Norfolkline Ferries was founded in 1961 (By Mr. L. Remeeus) as part of a broader shipping and logistics enterprise. Over the years, the company expanded its freight operations and gradually entered the passenger ferry sector. Renowned for reliability, Norfolkline built a strong reputation among travelers seeking efficient cross-channel and Irish Sea connections.
The Maersk Group, one of the world’s largest shipping conglomerates, eventually owned Norfolkline. Under Maersk’s ownership, Norfolkline’s ferry arm invested in new, modern vessels and upgraded facilities on key routes. On 17 December 2009, DFDS entered into an agreement with A.P.Moller—Maersk to acquire 100% of the shares in Norfolk Holdings BV. The Norfolkline Ferries brand disappeared after 2010.
Dover Dunkirk
Dover-Dunkirk was Norfolkline’s primary passenger and freight route.
The company introduced three modern Ro-Pax ferries around the mid-2000s—Maersk Dunkerque, Maersk Dover, and Maersk Delft—specifically designed for short sea crossings with comfortable passenger amenities and spacious freight decks.
The Dover–Dunkirk crossing became popular for the often less congested port (compared to Dover) in Dunkirk. This Route is now operated by DFDS.
Liverpool Belfast
Norfolkline also ran a key route linking Northern Ireland with northwestern England.
This route served both freight and passenger traffic.
Liverpool (Birkenhead): Most ferries actually departed from the Twelve Quays Terminal in Birkenhead, directly across the River Mersey from central Liverpool.
This route is now operated by Stena Line.
Rosyth Zeebrugge
Norfolkline operated this North Sea service for a few years, connecting Scotland (Rosyth) directly to Belgium (Zeebrugge).
The service primarily targeted freight customers but accommodated some passenger travel. At the time, it was Scotland’s only direct ferry link to mainland Europe, valued by exporters and travelers alike for bypassing the longer road journey through England.
This route is no longer active, as you can see on Ferryroutes.com.
Vessel names and notable Ships
(Note: After the takeover by DFDS, the three Dover–Dunkirk ferries were re branded and renamed “Dunkerque Seaways,” “Dover Seaways,” and “Delft Seaways,” respectively.)
Other vessels used on the Irish Sea route and North Sea routes were similarly modern RO-Pax ferries designed to carry a mix of freight vehicles and passenger cars.
Acquisition by DFDS and the transition
In 2010, the Danish shipping group DFDS acquired Norfolkline from the A.P. Moller–Maersk Group. This transition included:
Over time, the “Norfolkline” name and livery were replaced by the DFDS Seaways brand, which eventually evolved into DFDS. The Dover–Dunkirk route continued under DFDS, using the same ships but with updated branding.
Norfolkline’s legacy today
Although the Norfolkline Ferries brand no longer exists as a standalone company, its legacy lives on:
- The trio of purpose-built ships on the Dover–Dunkirk route set a high standard for short sea crossings.
- The Dover–Dunkirk route remains a favorite for UK-Europe travel, maintaining the frequency and efficiency Norfolkline initially introduced.
- Norfolkline’s focus on modern vessels and customer service helped raise the bar for ferry travel across the Channel and Irish Sea.
- Read more about the Norfolkline history and old vessels.
For those seeking to travel the Dover–Dunkirk corridor that Norfolkline once operated, DFDS remains the primary carrier. However much has changed since then, to get a better overview of the ferries today, visit our page ‘ferries to France‘ with also a map and a table with all the current ferries. Meanwhile, the historic Norfolkline routes in the Irish Sea are now under different management, but they continue to serve as vital links between England, Northern Ireland, and beyond.