Förde Reederei Seetouristik

Fast Reliable Seaways (FRS GmbH & Co KG) commonly known as FRS is a German transportation company specializing in passenger ferry and freight transportation. It originally started as a regional passenger ferry operator founded in 1866. Since then, it has expanded in recent years to an international business group and became one of Europe's leading ferry operators. FRS provides conventional ferries, as well as high speed ferries. With 70 vessels and approximately 2,000 employees worldwide, FRS transports 7.9 million passengers and 2.1 million vehicles per year. The company group has its headquarters in Northern Germany, Flensburg and comprises 17 subsidiaries located in Europe, North Africa, Middle East and North America. Focusing on national and international ferry and catamaran operations, FRS also specializes in Offshore Logistics, Port Management, Crewing and Maritime Consulting.

Förde Reederei Seetouristik
IndustryTransport
Founded1990
Headquarters
Area served
Strait of Gibraltar
Baltic Sea
North Sea
Elbe
Salish Sea
Key people
Götz Becker
Jan Kruse
Christian Baumberger
ServicesPassenger transportation
Freight transportation
Websitefrs.world
Tanger Jet II

Subsidiaries edit

If FRS Iberia and FRS Maroc are counted as separate entities, FRS includes 17 subsidiaries.[1]

Ferry operators edit

Other services edit

Fleet edit

Fast Ferries (vehicle and passenger) edit

  • HSC Ceuta Jet, operated by FRS Iberia S.L. (since 1998)
  • HSC Algeciras Jet, operated by FRS Iberia S.L. (since 1999)
  • HSC Tarifa Jet, operated by FRS Iberia S.L. (since 2006)
  • HSC Hormuz, operated by FRS Management (since 2008)
  • MS Jawharat Masirah, operated by FRS Management (since 2013)
  • MS Shannah, operated by FRS Management (since 2013)
  • HSC Al Hallaniyat, operated by FRS Management (since 2013)
  • HSC Sawqrah, operated by FRS Management (since 2013)
  • HSC Masirah 4, operated by FRS Management (since 2013)

Fast Ferries (passengers only) edit

  • Taxiboot Pirat, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1993)
  • Taxiboot Störtebeker, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1993)
  • HSC San Gwann, operated by FRS-Fast Reliable Seaways, LLC (since 2016)
  • HSC M/V Victoria Clipper V, operated by Clipper Navigation, Inc. (since 2018), prior HSC
  • HSC M/V San Juan Clipper, operated by Clipper Navigation, Inc. (since 2018), prior HSC
  • HSC Halunder Jet [de], operated by FRS Helgoline GmbH & Co. KG (2003–2017)
  • HSC Newbuild, operated by FRS Helgoline GmbH & Co. KG (since 2018)

Combi-Ferries / Ro-Pax-Ferries edit

  • MS Tanger Express, operated by FRS Iberia S.L. (since 2003, modernized in 2015)
  • MS Kattegat, operated by FRS Iberia S.L. (since 2013, modernized 2015)
  • MS Al Andalus Express, operated by FRS Iberia S.L. (since 2016)
  • MS Miramar Express, operated by FRS Iberia S.L. (since 2016)

Conventional passenger ferries edit

  • MS Gellen, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1993)
  • MS Schaprode, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1993)
  • MS Insel Hiddensee, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1995)
  • MS Altefähr, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH (since 1996)
  • MS Hansestadt Stralsund, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1996)
  • MS Bültenkieker, operated by Weiße Flote GmbH (since 1996)
  • MS Hanseblick, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH (since 2009)
  • Wappen von Breege, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH (since 2016)
  • MS Kleine Freiheit, operated by FRS HanseFerry (since 2017), prior Seebad Juliusruh, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH (since 2016)
  • MS Sundevit, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1992)
  • MS Alfagen, operated by FRS Management (since 2015)
  • MS Knipan, operated by FRS Management (since 2015)
  • MS Viggen, operated by FRS Management (since 2015)
  • MS Ejdern, operated by FRS Management (since 2015)
  • MS Gudingen, operated by FRS Management (since 2015)
  • MS Skiftet, operated by FRS Management (since 2015)

Double-ended car ferries edit

  • MF RömöExpress|MS RömöExpress (2019–present)
  • MF SyltExpress|MS SyltExpress (2005–present)
  • MF Vitte (1992–present)
  • MF Stahlbrode (1994–present)
  • MF Glewitz (1994–present)
  • MF Warnow (1995–present)
  • MF Breitling (1995–present)
  • MF Wittow (1996–present)
  • MF Stralsund (1995–present)
  • Nordic Duck

Solar Ferries edit

  • SF Fährbär 1, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH, used in Berlin (since 2014)
  • SF Fährbär 2, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH, used in Berlin (since 2014)
  • SF Fährbär 3, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH, used in Berlin (since 2014)
  • SF Fährbär 4, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH, used in Berlin (since 2014)
  • SF Sünje, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH, used in Wolfsburg (since 2015)
  • SF Aluna, operated by Norddeutsche Binnenreederei GmbH (since 2017/2018)

Crew Transfer Vessels (CTV) edit

  • CTV Windcat 28, operated by FRS Windcat Offshore Logistics (FWOL), used for Offshore-Windparks in the German Baltic Sea (since 2012)
  • CTV Windcat 34, operated by FWOL, used in the German Baltic Sea (since 2014)
  • CTV Windcat 35, operated by FWOL, used in the German Baltic Sea (since 2014)
  • CTV Windcat 40, operated by FWOL, used in the German Baltic Sea (since 2016)

Taxiboats edit

  • MY Störtebeker, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1993)
  • MY Pirat, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1993)

Icebreaker edit

  • Swanti, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH

Hovercraft-Boat edit

  • Nordic Jet, betrieben durch die Nordic Jetline

Rowing boat edit

  • Paule III, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH (since 2015)

Fleet of operated vessels edit

  • MS Atlantis (2005–2014; chartered)
  • HSC Tanger Jet, later Dolphin Jet (2001–2011)
  • HSC Thundercat 1 (2004–2008)
  • MS Kloar Kimming (2007; chartered)
  • HSC Hanse Jet (1996–2004)
  • HSC Baltic Jet (1997–2004)
  • HSC Flying Viking (2002–2003)
  • HSC Cat No. 1 (1999–2006)
  • MS Wappen von Hamburg (1983–2005)
  • MS Helgoland (2004–2005)
  • MS Wilhemlshaven (2004–2005)
  • MF Vikingland (1979–2007)
  • MF Westerland (1979–2006)
  • MS Baltic Star (1975–2000)
  • MS Dania (1980–2001)
  • MS Ostsee (1969–1986)
  • MS Ostsee (1990–1998)
  • MS Nordsee I (1975–1998)
  • MS Poseidon (1977–2002)
  • MS Wappen von Flensburg (1992–1999)
  • MS Seemöwe (1993–2003)
  • MS Seemöwe II (1975–2003)
  • MS Mommark (1969–2003)
  • MS Fritz Reuter (1990–1999)
  • MS Mecklenburg (1992–1999)
  • MS Fehmarn I (1975–1999)
  • MS Viking (1968–1999)
  • MS Kollund (1966–1998)
  • MS Glücksburg (1959–1998)
  • MS Afrodite (1970–1998)
  • MS Jürgensby (1968–1998)
  • MS Baltica I / Habicht II (1977–1995)
  • MS Mürwik (1937–1945)
  • MS Mürwik (1959–1990)
  • MS Wappen von Heiligenhafen (1981–1988)
  • MS Stadt Flensburg (1971–1987)
  • MS Meierwik (1963–1987)
  • MS Reiher II (1979–1986)
  • MS Albatros (1935–1971)
  • MS Albatros (1977–1986)
  • MS Alexandra (1935–1986)
  • MS Moby Dick / Moby Dick I (1970–1985)
  • MS Forelle (1935–1984)
  • MS Danica (1980–1983)
  • MS Langballigau (1965–1977)
  • MS Libelle (1935–1976)
  • MS Habicht (1935–1957)

Routes edit

Route Vessel(s) Description
Havneby (Danmark)–Sylt (Germany) MF SyltExpress year-round service
Tallinn (Estonia)–Helsinki, (Finland) HSC Baltic Jet, HSC Nordic Jet year-round service (no traffic during ice period)
Hamburg, Wedel, CuxhavenHeligoland HSC Halunder Jet (2003-2017) summer season (March - October)
Stralsund, Schaprode, Zingst, WiekHiddensee MS Hansestadt Stralsund, MS Insel Hiddensee, MS Schaprode, MS Gellen year-round service
Taxiboat traffic around the Island Hiddensee (Germany) Taxiboat Störtebeker, Taxiboat Pirat support traffic on demand
Port round-trips for Tourists (sightseeing) in Stralsund MS Altefähr during the summer time
Warnemünde (Germany)–Hohe Düne (Germany) MF Breitling, MF Warnow year-round service
Wittwo Ferry: Wittow North (Germany)–Wittow South (Germany) MF Wittow year-round service
Stahlbrode (Germany)–Glewitz (Germany) MF Stahlbrode, MF Glewitz summer season (April - October)
Schaprode – Vitte MF Vitte year-round service
Port round-trips in Stralsund MS Hanseblick year-round service
Sassnitz-Mukran – Trelleborg, Sweden HSC Skane Jet

summer season (March - October)[3]

Turku Archipelago / Lake Saimaa, Finland MS Vikare and Nestori year-round service
Turku Archipelago, Finland MS Nordic Duck year-round service
Pargas Route, Finland Hovercraft Nordic Jet winter season
Algeciras, Spain – Tanger-Med, Morocco MF Tanger Express year-round service
Tarifa, Spain – Tanger, Morocco HSC Tarifa Jet year-round service
Algeciras, Spain – Ceuta, Spain (enclave in Morocco) HSC Ceuta Jet year-round service
Gibraltar – Tanger Med, Morocco MF Kattegat year-round service
Motril, Spain – Tanger Med, Morocco Al Andalus Express year-round service
Alcudia, Spain – Ciutadella, Spain Tarifa Jet year-round service
Ibiza, Spain – Formentera, Spain San Gwann year-round service
Muscat – Khasab HSC Jawharat Masirah and Shannah year-round service
Muscat – Khasab HSC Hormuz and Shinas year-round service
Muscat – Khasab HSC Al Hallaniyat, Sawqrah and Masirah 4 year-round service
Seattle, Washington, United States – Victoria, BC, Canada HSC M/V Victoria Clipper V, and HSC M/V San Juan Clipper year-round service
Victoria, BC, CanadaVancouver, BC, Canada HSC M/V Victoria Clipper V year-round service
Miami, USA – Bimini, Bahamas HSC San Gwann year-round service (discontinued 2019)

References edit

  1. ^ "Overview of the activities". Förde Reederei Seetouristik GmbH & Co. KG. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  2. ^ Tu, Janet I. (January 19, 2016), "Seattle-based Clipper sold to German company; new routes planned", Seattle Times
  3. ^ "Timetable 2023 & Prices". FRS Baltic. Retrieved 23 July 2023.

External links edit