New ferry company Holland Norway Lines is planning to launch a service between Eemshaven in Groningen and Kristiansand in Norway in April next year.

The ferry MS Romantika will have room for 2,500 passengers as well as vehicle and freight transport, plus conferences facilities and restaurants, shops and other entertainment.

Chief executive Bart Vunnen told website Transport Online that research has shown the project offers ‘interesting market potential’ in both Norway and the Netherlands.

The trip will take 18 hours and the ferry will leave Eemshaven at 3pm, arriving in Norway at 9am the next day.

HNL was formed last year and says on its website it aims to become ‘Holland’s largest shipping line for international passenger, goods and freight between Holland and Norway and one of Europe’s leading short sea shipping lines.’

The project also has the backing of the provincial development fund and the regional port authority.

Scotland

In 2019 Scottish marine services company TEC Offshore said it planned to launch a ferry service between Eemshaven and Rosyth near Edinburgh, focusing on freight traffic, although passengers and cars would also be carried. However, the plan was dropped in July 2020.

Travellers to Scotland now use the overnight service between IJmuiden and Newcastle while freight companies drive to the south.