LD Lines to start new Dover services mid-February

The recent demise of low-cost fast ferry operator SpeedFerries and its Dover (UK)-Boulogne (France) service has allowed French cross-channel ferry operator LD Lines to start its new Dover-Boulogne service almost six month earlier than scheduled. 

LD Lines will now start operations from Dover on 12 February, with new services linking Dover-Boulogne and Dover-Dieppe. The company will be using two conventional passenger/car/freight ferries on the new services, the 2006-built sisterships Cote d’Albatre and Seven Sisters. Both of these vessels currently operate on the Newhaven-Dieppe route under the Transmanche Ferries brand, which is part of the LD Lines ferry network. Cote d’Albatre and Seven Sisters can each carry 600 passengers and 300 cars, or 52 freight vehicles, or a combined of cars and freight. 

Operating from Dover’s Eastern Docks, the new Boulogne service will use the existing berth in the French port previously used by SpeedFerries. ‘We can clearly identify the strong commercial opportunities for a direct ferry link to be re-established between Dover and Boulogne following the departure of the previous operator and our research shows the demand is there from tourist passengers and freight customers, to bring forward the start of the service,’ said LD Lines’ managing director, Christophe Santoni. ‘A profitable ferry service must rely on a combination of passenger and freight business and by introducing a conventional ship to operate between Dover, Boulogne and Dieppe, both freight and tourist markets will have an extensive choice across our expanded route newtwork, said Mr. Santoni.

From 12 February, up to two return sailings a day will be provided between Dover and Boulogne, with a crossing time of 1hr 45 mins. One round-trip a day will operate between Dover and Dieppe, with a crossing time of 4hr 15 mins.
 
With construction of the Port of Boulogne’s new Hub Port Ro-Ro Terminal well advanced, as planned LD Lines will be inaugurating the new berth facilities with the addition of a second ship on the Dover route from 1 July this year. Sailing frequency between Dover and Boulogne will then increase from two to six return sailings daily.   Sphere: Related Content