Outgoing CEO Brian Thorsted Hansen and incoming CEO Heidi Nag Flikka

Fjord Line secures green refinancing and appoints new CEO for next growth phase

FerryNorwegian ferry operator Fjord Line announced a major refinancing agreement combined with a leadership transition, marking the start of a new strategic growth phase for the company. In early March 2026, existing owners Kontrari and West Coast Invest consolidated full ownership of Fjord Line. The two Norwegian family-owned companies have now strengthened the ferry operator’s financial position through a comprehensive refinancing of its debt and a fresh equity injection.

The new financing is structured as a green transition loan provided by DNB and Eksfin, rewarding the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and invest in sustainable operations.

“This capital injection gives us a strong starting point for continued development and sends a clear signal of Fjord Line’s ambitions,” said Chairman of the Board Peter Frølich. “Fjord Line’s qualification for this type of financing reflects the long-term work the company has done to reduce emissions and strengthen its position as a more sustainable operator in the ferry industry.”

Fjord Line, Norway’s second-largest international ferry company, has carried out extensive modernization and efficiency improvements in recent years. It operates daily sailings from Bergen, Stavanger, and Kristiansand to Hirtshals in Denmark, carrying around one million passengers annually.

Leadership change

The Board has also announced a change at the top. Current CEO Brian Thorsted Hansen will step down on 1 July 2026. He will be succeeded by Heidi Nag Flikka, who brings deep knowledge of the company, having served as Fjord Line’s CFO in 2019–2020 and as a board member since 2020.

Flikka joins from her position as Managing Director of Flekkefjord Sparebank. She holds a Master’s degree from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and has extensive experience in finance, marine, and offshore sectors.

“Heidi Nag Flikka has an in-depth knowledge of both the company and the industry, and brings strong competencies in finance, capital management and strategic leadership,” said Chairman Frølich. “We are confident she is the right person to lead Fjord Line into the next phase.”

Brian Thorsted Hansen, who led the company through the challenges of the pandemic, energy crisis, and changing market conditions, received thanks from the Board for strengthening Fjord Line’s operational and commercial platform and advancing its sustainability profile.

Fjord Line said the combination of full Norwegian ownership, strengthened finances, and new leadership provides a solid foundation for further development and growth in the competitive North Sea ferry market.

mar 26 2026