By
Rebecca Gibson |
The UK’s only ferry link to Scandinavia has now closed after DFDS’ Sirena Seaways sailed on the route between Harwich, UK, and Esbjerg, Denmark, for the final time on 28 September 2014.
Opened in 1875 with the inauguration of the port of Esbjerg, the Harwich-Esbjerg route has been closed due to increased competition from low-cost airlines and the loss of tax-free sales, which have caused passenger numbers to fall from 300,000 to around 80,000.
In an effort to ensure the route remained competitive, the line had implemented a number of cost-cutting measures such as combining the freight and passenger service, reducing the number of onboard crew, introducing slow steaming to save fuel and decreasing the number of departures.
Despite these measures, the line has been unable to reduce operating costs enough to ensure it can meet the projected higher operating costs associated with the stricter sulphur regulations, which come into force on 1 January 2015.
“Unfortunately we haven’t been able to reduce costs enough to enable the route to bear the very high additional costs of around £2m a year,” said Niels Smedegaard, CEO of DFDS, when the ferry operator first announced the decision earlier this year.. “This is what the new environmental law and the requirement to use low-sulphur oil will cost, based on current oil prices from 1 January 2015.”
While the closure of the route will lead to the loss of 130 jobs, all employees have been offered positions on other routes. Meanwhile Sirena Seaways, which has served on the route since 2003, will be moved to other duties.
“The route is of particular historical significance to DFDS so it’s a very sad day for us all,” said Smedegaard. “Our regrets go to our many passengers who must now see the last passenger ferry route between the UK and Scandinavia close. It’s also regrettable that up to 130 jobs onboard and onshore will be affected by the closure, even though we are fortunate that we can offer jobs to everyone onboard on other routes.”
DFDS Seaways will continue to provide daily Newcastle-Amsterdam service on the North Sea and frequent cross-Channel services from Dover to Dunkirk and Calais in France, which comprise up to 44 sailings a day. The line will also continue operating its two daily ferry routes from Newhaven to Dieppe and Portsmouth to Le Havre.
In addition, DFDS will maintain its major freight route between Esbjerg and Immingham, continuing to offer daily 18-hour crossings each way on two vessels.