Inaugral voyage for new Calais-Dover service
February 14, 2012
Ex-SeaFrance staff will make up the crew of the Norman Spirit (pictured) when DFDS-LD Lines launches its Calais-Dover service on Friday, a senior official has confirmed to IFW.
Around 40 former SeaFrance seafarers will be aboard the ferry when it makes its maiden crossing, while another 35 will be occupying land-based posts. And a further 40 will join the five-times daily round-trip service soon after the launch.
The recruitment of an additional 150 ex-SeaFrance workers will be confirmed as soon as a second vessel for the service can be found, the LD LInes official said.
LD Lines had been looking to deploy the Côte d’Albâtre ferry on the Calais-Dover crossing. It is currently laid up in Dieppe and is one of two vessels operated by LD Lines between the Normandy port and Newhaven.
However, the Seine-Maritime Council, which owns these vessels, has refused LD Lines’ request to charter the Côte d’Albâtre for the Calais-Dover crossing – reportedly out of fear that it may trigger accusations of public aid and unfair competition from rival operators Eurotunnel and P&O.
“The search goes for a second vessel and we have a number of potential candidates in our sights and are hoping to secure one as soon as possible,” the official added.
Meanwhile, 450 other former SeaFrance workers are each contributing €30,000 to a co-operative to launch its own Calais-Dover ferry service in partnership with Eurotunnel.
A spokesman for the co-operative said: “These contributions are in the form of a job creation bonus totalling €25,000 and €5,000 from workers’ severance payments, and will put a total of €13.5 million at the co-operative’s disposal.”
Eurotunnel’s plans, reported by IFW last month, focus on the possible acquisition of three of SeaFrance’s ferries, Rodin, Berlioz and freighter Nord Pas de Calais.
The assessment and valuation of the vessels is expected this week, paving the way for purchase offers to be submitted.
The co-operative spokesman added: “We are hopeful things will have moved forward significantly in terms of the acquisition of the vessels and our negotations with Eurotunnel, by late February/early March.”
Courtesy of IFW
