DFDS fleet signs with Lloyd’s Register

DFDS currently operates 55 ships, predominantly ro-ro freight ships, ro-pax and passenger ships; with few exceptions these ships will now all be classed by LR. DFDS Seaways has a network of 30 routes with 50 freight and passenger ships.

The increase in ships to LR class is said to deepen and broaden the support provided by the classification society, which claims market leadership in the passenger ship, ro-pax and ro-ro freight ferry sectors.

Lloyd’s Register’s Ship Emergency Response Programme (SERS) has been contracted fleet-wide to provide damage stability and crisis support to DFDS.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in the Copenhagen, Kasper Moos, vice-president of DFDS who heads the company’s technical organisation said: “The DFDS fleet has been growing because of recent acquisitions, and this means that by coincidence we have our ships registered in various classification societies. We have therefore decided to transfer a number of our ships to LR in order to reduce the number of partners and achieve a leaner process in our daily work with the class. LR has already proven that it has the size and the services we need for fully covering our needs for a safe and efficient operation of our ships.”

Lloyd’s Register’s marine business development manager for Denmark, Kim Wiese, said: “DFDS has always maintained a close relationship with LR, with the vast majority of newbuildings being ordered to LR class. Our relationship has been strengthened through the agreement to transfer a number of vessels to LR class. Furthermore, enrolling the fleet in to our SERS programme shows DFDS’ commitment to safety of life at sea and its care for the environment. Through our services LR will assist DFDS to provide a high level of safety and operational performance input to the fleet as we strive to help the company realise its commercial and technical ambitions to transport passengers and freight safely and efficiently. LR is highly committed to the ferry business. As well as our day-in/day-out service delivery, our research and innovation activities – including projects in which we have worked closely with DFDS – help drive our global leadership in passenger and freight ferry classification. This is an important sector where a combination of economic challenge and regulatory change means that ferry operators are looking for deeper and broader support.”