Disko Line has two key tasks, which consist of passenger transport on self-management contracts and charters, and tourism, states Noélle Simoud, who is commercial director. But the shipping company’s use of its own tourism departments creates unequal competition, believes a local politician. 

Disko Line A/S, which operates under a ten-year service contract with the Greenland Self-Government for passenger transport in Disko Bay, Central Greenland and South Greenland, is a central player in the region’s transport and tourism infrastructure. The company also operates a tourism division called Disko Line Explorer, which offers adventure tours in and around Disko Bay.

In South Greenland, the sister company Blue Ice Explorer is responsible for package tours and tourist experiences.

Disko Line A/S, which operates under a ten-year service contract with the Greenland Self-Government for passenger transport in Disko Bay, Central Greenland and South Greenland, is a central player in the region’s transport and tourism infrastructure. The company also operates a tourism division called Disko Line Explorer, which offers adventure tours in and around Disko Bay.

Announcement

In South Greenland, the sister company Blue Ice Explorer is responsible for package tours and tourist experiences.

All three companies – Disko Line, Disko Line Explorer and Blue Ice Explorer – are part of the joint group Topas Explorer Group ApS, which, according to Noélle Simoud, Commercial Director at Disko Line, collectively works to develop sustainable tourism and transport in Greenland.

And foreign tourists who buy package tours to Greenland through these tour companies use Disko Line’s vessels, which are also used for passenger transport. This means that Disko Line stands on two legs – one of which is scheduled shipping under a self-governing contract, and the other is charter and tourism, according to Disko Line A/S.

But Aqqa Samuelsen, Siumut, who is a member of the municipal council in the Municipality of Qeqertalik, believes that Disko Line should separate the service contract with the self-government for passenger transport and the tourism business from each other, as he believes that this creates unequal competition for local tourism players.

Does not affect passenger transport

According to Noélle Simoud, Disko Line A/S collaborates with a number of travel agents, including Topas Travel, which offers package tours to Disko Bay and other destinations in Greenland. However, she does not wish to disclose how many tourists use Disko Line’s vessels, which are used for passenger transport.

– We are experiencing increasing interest in Greenland, but we generally do not provide specific figures about partners.

– Our vessels are used both for public passenger transport under a service contract with the self-government and also for charter sailing. This form of tourist sailing is planned and carried out so that it does not affect regular passenger transport, she says.

She also states that the service contract is not based on vessels, but on a minimum number of departures to and from the various destinations, and that they plan and optimize their route plans according to demand.

– As previously mentioned, our frequencies are based on demand – this plays an important role in how often we can operate the individual routes on a given day or week, emphasizes Noélle Simoud.

Disko Line also has a collaboration with several local tourist operators.

– These collaborations, which we greatly appreciate, are crucial for us to maintain stable and reliable operation of our routes in Central Greenland and South Greenland, she says.

According to her, the local partners have extensive knowledge of the geographical and logistical conditions in the area, and they play an important role in ensuring that Disko Line’s passengers arrive at their destinations safely and most efficiently.

Opportunity for tourism business 

Disko Line’s tourism department Disko Line Explorer is part of the same website ww.diskoline.gl, where passengers buy their tickets, and Noélle Simoud states that they are aware that there are different opinions on the organization of tourism and transport in the region.

– Disko Line has chosen a unified digital platform for the sake of clarity and customer service. We strive to ensure transparency. Our website is continuously updated, with the focus on scheduled services. This means that we are continuously making improvements so that ticket purchases and everything related to a trip are as user-friendly as possible.

– It is important to emphasize that Disko Line is not limited to the activities under the service contract alone. As a company, we also have the opportunity to operate tourism-related businesses, which contributes to our being able to have a more flexible and robust fleet by having more boats and ships, she says, emphasizing that this is an advantage, especially when technical challenges arise, and ensures stable operations for the benefit of both passengers and local communities.

Disko Line’s management believes that all efforts are needed to meet the growth and expectations associated with future tourism in the region, and the shipping company sees it as its task to support and contribute positively to this development. Disko Line’s service contract with the self-government expires at the end of 2030, and it is still too early for the shipping company to make a concrete statement about a possible re-tender, but Noélle Simoud says that they are following the process closely and will respond to it when the time comes.

Critik af Disko Line

Aqqa Samuelsen, Siumut, who is a member of the municipal council of the Municipality of Qeqertalik, believes that Disko Line should prioritize the local community much more than tourism-related activities.

– On behalf of the local community in Disko Bay, we would like to draw attention to the fact that Disko Line has become a very large player in tourism, which is a problem. Local residents are not given sufficient priority, and they experience that the routes are primarily adapted to the tourist season and the needs of tourists, he says.

– Disko Line plays a crucial role in our region. We recognize the logistical challenges due to Arctic conditions, but we want a dialogue on how the service can be better adapted to the local population, says Aqqa Samuelsen.

According to the cooperation agreement in the current Naalakkersuisut coalition consisting of Demokraatit, Inuit Ataqatigiit, Siumut and Atassut, based on the new traffic structure, the service contracts will be looked at with a view to revising them in favor of locals, and it is also emphasized that operators of service contracts do not compete against private companies both in the tourism area and in connection with other services.

Disko Line A/S, which operates under a ten-year service contract with the Greenland Self-Government for passenger transport in Disko Bay, Central Greenland and South Greenland, is a central player in the region’s transport and tourism infrastructure. The company also operates a tourism division called Disko Line Explorer, which offers adventure tours in and around Disko Bay.

In South Greenland, the sister company Blue Ice Explorer is responsible for package tours and tourist experiences.

Disko Line A/S, which operates under a ten-year service contract with the Greenland Self-Government for passenger transport in Disko Bay, Central Greenland and South Greenland, is a central player in the region’s transport and tourism infrastructure. The company also operates a tourism division called Disko Line Explorer, which offers adventure tours in and around Disko Bay.

Announcement

In South Greenland, the sister company Blue Ice Explorer is responsible for package tours and tourist experiences.

All three companies – Disko Line, Disko Line Explorer and Blue Ice Explorer – are part of the joint group Topas Explorer Group ApS, which, according to Noélle Simoud, Commercial Director at Disko Line, collectively works to develop sustainable tourism and transport in Greenland.

And foreign tourists who buy package tours to Greenland through these tour companies use Disko Line’s vessels, which are also used for passenger transport. This means that Disko Line stands on two legs – one of which is scheduled shipping under a self-governing contract, and the other is charter and tourism, according to Disko Line A/S.

But Aqqa Samuelsen, Siumut, who is a member of the municipal council in the Municipality of Qeqertalik, believes that Disko Line should separate the service contract with the self-government for passenger transport and the tourism business from each other, as he believes that this creates unequal competition for local tourism players.

Does not affect passenger transport

According to Noélle Simoud, Disko Line A/S collaborates with a number of travel agents, including Topas Travel, which offers package tours to Disko Bay and other destinations in Greenland. However, she does not wish to disclose how many tourists use Disko Line’s vessels, which are used for passenger transport.

– We are experiencing increasing interest in Greenland, but we generally do not provide specific figures about partners.

– Our vessels are used both for public passenger transport under a service contract with the self-government and also for charter sailing. This form of tourist sailing is planned and carried out so that it does not affect regular passenger transport, she says.

She also states that the service contract is not based on vessels, but on a minimum number of departures to and from the various destinations, and that they plan and optimize their route plans according to demand.

– As previously mentioned, our frequencies are based on demand – this plays an important role in how often we can operate the individual routes on a given day or week, emphasizes Noélle Simoud.

Disko Line also has a collaboration with several local tourist operators.

– These collaborations, which we greatly appreciate, are crucial for us to maintain stable and reliable operation of our routes in Central Greenland and South Greenland, she says.

According to her, the local partners have extensive knowledge of the geographical and logistical conditions in the area, and they play an important role in ensuring that Disko Line’s passengers arrive at their destinations safely and most efficiently.

Opportunity for tourism business 

Disko Line’s tourism department Disko Line Explorer is part of the same website ww.diskoline.gl, where passengers buy their tickets, and Noélle Simoud states that they are aware that there are different opinions on the organization of tourism and transport in the region.

– Disko Line has chosen a unified digital platform for the sake of clarity and customer service. We strive to ensure transparency. Our website is continuously updated, with the focus on scheduled services. This means that we are continuously making improvements so that ticket purchases and everything related to a trip are as user-friendly as possible.

– It is important to emphasize that Disko Line is not limited to the activities under the service contract alone. As a company, we also have the opportunity to operate tourism-related businesses, which contributes to our being able to have a more flexible and robust fleet by having more boats and ships, she says, emphasizing that this is an advantage, especially when technical challenges arise, and ensures stable operations for the benefit of both passengers and local communities.

Disko Line’s management believes that all efforts are needed to meet the growth and expectations associated with future tourism in the region, and the shipping company sees it as its task to support and contribute positively to this development. Disko Line’s service contract with the self-government expires at the end of 2030, and it is still too early for the shipping company to make a concrete statement about a possible re-tender, but Noélle Simoud says that they are following the process closely and will respond to it when the time comes.

Critik af Disko Line

Aqqa Samuelsen, Siumut, who is a member of the municipal council of the Municipality of Qeqertalik, believes that Disko Line should prioritize the local community much more than tourism-related activities.

– On behalf of the local community in Disko Bay, we would like to draw attention to the fact that Disko Line has become a very large player in tourism, which is a problem. Local residents are not given sufficient priority, and they experience that the routes are primarily adapted to the tourist season and the needs of tourists, he says.

– Disko Line plays a crucial role in our region. We recognize the logistical challenges due to Arctic conditions, but we want a dialogue on how the service can be better adapted to the local population, says Aqqa Samuelsen.

According to the cooperation agreement in the current Naalakkersuisut coalition consisting of Demokraatit, Inuit Ataqatigiit, Siumut and Atassut, based on the new traffic structure, the service contracts will be looked at with a view to revising them in favor of locals, and it is also emphasized that operators of service contracts do not compete against private companies both in the tourism area and in connection with other services.