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Latest ferry news for March 2009
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Channel ferry firm bids for rival
Date: 18 Mar 2009 Source: BBC NewsCross-Channel ferry operator SeaFrance could be taken over by Brittany Ferries through a new holding company after negotiations with LD Lines broke down.
If successful, it would acquire four or five of SeaFrance's vessels, which would continue in service sailing to Calais from the Kent port of Dover.
SeaFrance recently announced it could be axing up to 650 French jobs.
Brittany Ferries already operates five routes to France from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth and two to Spain.
It employs 2,500 staff, including 320 UK-based employees.
Union opposition
David Longden, managing director, said: "After 37 years of experience on the longer routes to France and Spain, this is an exciting opportunity to introduce Brittany Ferries' award-winning standards on Dover-Calais crossings, and to provide an even greater choice for our passengers and freight customers."
LD Lines, the newest ferry company operating between Dover and Boulogne and Dieppe, had been planning to make a formal bid for SeaFrance.
However, it revealed it had withdrawn its acquisition offer of a majority stake in SeaFrance, amid apparent union opposition.
SeaFrance's parent company SNCF declined to comment on Wednesday.
Portsmouth welcomes Channel's biggest ferry
Date: 13 Mar 2009 Source: Portsmouth.co.ukThe biggest passenger ship in the English Channel is set to begin a regular service from Portsmouth.
From Tuesday the Pont-Aven, Brittany Ferries' vast 2,400-passenger ship, will begin operating a weekly crossing from Portsmouth to Santander, north Spain, taking 24 hours to travel the 550-mile journey.
Managing director David Longden said: 'Portsmouth is easily accessible via an excellent road network for a huge number of people.
'The appeals of Spain are becoming more appreciated and, by providing a faster crossing, we believe we can grow the market.'
The speed of the nine-deck, 185m supership will make it the quickest sea crossing to Spain on the market, eight hours faster than its competitor services.
Previously, two sailings a week went from Plymouth, but the company has decided to move one to Portsmouth.
For more information, please visit the following pages:
- Brittany Ferries
- Ferries to Spain
- Portsmouth Ferry
- Ferry to Santander
Swansea Cork ferry talks ongoing
Date: 12 Mar 2009 Source: BBC News | WalesBackers aiming to refloat the Swansea to Cork ferry are in ongoing talks with the owner of a replacement boat.
During the last month they say over £2.5m in private money has been pledged towards the business venture.
A consortium has identified a 340-cabin ferry that could carry 1,400 passengers that would cost them around £9m.
Backers failed with a bid for the boat on Thursday but said negotiations were continuing and they were still hopeful of success.
The rest of the funds would come from bank loans, industry sources and grants.
The service which ceased in 2006 is estimated to be worth £70m to the combined economies of southern Wales and Ireland.
Investors on both sides of the Irish Sea have pledged funds.
The consortium said it was now vital people who pledged money should submit their cheques and cash.
Giant red nose for DFDS Ferry!
Date: 12 Mar 2009 Source: Travel MoleDFDS Seaways has put a giant six-metre diameter red nose on the bow of one of its cruise ferries to launch its Comic Relief fund raising campaign.
Believed to be the biggest red nose - ever - it was created to launch the cruise line's quest to raise money for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day.
The nose was positioned on the bow of DFDS Seaways’ 162-metre-long m.s. KING OF SCANDINAVIA cruise ferry at the International Ferry Terminal just outside Newcastle.
UK managing director John Crummie said: “Comic Relief is an incredibly worthwhile charity, and their work in the UK and Africa is inspirational.
"In this current economic climate, it is more important than ever to remember that there are those less fortunate than ourselves.
"Our donations are being collected not only this week but across the year, as we will donate money for every booking we have on our Comedy mini cruises to Amsterdam.”
Five pounds from every one of DFDS Seaways’ comedy cruise bookings throughout the year will go towards Comic Relief.
In addition, on March 12 and 13 there will be a collection of money from customers within the terminal and on board the two DFDS Seaways’ cruise ferries sailing between Newcastle and Amsterdam, including in the main foyers and bars.
To see a picture of the Red Nose please click here.
Lymington to Yarmouth ferry services cut
Date: 11 Mar 2009 Source: thisishampshire.netWightlink has been forced to axe some sailings on the Lymington to Yarmouth route as crews struggle to get to grips with the new ferries.
Problems associated with the controversial W-class vessels have caused several delays since the multi-million-pound craft were introduced two weeks ago today.
Now Wightlink has revised its timetable, cutting the number of sailings from 24 a day to 21.
The company hopes the reduction will ensure that the new ferries run according to the advertised times.
A Wightlink spokesman said: “We are still in a learning period with the new ferries. Masters are becoming more familiar with the vessels but we were not able to meet the turnaround time.”
The new timetable will remain in force until May 24, the day the previous schedule was due to be revised.
Some of the worst delays occurred at the start of the week when the new craft were withdrawn from service because they are currently barred from operating in the Lymington River if wind speeds exceed 30 knots.
As reported in the Daily Echo, Wightlink were able to use Cenred – the only C-class vessel still moored in Lymington.
However, the vessel’s safety certificate expires tomorrow, leaving Wightlink with no back-up ferry if the W-class boats are prevented from sailing.
The company says it hopes a new report due to be published this week will allow the new craft to operate in stronger winds.
Cross Channel Ferries 'make France an affordable option'
Date: 9 Mar 2009 Source: Maison de la FranceCross channel ferry links and rail services make France a good option for British people looking for an affordable break, according to an industry spokesman.
Jean-Pierre Courteau, director of government tourist office Maison de la France, said that the country is a "very inexpensive place to get to" for British travellers.
While he admitted that it will be difficult for the tourism industry to be profitable during the economic downturn, Mr Courteau said that the proximity of France makes it one of the most viable options for Brits travelling on a budget.
"You don't have to fly there, you can take the ferry or the train. France gives a good opportunity to travel on a budget," he said.
"I don't say that we are going to profit from the crunch and the financial situation but people who are aware of not flying and travelling on a budget will come to France this year."
Mr Courteau pointed out that, with about 11 million visitors every year, Britain is the most important source market for the French tourism industry.
For more information, please try the following links:
- Ferries to France
- France Guide
'Amazing response' to Swansea Cork ferry plan
Date: 4 Mar 2009 Source: newswales.co.ukCampaigners trying to raise nearly £3 million to resume a Swansea to Cork ferry service say they have been been overwhelmed by an 'amazing response.'
And they have been given a new deadline of March 10 to come up with the shortfall of cash needed to re-launch the service.
A Finnish bank ready to bankroll most of the money to purchase a new boat says it will give the fundraising effort extra time.
But more pledges from South Wales, Cork, and Kerry are still needed to meet the target within the new deadline.
The consortium urgently needs investors to pledge £9,000 each to get the ferry up and sailing.
They say a £9,000 investment will be secured against the purchase of the vessel and with the service anticipated to make a profit by year two it should offer a good direct return for investors.
The proposed ferry would carry 1,800 passengers and 500 cars. The new boat is expected to cost approaching £10 million, of which the co-operative will be expected to provide nearly £3 million.
A similar service was a profitable business from 1987 to 2006. Its sudden closure meant a loss of Irish visitors who brought £65 million to Swansea and West Wales hotels, pubs, restaurants and B&Bs.
Campaigners say the return of the service would translate into hundreds of jobs in Swansea Bay and the surrounding area, as well as in and around Cork.
Potential investors can now pledge online using the following bank details:
1. Account name: McGuire Desmond, Solicitors, 5 Lapps Quay, Cork
2. Account No.: 5753 0213
3. Sort Code: 90-27-68
4. IBAN: IE96BOFI90276857530213
5. Swift Code: BOFIIE2D
6. Reference: South West Tourism - CD/MH/2204.1
7. Bank of Ireland, 32 South Mall, Cork
To learn more about the proposed ferry and details of how to invest or help, visit www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com
Swansea Bay Futures Ltd -
Britanny Ferries joins bid for SeaFrance
Date: 2 Mar 2009 Source: Lloyds ListChannel ferry operator Brittany Ferries has joined compatriot Louis Dreyfus Armateurs in bidding to take over ailing Dover Strait ferry operator SeaFrance.
French secretary of state for transport Dominique Bussereau, who revealed the news today, said that Brittany Ferries had proposed a partial rather than a complete takeover of SeaFrance.
He gave no details but indicated that the offer made by Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, which submitted a formal offer to SeaFrance’s parent, French national rail operator SNCF, last week, had also been partial rather than total.
'The two are making SeaFrance offers which are not offers of complete takeover but of partial takeover at levels which they must determine,' he said.
Mr Bussereau revealed that he had already met the chairmen of Brittany Ferries and LDA, respectively Jean-Marc Roué and Philippe Louis-Dreyfus, as well as SNCF chairman Guillaume Pépy.
He said that he had told them that the government, which owns SNCF, would be looking into the situation at SeaFrance.
The ferry operator recently announced plans to axe up to 650 jobs among its 1,700-strong workforce as part of a plan to stop heavy loss-making.
LDA indicated, however, that it hoped to reduce the number of job losses substantially by merging SeaFrance and its own ferry subsidiary LD Lines into a new entity under the SeaFrance name.
Mr Bussereau said that a decision would have to be taken rapidly regarding the takeover offers for the company.
'This affair must be settled one way or another, with the greatest respect for the personnel, before the end of the month of March,' he said.
© Direct Ferries Ltd
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