Second super ferry for P&O cross channel service
February 9, 2012
P&O Ferries will throw down the gauntlet to rivals on the Dover-Calais trade today, with the launch on the route of the Spirit of France super-ferry.
It will join sister ship, Spirit of Britain, on the crossing.
The two super-ferries can each transport up to 160 lorries, double the capacity of other vessels the line has on the crossing. They can also carry 2,000 passengers and 195 cars.
Spirit of France will take the fleet P&O Ferries has on the Dover-Calais route to seven, including the freighter European Seaway. However, only six are likely to be in service at any one time, a spokesman told IFW.
Following the collapse of SeaFrance, P&O Ferries’ only maritime competitor on the straits will be DFDS, which in association with LD Lines will launch a Dover-Calais service on 17 February.
The P&O spokesman added: “We don’t underestimate the challenge from DFDS and are more than ready for it.
“We reckon the quality and flexibility of our programme of 30 round trips daily meets our freight customers’ requirements We aim to hold on to the new business we picked up when SeaFrance suspended its services.”
There is the prospect of a third player on the route, in the shape of Eurotunnel, which last month unveiled plans to operate a ferry service with a co-operative of former SeaFrance workers. However, no launch date has been announced.
The tunnel operator is interested in acquiring three SeaFrance ferries – the Rodin, Berlioz and freighter Nord Pas de Calais.
Courtesy of IFW
