DFDS has entered into an agreement to charter the Ro-Pax ferry Ciudad de Valencia for the company's Karlshamn-Klaipeda route.
DFDS said the vessel will almost triple passenger capacity compared to the ship it replaces, while also providing additional freight space. This upgrade will enhance service reliability for customers and support DFDS’ continued growth in the Baltic Sea region.
Ciudad de Valencia was built in 2020 and can carry up to 950 passengers and 2.562 lane metres of freight, including 250 cars, and thus brings a large capacity increase. The vessel features 159 cabins, modern public areas with restaurants and bars, a children’s play area, and a designated walking area for pets.
"With this vessel, we are significantly boosting our ability to serve both freight and passenger customers on one of our most important Baltic routes," said Per-Henrik Persson, Route Director at DFDS. "We see strong growth potential on the route, and this is an important step in ensuring we can offer reliable, comfortable, and efficient services well into the future."
The vessel is expected to enter service from mid-September 2026 and will replace Optima Seaways.
DFDS operates two combined freight and passenger ferries on the Karlshamn-Klaipeda route and four other ferries on Baltic Sea routes connecting Germany and Sweden, Sweden and Estonia, and Denmark and Lithuania.