DFDS kjøper "Moby Wonder" og "Moby Aki" for ruta Amsterdam-Newcastle, selger "King Seaways" og "Princess Seaways" til Moby

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NEW AMSTERDAM-NEWCASTLE FERRIES TO CREATE MORE VALUE FOR PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT CUSTOMERS

DFDS has entered into an agreement with the Italian ferry company Moby to acquire the two combined freight and passenger ferries (ro-pax) Moby Wonder and Moby Aki, for the purpose of raising the customer experience and the capacity for both passengers and freight customers on the Amsterdam-Newcastle route. The ferries are built in 2001 and 2005, respectively.

Moby will in turn acquire the two passenger ferries currently operating on Amsterdam-Newcastle - King Seaways and Princess Seaways, built in 1987 and 1986, respectively.

"The new ferries are ideally suited for our Amsterdam-Newcastle route. Their modern onboard facilities and higher car-deck capacity will allow us to grow revenue by fulfilling the growing demand from high-yield car passengers. To freight customers, we will be able to offer increased capacity that can remain constant throughout the year", says Peder Gellert Pedersen, EVP and Head of DFDS' Ferry Division.

The agreement is expected to be completed in the second half of October 2019. DFDS will subsequently bareboat-charter King Seaways and Princess Seaways from Moby until January and February 2020, respectively.

Meanwhile, the acquired ferries from Moby will be refurbished to suit the Amsterdam-Newcastle route. This includes commercial and technical investments on board as well as port investments. The refurbished ferries are expected to be deployed on Amsterdam-Newcastle during the first quarter of 2020.

The freight capacity will increase around 40% on a full-year basis. The car capacity will increase around 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.

The capacity increase will provide an opportunity to accommodate further growth in trade and travel, including a large tourism flow, between UK and Continental Europe.

Renewal supports WIN23 strategy and ambitions In June 2019, DFDS launched the WIN23 strategy driven by four strategic pillars. The renewal of Amsterdam-Newcastle is a key part of the fourth pillar: Creating more value for passengers.

"I'm very pleased to already be able tick off an important milestone of our WIN23 strategy. We now have a strong set-up to continue to grow the route", says Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS.

Revised outlook 2019
The expected completion in October 2019 of the sale of the two ferries is estimated to entail an accounting profit of around DKK 100m to be recognised under Special items in Q4 2019. The full-year outlook for Special items is thus increased to DKK 70m from previously DKK -30m.

The investment in the renewal, including proceeds from the sale of Princess Seaways and King Seaways, is expected to amount to around DKK 1.0bn of which DKK 650m is expected to be paid in 2019. The remaining DKK 350m is expected to be paid in 2020. The investment includes a substantial investment in refurbishment.

The investment outlook for 2019 is therefore changed to around DKK 3.4bn from previously DKK 2.8bn.
 
"Moby Wonder"
DSC02625.JPG

Foto: Antoine Cuny
 
Leste i en artikkel som jeg dessverre ikke kan finne igjen, at de får navnene "Amsterdam Seaways" og "Newcastle Seaways", som en tribute til ruten de skal seile på.
 
New ferries for Amsterdam – Newcastle route

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.

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.

Ships details:

Moby Aki
Gross Tonnage: 36284
Deadweight: 5628 t
Length Overall x Breadth Extreme: 174.99m × 27.6m
Year Built: 2005

Moby Wonder
Gross Tonnage: 36093
Deadweight: 5500 t
Length Overall x Breadth Extreme: 174.99m × 27.6m
Year Built: 2001

Kilde: DFDS News
 
AGREEMENT ON NEW AMSTERDAM-NEWCASTLE FERRIES CANCELLED

On 6 September 2019, DFDS entered into an agreement with the Italian ferry company Moby to acquire two ferries, Moby Wonder and Moby Aki, for deployment on the Amsterdam-Newcastle route.

Moby would in turn acquire the two passenger ferries currently operating on Amsterdam-Newcastle, King Seaways and Princess Seaways.

The agreement was expected to be completed in the second half of October 2019 but Moby has unfortunately not been able to meet the delivery terms of the agreement. The agreement has therefore been cancelled.

DFDS will continue to explore solutions for a renewal of the ferries on the Amsterdam-Newcastle route in line with the fourth pillar of the WIN23 strategy: Creating more value for passengers.

Revised outlook 2019
The full-year outlook for Special items is decreased to DKK -30m from previously DKK 70m as the latter included an expected accounting profit of around DKK 100m from the sale of two ferries.

The investment outlook for 2019 is reduced to around DKK 2.8bn from previously DKK 3.4bn as the investment in the renewal, net of proceeds from the sale of two ferries, was expected to amount to around DKK 1.0bn of which DKK 650m was expected to be paid in 2019. The remaining DKK 350m was expected to be paid in 2020.
 
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