Holland Norway Lines has filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations
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Update as of 9/11/2023: Contact for affected persons
Passengers who have questions about the bankruptcy can contact the insolvency administrator, Mr. Hans Silvius, via the following e-mail address: passagiershnl@dehaanlaw.nl
Update as of 04.09.2023: Holland Norway Lines has officially filed for bankruptcy
Having already suspended ferry operations and requested suspension of payments last week, Holland Norway Lines filed for bankruptcy this morning (04.09.2023). Already on Friday last week the charter contract of the cruise ferry Romantika was prematurely terminated on the part of the shipping company Tallink. The ship is now being prepared for the return to Estonia. It is now also clear that there will be no further trips by HNL from Emden to Kristiansand.
For all travelers who are currently looking for alternative connections, we recommend the alternative routes listed further down in the article.
The shipping company Holland Norway Lines (HNL) has unexpectedly filed for insolvency. This spring, the Dutch shipping company had already had to transfer the original ferry service from Eemshaven (Netherlands) to Kristiansand (Norway) to the departure port of Cuxhaven and, a little later, to Emden. The offer of this ferry connection was well received, but in the background the operation was apparently not optimal.
The company said on its website Wednesday that it had filed for a stay of payments in a court this morning. The ferry MS Romantika, which previously shuttled between Emden and Norway, will no longer sail for the time being. Ticket sales have also been discontinued. The ship is currently docked in Emden until it is clarified whether and how things will continue with the shipping company.
Cruise ferry MS Romantika from Holland Norway Lines (HNL)
Troubled times as the reason for the HNL imbalance
The reason given by Holland Norway Lines is that the shipping company has fallen on “troubled times” due to the “forced withdrawal” from the Dutch Eemshaven. The cruise ferry was previously stationed there and commuted to Norway every other day. The company has had to deal with “many cancellations and additional costs,” he said, “but also a significant impact on future bookings.”
Initially, the shipping company had looked forward to a “rosy future” after the new start in Cuxhaven and the subsequent relocation to Emden. “However, HNL needs more time to make up for the financial losses incurred earlier this year.”
The ferry is now moored in Emden harbor. Passengers from Norway who are stuck in Emden currently have to find an alternative connection on their own.
Alternative ferry routes for Emden-Kristiansand
If you are now looking for an alternative ferry connection for the Emden-Kristiansand route you have set, here are some suggestions:
| Route | Number of departures & Travel time |
Operator |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry Kiel – Oslo | 7 times a week 20 hours |
Color Line |
| Ferry Frederikshavn – Oslo | 7 times a week approx. 10 hours |
DFDS |
| Ferry Hirtshals – Bergen | 7 times a week 16 hours 30 minutes |
Fjord Line |
| Ferry Hirtshals – Kristiansand | 14 times a week approx. 3 hours |
Color Line & Fjord Line |
| Ferry Hirtshals – Larvik | 14 times a week 3 hours 45 minutes |
Color Line |
| Ferry Hirtshals – Stavanger | 7 times a week 10 hours 30 minutes |
Fjord Line |
Where do we go from here?
We can’t judge that yet. Under Dutch law, the shipping company has appointed an administrator to find solutions for the company and future sailings. The shipping company will provide further information on this and we will keep you up to date here.
Are you also affected or have an opinion on this topic? Then write it to us in the comments.
