A large new contract with paper and packaging manufacturer Stora Enso has prompted DFDS to open a new shipping route between Gothenburg and Zeebrugge. The Danish ferry-operator will acquire two new freight ferries from Wagenborg to operate on the service.

DFDS has won a 5-year contract to transport 700,000 tonnes of paper and board products annually for Stora Enso and the Swedish paper producer has options to extend the contract with another three years.

To sufficiently handle the volume of the agreement, DFDS will increase its weekly departures between Sweden and Belgium from 8 to 12.

DFDS has acquired two new freight ferries from Wagenborg – the Slingeborg and Schieborg – for DKK 270 million (€36.2 million) to operate on the service. Additionally, a third vessel will be transferred from the Gothenburg-Ghent route, that currently deploys four freight ferries.

“We are very pleased to expand our cooperation with Stora Enso and look forward to supporting their growth through an efficient and flexible route operation. We likewise look forward to offer the transport market additional capacity and services between Sweden and Belgium”, says Peder Gellert Pedersen, Executive Vice President, DFDS Group, and Head of Ferry Division.

The route is expected to open Mid-June.