DFDS is expanding its capacity between Algeciras and Tanger Med. To this end, the shipping company is taking over the RoPax ferry “Volcán de Tamasite” from Naviera Armas. The service is due to begin in mid-November.
Following approval from the Spanish and Moroccan competition authorities, DFDS has finalised the acquisition agreement. In addition to the vessel, the shipping company is taking over existing licences to operate on the route between Spain and Morocco. No details of the purchase price have been disclosed.
The “Volcán de Tamasite” can accommodate up to 1,469 passengers and has 1,414 track metres of cargo space. The vessel has been operating on the same route for several years. At DFDS, it will supplement the fleet in the Strait of Gibraltar, which currently consists of two ferries.
“The Strait of Gibraltar is a vital link for trade and passenger travel. We look forward to serving the region with additional capacity in future,” says DFDS CEO Michael Hansen. The shipping company aims to offer both freight customers and passengers greater flexibility and better connections.
More scope for further growth
According to DFDS, the acquisition addresses the ongoing demand for freight and passenger transport between Europe and North Africa. At the same time, the company aims to strengthen its position in the region.
“With a third vessel, we are strengthening our position in the Strait of Gibraltar and gaining greater flexibility to meet our customers’ transport needs,” says Ronny Moriana Glindemann, Managing Director for the Strait of Gibraltar at DFDS. The additional ferry will also enable the company to further develop its operations and meet growing demand in the coming years.
DFDS operates more than 10,000 sailings a year on its routes through the Strait of Gibraltar. The most important goods transported include fresh agricultural produce, automotive parts and components, textiles, and industrial and specialised goods.
