The house flag of the United Steamship Co., Copenhagen. A rectangular blue flag with a white Maltese cross. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope and clip is attached.


The DFDS was formed in Copenhagen in 1866 by Carl Frederik Tietgen through the merger of several small Danish companies as Det. Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab A/S (The United Steamship Co.) From 1894 the company began running services to the United States and from 1907 to Argentina (later extended to Brazil). Numerous Scandinavian companies were taken over. The Thingvalla Line was absorbed in 1898 and continued services between Scandinavia and USA as the Scandinavia - America Line. DFDS ran passenger services to New York from 1898 until 1935 when business had declined due to the depression. In 1903, French and Russian subsidiary companies were formed and ships transferred to them. During the 1980’s DFDS took over Tor Line and Prinz Ferries. It still operates passenger services between the Baltic and Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland and the UK and freight routes to North and South America and the Mediterranean. (Research: I. Deusi)