Dfds dover/calais

• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  10 January 2012     12:50146574
  #1       report
  courtesy of rhys
  
  http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/DFDS-LD-Lines-open-new-ferry-route-Dover-Calais/story-14380038-detail/story.html
• Guest 698

  • Registered: 28 May 2010
  • Posts: 8,664
  10 January 2012     12:54146576
  #2       report
  Excellent news. I heard SNCF are offering jobs to some ex SF personnel so most people should be happy, not least P&O whose usual winter slack period will have been busier than planned with SF out of the market.
  I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  10 January 2012     13:25146580
  #3       report
  i can only think that dfds and ld lines have already done a deal with the french unions.
  
  they would not pour money in if the old habits were not addressed and guarantees given.
• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  10 January 2012     13:27146581
  #4       report
  We can already see LD Lines and DFDS working closely together on the Dunkerque route. The LD Lines ship Norman Spirit shown here in Dover (pictured recently) was drafted in to help DFDS after the demise of Seafrance...its in harbour now as I write.
  
  Might be an idea Howard to put that latest news link on the Seafrance thread too as the story is running along on there..
  
  

  
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Brian Dixon

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 23 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 23,940
  10 January 2012     17:14146612
  #5       report
  fine,ok.but what 2 ships are we talking about here,not forgetting there are 4 of them.
• Guest 718

  • Registered: 28 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 195
  10 January 2012     17:49146619
  #6       report
  Of the remaining (ex) Seafrance fleet I think it's agreed that the Rodin and Berlioz have been a great success. Less so is the Moliere. That leaves the freighter Nord Pas de Calais, which entered service in 1989, and has proven to be one of the most successful ships on the short channel route. When the time comes to dispose of the ships it will be interesting to see what prospective purchasers feel.
  
  .

  
• Ross Miller

  • Location: London Road, Dover
  • Registered: 17 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 3,707
  10 January 2012     20:42146649
  #7       report
  Ah but isnt the NPC part owned by the crew and just sails under the SF flag
  "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
  
  "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
  While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
• Guest 718

  • Registered: 28 Jun 2011
  • Posts: 195
  11 January 2012     12:45146700
  #8       report
  If this is so it must have been a development from the Seafrance re-capitalisation plan which was submitted by the French authorities to the European Commission early in 2009. One of the key changes was the proposed sale of the Nord Pas de Calais as it was considered the freight traffic she carried could be absorbed by the other three ships. At the time there was no indication that NPC was not wholly owned and operated by Seafrance.
  
  If there is a crew involvement in the ownership there's all the more reason for them to find a new owner/operator quickly.