Flensburg-based ferry operator FRS with over 60 owning vessels is buying L’Express des Îles, a leading maritime company in the Caribbean Sea.
This move is part of FRS’s strategic realignment, following the successful sale of FRS Iberia, with a focus on diversifying the range of offered routes.
“L’Express des Îles, as a leading player in the industry, aligns perfectly with FRS’s expansion plans,” reads the FRS statement, which adds that L’Express des Îles established position in the region presents a unique opportunity to strengthen ‘FRS’s service offering and to create synergies’.
Götz Becker, chief executive of FRS, said: “With the acquisition of L’Express des Îles, FRS continues our trajectory of growth. This acquisition not only reflects our commitment to international expansion but also our determination to gain a foothold in new markets.”
Headquartered at the Bergevin ferry terminal in Pointe-à-Pitre, the Guadeloupe-based maritime company L’Express des Îles, initially known as “Antilles Trans Express (ATE)” began by offering fast ferry services between the islands of Guadeloupe, Les Saintes, and Marie Galante, which are all French overseas territories.
In 1989, it expanded services to Martinique and Dominica, followed by St. Lucia in 1994.
Today, the company operates three high-speed catamarans in collaboration with its subsidiary, “Jeans for Freedom,” serving multiple national and international routes.
