DFDS itself had reported an increase in volume on the Egypt route even in the months leading up to the announcement of the doubling of capacity. In its data for May, June, and July 2026,

Lars Hoffmann:  Egypt is a growing market and trade hub, connecting North Africa to Europe.

Starting October 15, the Ark Futura will begin service between the two ports: it is the second ship on the route, with two departures per week

In recent weeks, DFDS has reinforced its ro-ro service between Egypt and Italy by introducing a second vessel, the Ark Futura, (IMO 9129598, MMSI 219927000 -sailing under the flag of Denmark. ), to the Damietta–Trieste route. This has doubled the frequency of the service.'From 15 October 2026, the new operating plan will offer customers greater flexibility, more departures and greater supply chain resilience,' explained a statement from the Danish company. The route was inaugurated in November 2024 as DFDS's first direct ferry freight connection between Egypt and Italy, and it has experienced significant growth since its launch.

Egypt is a growing market

Lars Hoffmann, Vice President and Head of Mediterranean at DFDS, said that the introduction of a second vessel represents a significant milestone for this route. Egypt is a growing market and trade hub, connecting North Africa to Europe. By augmenting capacity and frequency, we are further consolidating a strategic trade corridor in our Mediterranean network and engendering novel opportunities for customers seeking efficient and reliable transportation solutions."

Four departures per week

The addition of the Ark Futura means that DFDS will be able to offer a total of four departures per week, with two departures from each port. According to the group’s latest Annual Report, the 1996-built Ro-Ro ship has been modified and has a capacity of 2,308 linear metres. Currently, the DFDS website lists the Gallipoli Seaways on the Damietta–Trieste route, with a voyage time of just over three days.

The traffic of goods.

The traffic consists primarily of fresh fruits and vegetables, textiles, and industrial goods. However, the route’s function goes beyond the maritime connection between the two ports: from the outset , the project was designed as a logistics corridor between Egypt and European markets, also leveraging Trieste’s rail connections to Central Europe. AdriaPorts had also been involved in the development of the “International Fast & Secure Trade Lane,” a digital model designed to simplify and speed up import-export procedures between Italy and Egypt through digitization, IoT technologies, and advanced customs procedures

Related: Dr. Abu Khadra writes : The “Ro-Ro” line between Egypt and Italy

An increase in volume on the Egypt route

DFDS itself had reported an increase in volume on the Egypt route even in the months leading up to the announcement of the doubling of capacity. In its data for May, June, and July 2026, the group had in fact indicated an increase in traffic on its routes to Egypt, bucking the trend seen on some other routes within the Mediterranean network.

Two weekly departures from the ports of Damietta and Trieste 

Arif Akkoz, Route Director for the Damietta–Trieste route, said: 'By deploying two vessels and offering twice-weekly departures in both directions, we can offer our customers greater flexibility, capacity, and reliability. This strengthens our ability to respond more effectively to the evolving needs of our customers' supply chains and support the growing trade flows between Egypt and Europe.”

Related: The DFAS line between Trieste and Egypt set sail on its first voyage

Two weekly departures from the ports of Damietta and Trieste are included in the service. Ships will depart from Damietta on Mondays and Fridays, and from Trieste on Mondays and Thursdays

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