Strengthening a Trusted Partnership: Kässbohrer Delivers 75 Ferry Reefers to Smyril Line
Kässbohrer has delivered 75 Ferry Reefer semi-trailers, to Smyril Line, the shipping and freight forwarding company linking the North Atlantic and continental Europe. The delivery took place in Goch, Germany, with the participation of Mr. Halgir Dahl Olesen, Managing Director, Mr. René Dahl Olesen, Managing Director, and Mr. Frodi B. Poulsen, Equipment Manager at Smyril Line, and Mr. Mehmet Önen, Head of Key Account Management at Kässbohrer.
With 40 years of expertise in the North Atlantic, Smyril Line operates ferry and Ro-Ro transport services connecting the North Atlantic with continental Europe. The company plays a strategic role in regional supply chains under the demanding maritime and climatic conditions of the North Atlantic routes. Smyril Line provides specialized logistics solutions for fresh and frozen goods, heavy and oversized loads, unique and special cargo, as well as liquid goods and bulk materials. By utilizing Ro-Ro vessels for direct loading between the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Denmark, and the Netherlands, the company ensures the secure and efficient movement of wide range of goods from everyday retails items to complex industrial equipment.
With this latest delivery, Smyril Line’s total Kässbohrer fleet has reached more than 200 units. Smyril Line has expanded its Kässbohrer reefer fleet to 80 units in total, following the initial introduction of 5 Ferry Reefer units that were put into operation for 5 years validating their performance under demanding ferry and Ro-Ro conditions. In addition to the reefer fleet, Smyril Line currently operates more than 100 Kässbohrer extendable and fixed heavy-duty platforms for their heavy and oversized transport operations. Kässbohrer is proud to work with Smyril Line in the transport of heavy-duty, general cargo, and frozen goods with its proven robustness and functional semi-trailers, meeting their specific route and goods requirements.
Commenting on the new delivery, Mr. Frodi B. Poulsen, Equipment Manager at Smyril Line, stated:
“After investing in 5 Ferry Reefers and employing them in our Ro-Ro operations between Denmark, Iceland and the Faroe Islands for over 5 years, we have experienced firsthand the vehicles’ robustness, reliability, and performance. These routes are frequently exposed to harsh sea conditions and strong waves, requiring trailers with an exceptionally strong and durable chassis.
We proceeded with 75 additional Ferry Reefer investments with confidence. Kässbohrer Ferry Reefers provide structural strength, durability and reliability for ferry transport, ensuring high performance and secure operations on Ro-Ro vessels.
In addition, Kässbohrer engineers customized our vehicles with dedicated features for fish transportation, such as integrated fishwater tanks and a rear fishwater drainage channel. These features ensure hygienic operation, compliance with local regulations, and efficient handling of liquid waste during transport.
We have over 5 years of commendable experience employing Kässbohrer Ferry Reefers in our operations, we are confident the new investment will be fully employed in our operations for a long time.”
Speaking on behalf of Kässbohrer, Mr. Mehmet Önen, Head of Key Account Management, said:
“We are honored to enhance Smyril Line in their ferry and Ro-Ro transportation of general cargo and temperature-controlled goods between the North Atlantic and continental Europe. Embodying our motto ‘Enginuity’—engineering combined with ingenuity— our dedicated and competent engineering teams have worked with Smyril Line to develop the vehicles that meet their precise operational requirements conducted under harsh maritime conditions.
Our refrigerated trailer range, defined by Acclaimed Robustness and Top-Class Insulation, is engineered for structural durability and highest standard thermal performance. On our refrigerated vehicle platform, the delivered Ferry Reefers were further optimized for Smyril Line’s demanding ferry operations through dedicated chassis adaptations. In Europe’s top capability and capacity R&D centers, Smyril Line’s vehicles were validated with comprehensive vehicle simulations, validating structural integrity, Ro-Ro cornering, braking conditions as well as under extreme loading including 60 tons yielding safety margins. These first validations confirmed the trailer’s capability to perform reliably under the demanding operational conditions of the North Atlantic corridor and then with Smyril Line’s own experience of operating them.
For Smyril Line’s seafood specific requirements, the delivered Ferry Reefers, with Top Class Insulation, are equipped with dedicated hygiene-focused features, including integrated fishwater tanks and a rear fishwater drainage channel. These features ensure hygienic operation, compliance with local regulations, and efficient handling of liquid waste during daily transport cycles. The openable front panel wall facilitates the installation of the refrigeration unit inside the vehicle and provides easier access for cleaning this area, ensuring high hygiene standards while also enhancing operational flexibility under varying loading and ferry conditions.
The delivered Ferry Reefers ensure stable and reliable temperature control through top-class insulation with a K-value of 0.31 W/m²K and an advanced air circulation design. The acclaimed robust floor, accommodating 7.2-ton forklift axle loads ensure intensive loading and unloading operations during port and terminal handling.
Together, these features ensure consistent cold-chain performance, durability through frequent crossings, port operations, and the low-temperature and high-humidity conditions typical of North Atlantic routes.
We thank Smyril Line for their continued trust in Kässbohrer and look forward to continuing our partnership."
About Smyril Line
Smyril Line is a Faroe Island-based shipping and freight forwarding company specializing in ferry and Ro-Ro transportation between the North Atlantic and continental Europe. Serving as a key link in regional supply chains, the company transports a broad range of cargo, including trailers, general freight and temperature-controlled goods, under demanding maritime and climatic conditions. Through continuous investment in its fleet and operational infrastructure, Smyril Line ensures high reliability, safety and compliance across its ferry transport network.
About Kässbohrer
With over 125 years of engineering heritage, Kässbohrer is among the leading semi-trailer manufacturers in Europe. Guided by its motto “Enginuity” – the balance of engineering excellence and customer-focused ingenuity, Kässbohrer designs and manufactures vehicles for all sectors of the transport business, from cold chain and general cargo to intermodal, bulk, liquid, and heavy haulage. Kässbohrer supports its customers with advanced R&D capabilities, comprehensive testing infrastructure, and reliable after-sales services across Europe.