The DEU and DNK Chiefs of Defense just signed the next ARK agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) which will be valid from 2022. The new MOU aims for even larger capacity, more flexibility and will be open to other Partners.
Germany and Denmark have been working together on secured access to strategic sea transport since 2006. Commercial roll-on-roll-off ships are secured by long-term charter contracts and made available for use by both partners.
Right now, the ARK Project has (on call) secured access to 5 RoRo ships which are supplied by DFDS (ARK FUTURA, ARK DANIA, ARK GERMANIA, BRITANNIA SEAWAYS and SUECIA SEAWAYS} until 2021. The ships are specially designed to cover the needs of the German and Danish Defense.
In times when the ARK capacity is not needed for the Partners, the ships are chartered to other nations or to the commercial market. If e.g. the DEU military needs to transport equipment from DEU to the Baltics, a ship is taken out of its usual traffic and is dedicated to the DEU movement only and operated by ARK. When the task is completed, the ship returns to the commercial charter.
The new ARK agreement foresees an extended capacity equal to approx. one ship as well as a reduced activation period to meet VJTF requirements. Furthermore, it is made easier for other nations to join the ARK project in the future.
An EU tender on the market will open the possibility for new ships for the renewed ARK agreement 2022.
