LD Lines new service
- 20 April 2009 08:3019803Just received this from LD LInes PR Supremo. Nick Stevens
NEWS RELEASE 20 April 2009
LD LINES TO INTRODUCE BRAND NEW REVOLUTIONARY FAST FERRY
TO DOVER - BOULOGNE ROUTE
LD Lines has announced the launch of the largest ever fast ferry to operate on the cross channel routes between England and France, with the introduction of a brand new, high speed Incat 112 metre Wave-Piercing Catamaran to its Dover - Boulogne service from 29 May 2009.
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-ever French ferry company to operate high speed ferries on the short sea routes from Dover. The vessel is also the world's largest diesel-powered catamaran and it will be the first Incat 112 metre to operate in Europe.
At nearly 11,000 gross tonnes, the new craft is one of the largest vessels yet built by Incat, providing significantly greater seakeeping qualities and passenger comfort than earlier generation fast ferries familiar to Dover Strait, cross channel passengers.
LD Lines new Dover-Boulogne service will be greatly enhanced as the new fast ferry will increase frequency from the current two to six return sailings daily. All types of tourist traffic will be carried including cars, caravans, motorhomes, motorcycles, coaches and foot passengers, in addition to freight.
The fast ferry will operate up to four return sailings daily between Dover (Eastern Docks) and Boulogne with a crossing time of 1 hour ; from Dover at 0415 ; 0745 ; 1230 and 1900 and from Boulogne at 0700 ; 1045 ; 1700 and 2230.
Two return sailings daily to Boulogne and one to Dieppe (Monday - Friday) will continue to be operated by the conventional ferry, which introduced the earlier than planned start of the new Dover - Boulogne service in February 2009. Crossing time by conventional ferry is 1 hour 45 minutes.
Both vessels will initially operate into the Port of Boulogne's existing ferry berths, but following completion of Boulogne's new Hub Port Ro Ro Terminal from 1 July 2009, both will then transfer to inaugurate and operate into the first linkspan of the new Hub Port Terminal.
The introduction of LD Lines' first-ever fast ferry is a major development for the company, further emphasising the strategy 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 tourist and freight customers and create new markets."
Commenting on the expansion of the Dover - Boulogne service with a brand new fast ferry, Francis Leroy, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Boulogne-sur-Mer Cote d'Opale, said, " By creating the new Hub Port Terminal, the commercial port of Boulogne is positioning itself strongly within the ferry transport market. For the port of Boulogne this new service is a new step in the development of rapid links."
The introduction of the new high speed ferry to operate with the conventional ferry on the Dover - Boulogne service, will now mean that the ship "Norman Spirit" will remain on LD Lines' Portsmouth - Le Havre route. This ship had previously been expected to operate the service to Boulogne's new Ro Ro terminal from 1 July 2009.
LD Lines' ferry route network comprises Portsmouth - Le Havre ; Rosslare (Southern Ireland) - Le Havre ; Newhaven - Dieppe ; Dover - Boulogne and Dover - Dieppe.
Dover - Boulogne fares start from £24 one way and short break day returns from £28 for a car and four passengers. For more service information, sailing schedules and to book : www.ldlines.com or call : 0844 576 8836
UK Press Contact : Nick Stevens - LD Lines & Boulogne Chamber of Commerce / Port of Boulogne
Incat 112 metre / Hull 066 :
The fast ferry is the latest vessel in the 112 metre range from Incat, and has been specifically designed for the European ferry market. The new craft will operate at speeds of approximately 40 knots providing capacity for up to 417 cars or 567 lane metres of truck space and 195 cars. The accommodation is designed to cater for up to 1200 passengers in high levels of stylish comfort.
Technical details : Builder : Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd
Length overall : 112.60 metres
Beam (moulded) : 30.50 metres
Draft : approx : 3.93 metres
Speed : approx 40 knots
Deadweight : 1000 tonnes - high speed operation
1000 -1450 tonnes - reduced speed 'cargo-only' operation
Passengers : 1200 including crew
Vehicles : 567 metres of freight plus 195 cars or total of 417 cars
Machinery Installations
Main engines : 4 x resiliently mounted MAN 28/33D marine diesel engines, each rated 9000 kW at 1000rpm and consuming <190g/kWh : Emissions : <10g/kWh
More information : www.incat.com.au for images of craft at sea trials and interiors click on "Top of the News" panel ; click on Photos ; click on Hull 066 :
Moving images also available of 112 metre fast ferry technology - click on Video Gallery ; click on Incat Promotional DVD Evolution 112 ; also click on 112m Truck Turning Trial
Incat Press Contacts : Justin Merrigan - jmerrigan@incat.com.au
Kim Clifford - kclifford@incat.com/au
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That's a lot of investment from LD Lines; it also means of course that the French people will be able to get to Dover quicker - just one hour, making the leaflet I am producing, to encourage them to come here, even more important to local businesses and the historic sites and attractions.
Roger - 20 April 2009 08:3319804Glad this has turned up, there has been the rumour flying around for a few weeks that the new Incat could be destined for Dover
Been nice knowing you :) - 20 April 2009 10:5519820Great news!
- 20 April 2009 11:0619822Is it the same class of cat that stena lines use to get to Belfast, i hope so as its superbbeer the food of the gods
- 20 April 2009 14:4219830Take footies as well, so it seems. Brilliant! Boulogne's the place.
(Great news, Nick - that's my brother for you!) - 20 April 2009 15:5619834Any chance of a forumites off peak day trip?Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 20 April 2009 17:4519842This not only good news for Boulogne with lots from Dover and (potentially) the rest of England going there, but with this new leaflet I'm producing in conjunction with LD Lines, there should be a lot more French people coming to Dover - to the benefit of our shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes, as well as the historic sites and attractions and of course LD Lines, so a win, win situation all round.
But by goodness, aren't some businesses hard to convince, even when the cost is so low. (the most expensive is just £70). 10,000 leaflets will be printed.
Roger - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
20 April 2009 17:4519843the fast craft to belfast is bigger,it was going to used at dover but it was deemed to big for the port.for pictures of the new ld lines ferry go to invicta fms website.
- 21 April 2009 04:5719867The three Stena HSS vessels are just under twice the size of the new LD Lines Incat. They are gas turbine powered and the fuel prices have made them horrendously expensive to run. The one on the North Sea has been retired and the two on the Irish Sea are living on borrowed time. Shame because they were revolutionary when they came out and were the reason for Stena pulling out of Dover and leaving it to P&O. I don't think there was ever any serious intention to run an HSS from Dover as they require specialised berths at either end and the time saving on the short sea crossing was not worth the trouble, particularly with the frequent congestion delays at both ends eroding any benefit.
LD said they would not rescue Speed One when they sank into the financial morass, as every fast craft from Dover, and pretty well everywhere else, had done before them. They said that it was not possible to make money on a fast craft which could not carry freight. The one they are chartering from Incat is much larger than Speed One and can indeed carry a certain amount of freight. At 11,000 gross tonnes, she is somewhat larger than the generation of conventional ferries built at the start of the eighties, of which the SeaFrance Renoir is the last passenger ferry survivor. Rather cheekily, they are going to name her the "Norman Arrow," one in the eye for P&O and the others.
She has four 9,000 kW diesels to give her a speed of 40 knots. Obviously they have done their sums but it will be interesting to see if the proceeds merit the fuel consumption. For comparison, this is almost exactly the same installed power as that on the Maersk D's, which are over three times the size with all which that implies for carrying capacity. They can achieve 25 knots but, in common with all other companies, have extended the journey time marginally to complete it at a lower speed since a reduction of just a few knots dramatically reduces the fuel consumption. Apart from manoeuvring at either end, when all four engines are required, they rarely use more than two engines on passage except when needing to make up time. - 21 April 2009 09:1819881Well done Ed with that, I dont know how we'd manage without you. But yes this is exciting news re such a vessel so lets hope they get the economics right. Ive popped over to the website mentioned in the release and will add a picture of the vessel so we have a rough idea what we're talking about..here we go.. its a press release pic so okay to use it
email: dover7@msn.com - 21 April 2009 19:3119908will it be too big for the western dock facilities?
thinngs seem to be getting rather choc a bloc on the eastern side. - 21 April 2009 19:4619912I don't think there are any plans to use the Western Docks and she would certainly not fit in the old SpeedFerries berth. Also, LD now have a desk in the Eastern Docks booking hall and obviously they will want to use the Eastern Docks facilities for both the Cote d'Albatre and the Norman Arrow. I expect she will share ED1 with the CDA and the European Endeavour.
- Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
21 April 2009 19:5219916Does that now mean they are taking foot passengers?"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 - 21 April 2009 21:5519926Sorry, don't know. I am going by a post on Dover Ferry Photos, see below. Am rejoining my ship tomorrow so may pop in and have a look if I leave enough time, which is not something I am generally noted for!
"The LD Lines desk has made the terminal look very crowded down the bottom end near the Seafrance Desk. For those that have not been in, the desk has been built where the used to be two walkway's next to the Coffee ship and the Dover Port desk. The one closest to the coffee shop has now become the office." - Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
22 April 2009 01:5819935Thanks for the info. on the fast craft Ed. Most informative as always. What a difference from the old Hovercrafts that I sailed (flew) on, 28 cars full load. - 23 April 2009 04:1919993Yes indeed, Alec. This sounds like being a fast craft that actually does the job unlike the predecessors which have all come to grief. One of our Maersk chief engineers has resigned and gone to LD Lines and will be flying out to Aussie to join the Norman Arrow. Used to like the old hovercraft, convenient for quick fag runs to Calais, and my wife and I became members of the Goodwin Sands Potholing Club after going out on the Goodwins one year on the Princess Margaret.
Ross: Visited the LD Lines desk and was advised that they are tentatively planning to start taking foot pax on 29th May. Imagine this is dependant on when the Norman Arrow arrives from Aussie. Presumably they are waiting until the Norman Arrow is running a full service together with the Cote d'Albatre before starting to take foot pax as I suppose they will need to acquire a foot pax bus to transfer passengers between the terminal and the berth.
Will be good to have a footie service to Boulogne again. The supposed start-up of the Euroferries service from Ramsgate to Boulogne has gone very quiet, as expected. Roger de Haan is apparently planning a service a couple of times a day from Folkestone to Boulogne next year with a small fast craft. - 23 April 2009 08:3920012Thanks Ed re the foot passenger info. Ross... Nick Stevens the Press Officer for LD Lines, and brother to our own contributor par excellence Andrew Stevens journaliste, said on our Open Page a while back that they were hoping to be able to accomodate foot passengers by Easter but said they would keep us informed as and when. It didnt come to pass clearly. The services were introduced quicker than initially scheduled, following the demise of Speedferries, so perhaps the intended full service package wasnt possible in the sort time available..but as Ed says, its coming...which is good news.email: dover7@msn.com
- 23 April 2009 10:2920024Fabulous news all round, can't wait for the foot passenger service as it will make for a hassle free day out.
- Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
23 April 2009 21:3520050Ed & Paul thanks for the info - as always ever helpful"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 - 23 April 2009 22:2020053The new LD Lines desk in the Booking Hall:
