Once refurbished, this is what DFDS new ferries on the Amsterdam – Newcastle route will look like when they take up service at the beginning of 2020 under the names Amsterdam Seaways and Newcastle Seaways
There is very good news for our colleagues in BU Short Routes & Passenger, and specifically for those working with the Amsterdam – Newcastle route:
Today, DFDS has entered into an agreement with the Italian ferry company Moby to acquire the two passenger and freight ferries, Moby Wonder and Moby Aki, built in 2001 and 2005.
Today, DFDS has entered into an agreement with the Italian ferry company Moby to acquire the two passenger and freight ferries, Moby Wonder and Moby Aki, built in 2001 and 2005.
Moby will in turn acquire the two passenger ferries currently operating on the Amsterdam – Newcastle route: King Seaways and Princess Seaways, built in 1987 and 1986.
“The new ferries are ideally suited for our Amsterdam – Newcastle route. Their modern, on-board facilities and higher car-deck capacity will enable us to deliver what our high-yield car passengers require, and will improve the customer experience in line with our Win23 strategy of increasing value for our passengers. In addition, the new ferries will increase capacity for our freight customers on the route, so we can offer increased freight capacity throughout the year”, says Peder Gellert Pedersen, EVP and Head of DFDS’ Ferry Division.
We expect to take over the new ferries during the second half of October. Therefore, DFDS will bareboat-charter King Seaways and Princess Seaways from Moby until January and February 2020, when the new ferries will be deployed.
“We now have a big task ahead of us as the ferries need to be upgraded to DFDS standards and route specific requirements. I know that Kasper Moos, Head of BU Short Routes & Passengers, has informed everyone working on and with the route about this. We only have a few months from October, when we receive the ferries, until February when they are deployed, so I can only confirm that it will be an extremely busy period, which will place a huge workload on the shoulders of Thomas Mørk and his staff, Michael Stig and his staff in Marine Standards as well as everyone else involved in the route. However, it will also give you a perfect opportunity to build the facilities you need and the framework for your own daily work,” says Peder Gellert.
“The ferries will fly the Danish flag, and I am also pleased to reveal that we will name the ferries Amsterdam Seaways and Newcastle Seaways in respect of the two cities they will be linking,” says Kasper Moos.
The ferries’ freight capacity will increase by about 40% on a full-year basis. The car capacity will increase by about 5% on a full-year basis, supported by a cabin configuration that is well suited to the requirements of holiday-makers travelling by car.
In 2018, Amsterdam – Newcastle carried more than 600,000 passengers, 122,000 passenger vehicles and 350,000 lane metres of freight. “I am confident we will see further growth in travel and trade, and with new ferries, we will be playing our part in servicing the additional numbers of passengers and exporters,” says Kasper.
September 6, 2019
Comments
Post a Comment