Danish shipping company DFDS has launched a new direct freight ferry service connecting Damietta in Egypt and Trieste in Italy, marking its first expansion into Egypt and reviving freight ferry services between these two markets after about a decade.
This initiative strengthens trade between North Africa and Europe, with a focus on efficiently transporting goods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and textiles from Egypt to Europe, and dairy, agricultural, and industrial products from Europe to Egypt.
The service provides a cost-effective and faster alternative to container shipping, particularly for perishable goods, with a transit time of approximately 68 hours. The maiden voyage is scheduled for November 29, 2024, with weekly sailings from Damietta on Fridays and Trieste on Mondays.
About DFDS
DFDS has partnered with Pan Marine Shipping Services, which will manage a dedicated terminal in Damietta, ensuring smooth handling of cargo operations. This new route further expands DFDS’s service network in the Mediterranean and offers a streamlined solution for trade between the regions.
DFDS was formed by the Danish financier Carl Frederik Tietgen in 1866, after the merger of three other firms. The name is an acronym for Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab which in English means The United Steamship Company.
DFDS offers freight transport by sea, land, and rail. They also offer logistics services, including door-to-door transport and solutions for major industries. Some of DFDS’s recent acquisitions include the Finnish logistics company Freeco and the fish delivery and distribution company Colley Brothers.
DFDS offers ferry routes to the UK, Scandinavia, and the Baltic Sea, including routes to Amsterdam, Newcastle, Copenhagen, and the Baltics. DFDS has three ports in the UK: Dover, Newcastle, and Newhaven