'We are delighted to be taking over such a historic ferry route with a history of over 500 years at the internationally renowned destination of Loreley and to be able to continue the Hammerl family's business,' explains Tim Kunstmann, Managing Director of the FRS Europe Division. 'Our aim is to continue the ferry service just as reliably as before and at the same time to optimally position it for the challenges of the coming decades.'

Fähre Loreley will remain under the proven management of the previous Managing Director Simon Lanius, who will continue to lead the company reliably into the future together with FRS. All of the company's employees will be taken on and the ferry service will continue seamlessly. 'We value the region and see great potential for further development here. The Loreley ferry is an important part of the infrastructure on the Middle Rhine,' emphasises Kunstmann.

The company is sending out a clear signal with its second takeover on the Middle Rhine in a short space of time: 'This takeover is a further step in our long-term commitment to the Rhine and the region. In addition to the potential, we also see the takeover as a great responsibility to secure important infrastructure for the people and tourists in the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley,' says Kunstmann.

Family business hands over to family business
The Loreley ferry looks back on over 230 years of family history, during which the company has always successfully mastered all challenges and ensured a reliable ferry connection directly on the Loreley. It is an important element of the infrastructure and a tourist attraction, as well as an inseparable part of the cultural identity of this unique cultural landscape. With the takeover, FRS is continuing this tradition.

Klaus Hammerl, who has managed the ferry line for the last few decades, believes that the future of the family business is in the best hands: 'FRS is itself a traditional family business and will ensure its continued existence and master the challenges of the future for our ferry line. In addition to size and experience, FRS also has the DNA of a ferry operator, without which a sustainable commitment is not possible. I am particularly pleased that the current Managing Director Simon Lanius will continue to develop the company together with FRS.'

© Shippax