DFDS act to plug gap left by SeaFrance
December 1, 2011
DFDS has today introduced an additional vessel on its Dunkirk-Dover route to ease the traffic congestion caused by SeaFrance suspending its services.
The Danish group has chartered the Norman Spirit (pictured) from LD Lines. It can carry 75 lorries, 1,850 passengers and 250 cars.
DFDS usually operates three vessels on the route, but it said the interruption of SeaFrance services had been “causing unexpected traffic pressure” and that current capacity had not been enough to avoid longer than usual waiting times at check-in in Dunkirk and Dover.
P&O has also increased its Channel services, re-introducing the European Seaway freighter to add to the five multi-purpose ferries it operates between Dover and Calais.
The European Seaway is currently operating three daily round trips and can carry up to 120 lorries per crossing.
An industry source told IFW: “In the past when SeaFrance’s services were affected by a strike or other reason, there was a very good chance of a serious impact on traffic.
“The present shutdown has not led to the same degree of congestion, which perhaps says something about the decline of the company.”
Meanwhile, the CFDT union which is piloting a takeover bid for SeaFrance by a workers co-operative, met French Transport minister Thierry Mariani in Calais yesterday.
“We told him that he must oblige SNCF [SeaFrance’s parent company] to face up to its responsibilities and pledge financial support,” a senior CFDT official said.
“We also called for round-table negotiations with the Nord Pas de Calais region and SNCF, because what we are witnessing is the destruction of a state company by its shareholder.”
Mariani told the union he was continuing “to explore all possible avenues” for SeaFrance.
“Give us a few more days to see if we can find a solution”, he said, but underlined that, ultimately, it would be the commercial court that would decide on the future of the ferry firm.
Courtesy of IFW
