Ferry operator has carried over 10 million passengers between UK and Amsterdam since 1995
By
Rebecca Gibson |
DFDS Seaways and Port of Tyne have celebrated the 20th anniversary of the first ferry sailing between the Port of Tyne in North East England and Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Since the popular North Sea service began in 1995, DFDS has transported an estimated ten million passengers, while its ferries have sailed around four million nautical miles – enough to circumnavigate the globe almost 200 times.
“We are really proud of the ferry service that we operate between Newcastle and Amsterdam,” said Max Foster, DFDS Seaways passenger director. “The route’s popularity is testament to the hard work and dedication of our ship and shoreside teams, who work tirelessly to provide all our guests with a fun, relaxing and comfortable way to travel to continental Europe and to make their journey with us the perfect beginning and end of any European break. We also have a great working relationship with the Port of Tyne, enabling us to offer a smooth and easy transition through the port to our ships.”
Today Princess Seaways and King Seaways both operate a daily service between Newcastle and Amsterdam and carried around 570,000 passengers in 2014. According to figures, 39% of the passengers originate from the UK, while 34% are Dutch and 22% are German.
“The Newcastle to Amsterdam route is an important gateway to North East England and a very significant driver for the region’s tourist economy,” said Andrew Moffatt, CEO at the Port of Tyne. “While there have been passenger routes for almost 100 years, the Port of Tyne developed the International Passenger Terminal in the 1990s, and has continued to invest in it and passenger services. As a result, around £55m per year is added to the regional economy supporting many jobs in the tourism sector.”
To mark the anniversary, passengers sailing from Newcastle to Amsterdam on 21 May were offered a slice of anniversary cake, which was baked by Lasse Nielsen, Chef de Cuisine on Princess Seaways, and cut by Max Foster and Andrew Moffat. On 24 May, passengers were able to enjoy an afternoon tea and live entertainment from a Michael Jackson impersonator during an exclusive one-day cruise from North Shields near Newcastle.