Denmark's Feggesund ferry, a vital link between Mors and Thy in North Jutland, faces likely closure after a key committee voted to exit its funding agreement. Thisted Municipality's Economic Committee voted 4-2 on Wednesday to withdraw from the Mors-Thy Ferry Service company, a decision Mayor Niels Jørgen Pedersen says will likely be confirmed by the full council later this month.
The Economic Rationale Behind the Vote
Mayor Niels Jørgen Pedersen laid out the core financial argument driving the move. "My position is that the 2.5 to three million kroner we spend annually on the ferry service is better spent on local welfare," he said. The decision highlights a growing tension in regional Denmark between maintaining historic transport links and allocating scarce public funds to core services. The mayor emphasized the declining local usage, noting, "There are not many citizens in Thisted Municipality who use it - it is more important for Mors."
Passenger data starkly illustrates the service's decline. From 2015 to 2025, annual ferry passengers fell from nearly 140,000 to 93,000. The number of passenger cars crossing plummeted from just over 74,000 to around 45,000 in the same decade. The municipal administration's report to politicians pointed to changing automotive economics as a key driver. "One of the biggest problems for the crossing is that small, cheap microcars and now electric cars are so cheap to run that it is difficult to argue there is an economic benefit to using the crossing," the report stated.
Subsidies Set to Soar as Traffic Dwindles
With revenue falling, public subsidies are projected to rise significantly. Thisted Municipality owns 36% of the ferry company, with Morsø Municipality holding the remaining 64%. The financial projections are clear. For 2026, Morsø's expected subsidy will rise to 4.15 million kroner from 3.14 million in 2024. Thisted's share is projected to jump to 2.33 million kroner in 2026, up from 1.76 million. This increasing financial burden for a service with declining patronage formed the bedrock of the committee's decision.
The vote in the Economic Committee followed a different outcome in the Technical Committee, where a narrow majority favored upholding the agreement. The final decision now rests with the Thisted City Council, which will consider the matter on January 27. Mayor Pedersen sees little chance of reversal. "And it would surprise me very much if the result of the vote in the city council is different," he stated.
Two Potential Paths Forward
If Thisted Council confirms the withdrawal, two scenarios emerge. The municipality could completely abandon its involvement in the ferry crossing. Alternatively, the move could trigger a renegotiation of the agreement, where Thisted's financial contribution is substantially reduced. A formal exit from the agreement would take effect on January 1, 2027, providing a two-year transition period.
The potential closure raises questions about regional connectivity and the long-term viability of smaller, fixed-link ferry services in an era of efficient, low-cost road vehicles. The service connects Nordmors on Mors island to Hannæs on the Thy peninsula, a shortcut that becomes less economically attractive as vehicle operating costs decrease.
| Metric | 2015 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Passengers | ~140,000 | 93,000 | -33.6% |
| Passenger Cars | ~74,000 | ~45,000 | -39.2% |
| Thisted Subsidy (2024/2026 est.) | N/A | 1.76m / 2.33m kr | +32.4% |
A Regional Lifeline or a Fiscal Burden?
The debate encapsulates a classic challenge for rural municipalities: funding infrastructure that may be more critical for a neighboring area. The mayor's comments underscore this, framing the expenditure as a subsidy from Thisted taxpayers that primarily benefits residents of Mors. The diverging committee votes—Technical for retention, Economic for withdrawal—highlight the conflict between operational practicality and fiscal responsibility.
The administration's report explicitly frames the issue as a matter of public value for money. With cheaper personal transportation eroding the ferry's economic rationale for users, justifying increased public subsidy becomes politically fraught. The committee's decision suggests local politicians are prioritizing direct community welfare services over indirect support for regional transport infrastructure.