Project Overview
| Client | DFDS — Copenhagen-headquartered Danish ferry company |
| Vessels | MS Princess Seaways, DFDS Delft, DFDS Dunkerque, King Seaways |
| Sector | Marine — passenger ferry |
| Route | River Tyne, UK to Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Products supplied | 25 SOLASAFE® Type Approved roller sunscreens and 116 DIMMLITE® roller blinds for MS Princess Seaways. A further 116 roller blinds and sunscreens supplied to DFDS Delft, DFDS Dunkerque and King Seaways. |
| Supplied and installed by | Solar Solve Marine, South Shields, UK |
About DFDS
DFDS is one of Europe’s leading ferry operators, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. The company operates four ferry services from the UK, including the well-established route between the River Tyne in the north east of England and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. DFDS ferries have been arriving and departing from the River Tyne on an almost daily basis for decades, making the company a familiar and important maritime presence in the local area.
DFDS has been recognised at the World Travel Awards as Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator from 2012 to 2018 and World’s Leading Ferry Operator from 2011 to 2018, reflecting the high standards of service and operational excellence the company maintains across its fleet.
The Challenge
DFDS required a reliable supply of Type Approved anti-glare roller sunscreens for the navigation bridge windows and high-quality roller blinds for the crew accommodation areas on MS Princess Seaways. The order needed to be fulfilled and installed efficiently, minimising disruption to the vessel’s regular operational schedule on the Tyne to Amsterdam route.
The relationship between DFDS and Solar Solve had been established over several years through occasional orders, but over a concentrated three-month period the volume of orders escalated significantly. Solar Solve needed to meet this increased demand while maintaining the quality and service standards that DFDS had come to expect.
The Solution
Solar Solve manufactured and supplied the full order from its South Shields factory, with the additional advantage of being geographically close to the DFDS Tyne operations. This proximity meant that Solar Solve’s own team was able to cross to the other side of the river and install the products directly on board the vessels during their calls into the Tyne, providing a seamless supply and installation service.
Paul Hopkins, Solar Solve’s Sales and Marketing Executive, described the project:
“Over a 3 month period we received substantial orders for cruiseferry MS Princess Seaways from the company. In total we supplied and installed 116 DIMMLITE roller blinds to windows in the crew accommodation and 25 of Solar Solve’s Type Approved Brand leading SOLASAFE roller sunscreens to the windows on the navigation bridge.”
“Throughout the whole process of preparing the quotation, during the installation and after completing the work we regularly received positive feedback from DFDS personnel relating to the quality of our products and service. I was personally involved with all aspects of the order, including some of the installation and it was a nice job to be associated with and for a friendly company.”
Products Used
SOLASAFE® Type Approved Roller Sunscreens — Navigation Bridge
25 SOLASAFE® cassette-mounted roller sunscreens were installed at the navigation bridge windows of MS Princess Seaways. SOLASAFE® is Solar Solve’s Type Approved anti-glare screen, holding certification from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA. The screens reduce solar glare by up to 93% and heat by up to 87% while maintaining a completely clear, undistorted outward view for the officer of the watch at all times. View the SOLASAFE® product page for full specifications.
DIMMLITE® Roller Blinds — Crew Accommodation
116 DIMMLITE® non-cassette dimout fabric roller blinds were installed at crew accommodation windows throughout MS Princess Seaways. DIMMLITE® provides effective light reduction for crew rest areas, supporting crew wellbeing during daylight rest periods on ferries operating continuous schedules. All DIMMLITE® blinds use flame retardant fabric meeting IMO FTP Code fire safety standards.
The Outcome
The project was completed successfully across a three-month period, with Solar Solve fulfilling substantial orders for MS Princess Seaways alongside additional orders for DFDS Delft, DFDS Dunkerque, and King Seaways, totalling a further 116 roller blinds and sunscreens across those vessels.
The feedback received from DFDS personnel throughout the project was consistently positive, reflecting satisfaction with both product quality and the service experience. Members of the on-board DFDS team shared the following comments with Solar Solve:
“I’m glad you can come so soon.”
“I think this is splendid result. If we can move on with this speed, then I would be very satisfied.”
“It went smooth today and your guys were very punctual. It is also a pleasure to cooperate with you.”
“That is fantastic.”
“We enjoyed cooperation and communication very much. Most important, the crew is happy with the window blinds, so good job!”
These responses reflect the consistently positive customer experience that Solar Solve aims to deliver on every order, from initial enquiry through to completed installation.
Key Results
- 141 products supplied and installed across MS Princess Seaways in a three-month period
- A further 116 roller blinds and sunscreens supplied to DFDS Delft, DFDS Dunkerque, and King Seaways during the same period
- Type Approved SOLASAFE® sunscreens installed on the navigation bridge, meeting IMO visibility requirements and classification society compliance
- IMO FTP Code compliant DIMMLITE® blinds installed in crew accommodation, supporting crew wellbeing on continuous schedule ferry operations
- Supply and installation completed by Solar Solve’s own team from the South Shields factory, using the geographic advantage of the company’s Tyne base
- Consistent positive feedback received from DFDS personnel throughout the project
To read what other vessel operators say about Solar Solve’s products and service, visit the Solar Solve testimonials page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What products did Solar Solve supply to DFDS?
Solar Solve supplied 116 DIMMLITE roller blinds for crew accommodation windows and 25 SOLASAFE Type Approved roller sunscreens for the navigation bridge windows on MS Princess Seaways. During the same period, Solar Solve also supplied a further 116 roller blinds and sunscreens to DFDS for other vessels in the fleet including DFDS Delft, DFDS Dunkerque, and King Seaways.
Who is DFDS?
DFDS is a Copenhagen-headquartered Danish ferry company and one of Europe’s leading ferry operators. DFDS operates four ferry services from the UK, including the route between the River Tyne and Amsterdam. The company has been recognised as Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator from 2012 to 2018 and World’s Leading Ferry Operator from 2011 to 2018 at the World Travel Awards.
Are SOLASAFE sunscreens Type Approved for use on passenger ferries?
Yes. SOLASAFE sunscreens hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA, making them the only marine anti-glare sunscreen in the world to hold simultaneous certification from all four leading classification societies. This makes SOLASAFE the appropriate and compliant specification for navigation bridge windows on DFDS passenger ferries and all other commercial vessels.
Did Solar Solve install the blinds on the DFDS vessels?
Yes. Because the DFDS vessels operate on the River Tyne route and Solar Solve is based in South Shields on the River Tyne, Solar Solve’s own team was able to supply and install the blinds directly on board the vessels during their calls into the Tyne, including crossing to the other side of the river to carry out the installation work.
How can I order SOLASOLV® products for my ferry or passenger vessel?
Contact Solar Solve Marine directly at sales@solasolv.com or call +44 191 454 8595. You can also use the ordering and quote page on the Solar Solve website. Solar Solve manufactures every screen and blind to the specific window dimensions of your vessel.
