LD Lines to introduce 112m wave-piercing ferry on Dover-Boulogne service

French ferry operator LD Lines will start operations of the largest fast ferry to run on the cross-channel route between the UK and France at the end of May. The Incat 112m ferry Norman Arrow has been long term bareboat chartered from London-based MGC Chartering, with a purchase option,

The fast ferry will be the first ever freight carrying high speed vessel to operate across the Dover Straits and LD Lines becomes the first French ferry company to operate fast ferries on the short sea routes from Dover. 

At nearly 11,000grt the 40 knot Norman Arrow is the world’s largest diesel powered catamaran and will provide significantly greater sea-keeping qualities and passenger comfort than earlier generation fast ferries operating from Dover. With a passenger capacity of 1,200 and the ability to carry up to 417 cars or 195 cars and 30 freight vehicles, LD Lines new fast ferry will make four return trips per day between Dover (Eastern Docks) and Boulogne from 29 May, with a crossing time of just one hour.

The introduction of the Norman Arrow is a major development for LD Lines, further emphasising the strategy of the French company to firmly establish its business on the cross channel routes from Dover, as managing Director, Christophe Santoni explains: ‘This is a very exciting, innovative step forward for LD Lines and with the introduction of this new high speed ferry, we will be dramatically revolutionising ferry transport across the channel, with a style of service never experienced before on the Dover Straits. We will be offering a unique, combined high speed and conventional ferry sailing frequency via the Boulogne service, providing great appeal and choice, to meet the demands of tourists and freight customers and create new markets.’

LD Lines told ‘Off Radar’ that it was very likely that the company would be adding further high speed vessels to its services in the near future.

With the introduction of the new fast ferry on the Dover-Boulogne run, LD Line’s conventional ferry Norman Spirit will remain on the company’s Portsmouth-Le Havre service and not move to Dover as originally planned.   Sphere: Related Content