The cost of ramping up its activities in the Mediterranean has caused DFDS' profit to shrink during the first quarter, despite a strong North Sea market.

Net profit after tax was DKK 120m for the period, down by almost 25% from the DKK 158m posted in the first quarter last year, the company's financial report shows.

"The continued expansion of our network drives DFDS’s growth in 2019 and beyond.