Denmark's government, Enhedslisten and Alternativet have agreed to set aside 25 million kroner to compensate the country's municipal island ferries for high fuel prices, the Ministry of City, Land and Transport said in a press release. The money will be divided according to the ferries' fuel consumption, according to Berlingske.
DR reported on Thursday that the municipal ferry company on Samsø expects to find an extra 650,000 kroner every month for fuel once its current fixed-price agreements expire. According to the ministry, the municipal subsidy allocation gives Samsø just over six million kroner.
"Ferries are the lifeblood of our islands, and the high fuel prices create major challenges," said the newly appointed minister for city, land and transport, Karina Lorentzen Dehnhardt of SF. "The government, together with Enhedslisten and Alternativet, is ready to compensate with 25 million kroner this year, so the large unexpected bills don't hit too hard."
Dehnhardt became minister on Tuesday, when it emerged that Signe Munk (SF) was stepping down because of stress.
Lars Hansen, chairman of Småøernes Færgeselskaber, warned earlier that the high prices would create economic problems on many islands. "It's pretty much everywhere," he said. "You've tried to protect your budgets with fixed-price agreements, but with the prices on the world market right now, it just goes up, up, up. It's worrying."
Earlier coverage
- Samsø Ferry Faces 7.2 Million Kroner Deficit (29 Oct 2026)
- Samsø Ferry Faces Up to 650,000 Kroner Monthly Fuel Bill (29 Oct 2026)