Dart Line

Dart Line was established in 1996 by Jacobs Holdings PLC following the acquisition of Thames Europort at Dartford. Dart Line principally catered in the carriage of unaccompanied trailer traffic from Thames Europort, Dartford, United Kingdom to Vlissingen, Holland and Zeebrugge in Belgium.

The company was launched by Jacobs Holdings PLC on the 1st January 1996 taking over the Dartford to Vlissingen services previously operated by Sally Line. 

In February 1997 the company announced a new route from Dartford to Zeebrugge. In 1999 newer larger and faster vessels were added to the Zeebrugge service. In September 2001 the company launched a new service from Dartford to Dunkerque but this closed in 2004 following disappointing traffic levels.

In 2002 Dart Lines parent company Jacobs Holdings PLC was acquired by the South African industrial giant Bidvest, Jacobs was renamed Bidcorp PLC. In 2006 the Belgian transport company Cobelfret acquired the Dart Line operation from its South African owners for £59.5 million.