Molslinjen

(Redirected from Bornholmslinjen)

Molslinjen (previously Mols-Linien) is a Danish company that operates ferry services between Jutland and Zealand, and also services to Bornholm. In March 2017, the routes in the Kattegat were renamed to Molslinjen.

Molslinjen
Company typeAktieselskab
Founded1964
HeadquartersAarhus, Denmark
Area served
  • Denmark
  • Sweden
  • Germany
Key people
Carsten Jensen, CEO
ServicesPassenger transportation, Freight transportation
Websitewww.molslinjen.com Edit this at Wikidata

History

Molslinjen was formed by DFDS in 1964 sailings commenced on 18 May 1966.[1]

A downturn in traffic following the 1973 oil crisis led Molslinjen into a pooling agreement with rival Grenaa-Hundested Linien in 1979.[2]

In 1984 DFDS sold Molslinjen and Grenaa-Hundested Linien to J. Lauritzen A/S. The company was sold 4 years later to Danish investment company DIFKO.

In 1999 Molslinjen merged with Scandlines subsidiary Cat-Link.

Scandlines sold its holding to the Clipper Group in 2008.

In July 2011, Molslinjen announced it was to terminate the Kalundborg – Aarhus route and sell the two vessels operating the route.[3]

Molslinjen terminated the Aarhus – Kalundborg route on 15 September 2011. Thereafter the route was operated by Kattegatruten until October 2013 and then suspended.

In 2016 Molslinjen won a 10-year public tender to operate ferry services to Bornholm, and operations started in September 2018 under the name Bornholmslinjen.

In 2018, the ferry routes of Alslinjen, Langelandslinjen, Samsølinjen and Fanølinjen became part of Molslinjen with the acquisition of Danske Færger.[4][5]

In January 2023, the Danish and Swedish competition regulators approved the sale of ForSea Ferries to Molslinjen for an undisclosed sum.[6]

Fleet

Molslinjen

ImageNameBuiltEnterered serviceGross TonnageNotes
Max Mols199819995,617 GT
Express 22013201310,503 GT
Express 32017201710,842 GTSailed from Incat shipyards in Tasmania, April 2017[7]
Express 42018201810,500 GTBuilt by Austal in Western Australia.[8] Austal ships do not have the centre bow that characterises the previous solely Incat built fleet.

Bornholms-linjen

ImageNameBuiltEnterered serviceGross TonnageNotes
Express 12009201210,503 GT
Hammershus2018201818,009 GTOperates on Rønne–Køge and Rønne–Sassnitz routes
Poul Anker1978201612.131 GTOperates on Rønne–Køge and Rønne–Sassnitz routes
Express 520222023Cost €83.7 million, Austal ship. Will carry 1,610 passengers and 450 cars.[9]

Langelandslinjen

ImageNameBuiltEnterered serviceGross TonnageNotes
M/F Langeland201220124.500Old livery
M/F Lolland201220124.500Old livery

Fanølinjen

ImageNameBuiltEnterered serviceGross TonnageNotes
M/F Menja19981998751runs on HVO Diesel[10]
M/F Fenja19981998751runs on HVO Diesel.[11]
E/F Grotte20212022925E-ferry[12]

Samsølinjen

ImageNameBuiltEnterered serviceGross TonnageNotes
M/F Samsø200920144.630
M/F Tyrfing[13]2025E-Ferry[14]

Alslinjen

ImageNameBuiltEnterered serviceGross TonnageNotes
M/F Fynshav199820153.380
M/F Frigg Sydfyen198420151.676
M/F Nerthus[15]2024E-Ferry[16]

Routes

Molslinjen routes
Molslinjen's routes to/from Bornholm since 1 September 2018.

Molslinjen operates various routes around Denmark and surrounding countries, under a multitude of brand names.

References