ferries since November 2020 and January 2021,
respectively.
New unaccompanied freight ferry route opened between
Calais and Sheerness
On 12 July 2021, a new freight ferry route between Calais
and Sheerness was opened in response to increasing
demand for additional capacity for unaccompanied freight
(trailers) between France and the UK. The route has one
daily round trip operating seven days per week, deploying
one freight ferry (ro-ro).
Closing of the acquisition of HSF Logistics Group
On 26 January 2021, DFDS entered into an agreement to
acquire 100% of HSF Logistics Group. The company is one
of Europe’s leading cold chain logistics providers to meat
producers and other food producers that operate
temperature-controlled supply chains.
Closing of the transaction is now expected to take place in
September 2021 subject to regulatory approval.
The HSF Logistics Group has annual revenue of DKK 2.8bn
and EBITDA of around DKK 400m. The company has 1,800
employees and operates around 700 trucks and 1,700
reefer trailers, including both owned and leased units.
New Channel ferry boosts freight capacity and
passenger experience
On 4 August 2021, a combined freight and passenger ferry
newbuilding was deployed between Dover and Calais on
the Channel. The ferry’s 3,100 lane metre deck capacity is
an increase of 78% compared to the older ferry it is
replacing. Fuel consumption per transported freight unit is
expected to decrease by around 50% contingent on
utilisation. The passenger on board experience is
enhanced, including a tripling of retail space to 1,100m
2
.
The new ferry is chartered for a 10-year period and part of
DFDS’ fleet renewal program to provide efficient,
sustainable and reliable ferry services for both freight
customers and passengers.
ESG-actions and plans
From this quarter, a selection of ESG (Environment, Social,
Governance) key figures are reported, see page 4, as well
as an overview of key actions and plans.
DFDS’ Climate Action Plan covers both short-term actions
to reduce emissions from existing assets, mainly ferries
and transport equipment, and transformative long-term
actions to become a zero-emission company.
Environment – short-term actions and plans
A number of actions to lower ferry fuel consumption and
emissions are being implemented in 2021, including:
• Latest route planning and propulsion control
technology installed on one ferry in Q2
• Anti-fouling hull paint applied to five ferries to reduce
friction in the water and hence fuel consumption
• LED lighting installed on freight decks on three ferries
• Installation on five ferries of new injection system to
optimise engine combustion and save fuel (PMI VIT)
• Shore power facility in Copenhagen expected to
become operational during Q3 2021
Fuel and emission savings from the applications are
continuously documented and subsequently applied to
the rest of the fleet as appropriate.
On the logistics side, DFDS expects in August 2021 to
operate its first electric truck in a collaboration with Volvo
Trucks. The goal is initially to gain mutual learnings and
insights regarding battery capacity, route planning,
charging and driver experiences.
Environment – transformative actions and plans
Sustainable Fleet Projects, a new focused unit within
DFDS, has been established with the aim of deploying a
zero-emission freight ferry in the route network by 2025.
Both retrofitting and a newbuilding options are being
analysed and considered.
Social actions and plans
DFDS’ ambition to increase female representation among
senior management requires a talented and diverse
employee force, including an improved gender balance.
A number of actions to develop a diverse talent pool are
being implemented:
• Female hiring ratio for land positions raised to 39% in
H1 2021 which will increase the gender ratio across all
levels in the organisation
• Diversity training of senior management and
development of D&I (Diversity & Inclusion) toolbox