DFDS EXPANDS CAPACITY ON STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR
| INVESTOR NEWS no. 27 - 25 August 2025 |
- Purchase of two ferries from Naviera Armas that is exiting Strait of Gibraltar
- Transaction adds one ferry on each of DFDS’ two current routes from Algeciras to Tanger Med and Ceuta
- Purchase closing expected in Q1 2026 subject to regulatory approvals
- No impact on 2025 financials expected
DFDS has entered into an agreement to purchase part of the assets of Naviera Armas’ Strait of Gibraltar ferry operations. Besides one combined freight and passenger ferry (RoPax) and one high-speed catamaran ferry (HSC), the purchase includes taking over existing permits related to route operations and around 200 employees. The asset purchase price is DKK 240m and the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.
“The growth of the Strait of Gibraltar ferry market has exceeded our expectations since we entered the market in 2024. The two ferries we are purchasing are already operating on overlapping routes and we expect to deliver a smooth transition and an immediate enhancement of services to both passengers and freight customers”, says Mathieu Girardin, Head of Ferry Division, DFDS.
DFDS currently operates two ferry routes on Strait of Gibraltar: Algeciras-Tanger Med and Algeciras-Ceuta. Naviera Armas’ two ferries are deployed on the same routes and the purchase expands and enhances the customer offering to both freight customers and passengers. The expansion furthermore adds scale to operations in a growing market.
The two ferries being purchased are the RoPax ferry Volcan de Tamasite built in 2004 and the HSC Villa de Agaete built in 1999. In addition, the capacity share of a freight ferry (RoRo) shared among the incumbent operators on Algeciras-Tanger Med is increased.
The capacity expansion is expected to add revenue of around DKK 500m in 2026. The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2026 and is therefore not expected to impact 2025 financials. The purchase is expected to be accretive to earnings in 2026.
Contact
Torben Carlsen, CEO
Karen Boesen, CFO
Søren Brøndholt Nielsen, IR
Dennis Kjærsgaard, Media
About DFDS
We operate a transport network in and around Europe with an annual revenue of DKK 30bn and 16,500 full-time employees.
We move goods in trailers by ferry, road & rail, and we offer complementary and related transport and logistics solutions.
We also move car and foot passengers on short sea and overnight ferry routes.
DFDS was founded in 1866 and headquartered and listed in Copenhagen.
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