DFDS is taking over part of Naviera Armas’ ferry activities in the Strait of Gibraltar. The Danish group is purchasing two ships – the RoPax ferry “Volcan de Tamasite” (built in 2004) and the high-speed catamaran ferry “Villa de Agaete” (built in 1999).
In addition, existing operating licenses and around 200 employees will be taken over. The purchase price corresponds to the equivalent of €32.16 million.
The two units are already in operation on the Algeciras-Tanger Med and Algeciras-Ceuta routes, on which DFDS also operates. The acquisition will increase capacity on both routes. In addition, the share of shared freight capacity (RoRo) on Algeciras-Tanger Med will increase.
“The growth of the ferry market in the Strait of Gibraltar has exceeded our expectations since we entered the market in 2024. We expect a smooth transition and an immediate improvement in the offering for passengers and freight customers,” said Mathieu Girardin, Head of Ferry Division at DFDS.
The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. DFDS does not expect any impact on the financial figures for 2025. From 2026, the expansion is expected to generate additional revenues of around €67 million.
