Norfolk Line

Norfolk Line was founded by L. Remeeus as Norfolk Lijn N.V. and initially operated cargo ships between Great Yarmouth and Scheveningen. In 1969 the company entered the ferry business with the purchase of the roll-on/roll-off ship Duke of Holland and was renamed Norfolkline a year later. In 1985 the Maersk Company Ltd acquired the company.

In 2000 Norfolkline launched a ferry route from Dover to Dunkirk, reviving the earlier rail ferry that had been discontinued in 1995. Initially geared towards lorry freight, the route developed unexpectedly successfully. Within five years Norfolkline had chartered four ships and expanded into the tourism market.

In the mid-2000s Norfolkline ordered three modern Ro-Pax ferries from Samsung Heavy Industries: Maersk Dunkerque, Maersk Dover and Maersk Delft. The Maersk Dunkerque was delivered in 2005 and made her maiden voyage on 9 November 2005.

On 17 December 2009 the takeover by DFDS A/S for 346 million euros was announced. Following EU approval in June 2010, the company was renamed: the shipping line became DFDS Seaways, and the ferries were renamed Dunkerque Seaways, Dover Seaways and Delft Seaways. Over 25 years, more than 43 million people have used the Dover-Dunkirk route. By 2030 DFDS plans to introduce electric ships on the Channel.

The Norfolk Line brand has not existed since 2010. Today you book Dover to Dunkirk with DFDS.