger ferries currently operated by Moby: Moby Wonder (built in 2001) and Moby Aki (built in 2005). The ships are renamed with their inclusion in the fleet. Moby Wonder is named "Newcastle Seaways" and Mobi Aki is named "Amsterdam Seaways".

It is planned that the ferries will be delivered in the second half of October 2019 and then thoroughly renovated. This includes commercial and technical investments on board as well as investments in port facilities.

DFDS will continue to use KING SEAWAYS and PRINCESS SEAWAYS until January and February 2020 respectively as part of a bareboat charter agreement.

Kasper Moos, Vice President & Head of Short Routes & Passengers at DFDS said: "The new ferries are ideal for the route between Newcastle and Amsterdam. They offer our passengers a modern on-board equipment and more capacity for the car deck. The new tonnage makes it possible to meet the increasing demand of passengers with vehicles and thus to increase the revenue from the passenger business. We can provide our freight customers with higher capacity throughout the year. "

DFDS cargo capacity is expected to increase by around 40% * per year, and passenger car transport capacity will increase by approximately 5% *.

  • *In 2018, more than 600,000 passengers and 350,000 meters of cargo were carried on the Newcastle-Amsterdam route.

Moby Wonder: 36093 Gt; Moby Aki: 36284 Gt; King Seaways: 31788 Gt; Princess Seaways: 31359 Gt

About DFDS

As one of the leading ferry companies, DFDS operates passenger and freight routes in Europe. With a fleet of more than 50 ships, we bring around six million people safely each year across the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel. In addition to the simple passage, the shipping company's portfolio includes mini-cruises, package tours and group tours. For the eighth time, DFDS has been awarded the World Travel Award for being the world's best ferry company. It is entitled "Europe's Best Cruise Line" the twelfth consecutive year. For more information www.dfds.de .

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