DFDS A/S, an abbreviation of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (literally The United Steamship Company) is a Danish shipping company. DFDS was formed in 1866 as a merger of various minor shipping companies under the leadership of industrialist Carl Frederik Tietgen. After the takeover of Thingvalla Line in 1898, the Scandinavian America Line was established. During its history, DFDS has absorbed several other ferry operators, including Tor Line (purchased 1981) and Prinz Ferries (also purchased 1981). From 1982 to 1983 DFDS' passenger operations were branded as DFDS Danish Seaways (Esbjerg — Harwich/Newcastle/Torshavn, Copenhagen — Oslo, Newcastle — Oslo), DFDS Tor Line (Gothenburg — Harwich/Newcastle/Amsterdam) and DFDS Prins Ferries (Harwich — Hamburg/Bremerhaven). DFDS also operated the Fred. Olsen Bergen Line routes Newcastle — Stavanger/Bergen and Stavanger — Amsterdam. Although DFDS have generally concentrated on freight and passenger traffic on North Sea (and to a lesser extent the Baltic Sea), they operated a ferry service in the Mediterranean between 1971 and 1981, as well as a ferry service from New York to Freeport as well as Miami - Freeport in the early 1980s under the name Scandinavian World Cruises (which later developed into SeaEscape). Between 1988 and 1999 the company's passenger services were marketed under the name Scandinavian Seaways. Today, passenger activities are operated by DFDS Seaways, whereas freight activities are operated by DFDS Tor Line, DFDS Lys Line and DFDS LISCO.
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DFDS Seaways
DFDS Seaways is the passenger-carrying division of DFDS A/S. It operates five cruiseferries and one ro-pax ferry on routes connecting Denmark to Norway; and the United Kingdom to the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. The company has recently (2006) renewed their fleet, purchasing M/S King of Scandinavia and M/S Princess of Norway to replace the last ships dating from the 1970s still in service. The company has acquired a reputation as something of an expert in purchasing used ships, as the last time DFDS Seaways ordered a newbuilding was in 1978 (although they have since taken over build contracts and taken delivery of newbuilds originally ordered by other companies). In 2006 DFDS Seaways stopped serving Sweden when M/S Princess of Scandinavia was taken off service and the Copenhagen - Oslo service ships stopped calling at Helsingborg.
Fleet
| Ship | Built | Entered service | Route | Tonnage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M/S Crown of Scandinavia | 1994 | 1994 | Copenhagen—Oslo | 35285 GRT |
| M/S Dana Sirena | 2002 | 2003 | Harwich—Esbjerg | 22382 GT |
| M/S King of Scandinavia | 1987 | 2006 | Newcastle—IJmuiden | 31395 GRT |
| M/S Pearl of Scandinavia | 1989 | 2001 | Copenhagen—Oslo | 40039 GT |
| M/S Princess of Norway | 1986 | 2006 | Newcastle—IJmuiden | 31356 GT |
| M/S Queen of Scandinavia | 1981 | 1990 | Newcastle—Stavanger—Haugesund—Bergen | 33575 GRT |
Former Ships
Not a complete list.
| Ship | Years in service | Tonnage | Status as of 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M/S Skipper Clement | 1964-1976 | 2964 GRT | Since 1998 M/S Europa I with Skenderbeg Lines |
| M/S Akershus | 1965-1973 | 5012 GRT | Burnt and sunk 1989 |
| M/S Winston Churchill | 1967-1996 | 8657 GRT | Scrapped 2004 |
| M/S Kong Olav V | 1968-1984 | 7965 GRT | Burnt 1993, later scrapped |
| M/S Prinsesse Margrethe | 1968-1983 | 7965 GRT | Scrapped 2005 |
| M/S Aalborgshus M/S Dana Sirena M/S Dana Corona |
1969-1971 1971-1978 1978-1985 |
7697 GRT 7988 GRT |
Since 1985 M/S Tian E, laid up in China since 2003 |
| M/S Trekroner M/S Dana Corona M/S Dana Sirena |
1970-1971 1971-1979 1979-1983 |
7692 GRT | Sunk 1994 |
| M/S Dana Regina | 1974-1990 | 10002 GRT | Since 1998 M/S Vana Tallinn with Tallink |
| M/S Dana Anglia M/S Duke of Scandinavia |
1978-2002 2002-2006 |
14399 GRT 15589 GRT |
Since 2006 M/S Pont L'Abbé with Brittany Ferries |
| M/S Dana Gloria M/S King of Scandinavia |
1981-1984, 1986-1989 1989-1994 |
12348 GRT 20581 GRT |
Since 2006 M/S Jupiter for Royal Group Ltd |
| M/S Tor Scandinavia M/S Princess of Scandinavia |
1981-1991 1991-2006 |
15673 GRT 21545 GRT |
Since 2006 M/S Moby Otta with Moby Lines |
| M/S Scandinavia | 1982-1985 | 26747 GRT | Since 2002 M/S Island Escape with Island Cruises |
| M/S Tor Britannia M/S Prince of Scandinavia |
1982-1990 1990-2003 |
14905 GRT 21545 GRT |
Since 2003 M/S Moby Drea with Moby Lines |
| M/S Hamburg M/S Admiral of Scandinavia |
1987-1997 1997-2002 |
12752 GRT 19292 GRT |
Since 2002 M/S Caribbean Express with Access Ferries |
| M/S Duchess of Scandinavia | 2003-2005 | 16794 GRT | Since 2005 M/S Atlantic Traveller with Fjord Line |
DFDS Tor Line
DFDS Tor Line is the main freight-carrying division of DFDS. It operates a large number of RO-RO freighters on the North Sea as well as the Baltic Sea. It was formed as merger of DFDS' and Tor Line's freight operations after DFDS bought the latter in 1982 (until 1988 the passenger service between Sweden and the United Kingdom was also marketed as DFDS Tor Line).
DFDS LISCO
DFDS LISCO, formerly Lithuanian Shipping Company, was purchased by DFDS in 2001. It operates freight- and passenger ships in the southern Baltic Sea, connecting Germany to Lithuania, Latvia and Russia, as well as Sweden to Lithuania.
DFDS Lys Line
DFDS Lys Line transports freight from Norway, Sweden and Denmark to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Italy, offering door-to-door transportation. The company was originally founded in 1970.
External links
- Official website
- Trip bookings
- DFDS on Fakta om Fartyg (Swedish)
- DFDS A/S at CVR.dk
