FRS GmbH & Co KG (formerly Förde Reederei Seetouristik, also operating internationally as Fast Reliable Seaways), 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.
Subsidiaries Ferry operators ÆrøXpressen, connecting the island of Ærø to the Danish mainland Clipper Navigation, Inc., of Seattle, Washington, acquired in 2016 FRS Helgoline, serving Heligoland and the lower Elbe FRS Syltfähre, connecting the German island of Sylt and the Danish island of Rømø National Ferries Company, operating in Oman Reederei Hiddensee, a subsidiary of Weiße Flotte, serving the island of Hiddensee Weiße Flotte, with service in the Baltic Sea, as well as electric ferries for passengers in Berlin and Wolfsburg
Other services Albanian Ferry Terminal Operator, managing ports on the Adriatic Sea FRS Iberia/Maroc, operating in the Strait of Gibraltar, Canary Islands and Balearic Islands (sold to DFDS in September 2023). FRS Offshore, an operator of offshore service vessels along the north coast of Germany FRS Windcat Offshore Logistics, a joint venture with Windcat Workboats FRS Ship Management, providing crewing and software
Fleet
Fast Ferries (vehicle and passenger)
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)
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 MV Victoria Clipper V, operated by Clipper Navigation, Inc. (since 2018), prior HSC HSC MV San Juan Clipper, operated by Clipper Navigation, Inc. (1990-2025), prior HSC HSC MV Emerald Clipper, operated by Clipper Navigation, Inc. (since 2026) HSC , 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
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
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
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
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)
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
MY Störtebeker, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1993) MY Pirat, operated by Reederei Hiddensee GmbH (since 1993)
Icebreaker
Swanti, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH
Hovercraft-Boat
Nordic Jet, operated by Nordic Jetline
Rowing boat
Paule III, operated by Weiße Flotte GmbH (since 2015)
Fleet of operated vessels 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
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, Cuxhaven–Heligoland HSC Halunder Jet (2003-2017) summer season (March - October) Stralsund, Schaprode, Zingst, Wiek–Hiddensee 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 Wittow 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 – VitteMF Vitteyear-round servicePort round-trips in StralsundMS Hanseblickyear-round serviceSassnitz-Mukran – Trelleborg, SwedenHSC Skane Jet summer season (March - October)Turku Archipelago / Lake Saimaa, FinlandMS Vikare and Nestoriyear-round serviceTurku Archipelago, FinlandMS Nordic Duckyear-round servicePargas Route, FinlandHovercraft Nordic Jetwinter seasonAlgeciras, Spain – Tanger-Med, MoroccoMF Tanger Expressyear-round serviceTarifa, Spain – Tanger, MoroccoHSC Tarifa Jetyear-round serviceAlgeciras, Spain – Ceuta, Spain (enclave in Morocco)HSC Ceuta Jetyear-round serviceGibraltar – Tanger Med, MoroccoMF Kattegatyear-round serviceMotril, Spain – Tanger Med, MoroccoAl Andalus Expressyear-round serviceAlcudia, Spain – Ciutadella, SpainTarifa Jetyear-round serviceIbiza, Spain – Formentera, SpainSan Gwannyear-round serviceMuscat – KhasabHSC Jawharat Masirah and Shannahyear-round serviceMuscat – KhasabHSC Hormuz and Shinasyear-round serviceMuscat – KhasabHSC Al Hallaniyat, Sawqrah and Masirah 4year-round serviceSeattle, Washington, United States – Victoria, BC, CanadaHSC MV Victoria Clipper V, and HSC MV San Juan Clipperyear-round serviceVictoria, BC, Canada – Vancouver, BC, CanadaHSC MV Victoria Clipper Vyear-round serviceMiami, USA – Bimini, BahamasHSC San Gwannyear-round service (discontinued 2019)
References
External links FRS Holding official site (en|de) Spain-Morocco traffic (en|de|fr|es) Nordic Jet Line Estonia-Finland traffic (en|fi|ee) Rømø-Sylt ferry traffic (de|da) Island Helgoland traffic (de) Weiße Flotte GmbH (de) Island Hiddensee traffic (de) Consultancy for ferry operations by FRS (en)