Boulogne Terminal Hub Port
Occupying an exceptional position, located at a junction point for sea and rail connections, the ‘Hub Port Boulogne’ Project, a logistics platform for the unloading and loading of maritime freight, is developing the facilities needed to accommodate conventional and high-speed ships.
The construction of the new ro-ro terminal and the first linkspan have been started up at the beginning of the second period of 2008.
The first linkspan of the ro-ro terminal will be operational from July 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 June 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
Tel : 07768 832899 / 01303 892631 : email : nick@heyfordclose.fsnet.co.uk
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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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Pictures of the New Building!
This first ferry vessel will be delivered in 2010. This latter will allow to accommodate about 1215 passengers.
Discover the first pictures of the Norman Leader.
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LD LINES CONFIRMS EARLY DOVER–BOULOGNE SERVICE START UP AND NEW DOVER–DIEPPE ROUTE IN FEB 2009
Ferry operator LD Lines has confirmed its arrival into the Dover Straits cross channel ferry market will commence from 12 February bringing forward the introduction of its new
The company will begin a
Operating from Dover Eastern Docks, in the
“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 date of the service, “ says Christophe Santoni, Managing Director LD Lines.
“A profitable ferry service must rely on a combination of passenger and freight business and by introducing a conventional ship to operate between
From 12 February two return sailings daily will be provided between
For the Sailing schedule (all times local), please click here :
Built as recently as 2007, the ships introducing the new services will alternate between the “Seven Sisters” and “Cote d’Albatre”, both of which currently operate on the Newhaven – Dieppe route under the Transmanche Ferries name, part of LD Lines network of ferry routes. The sister ships have capacity for 600 passengers and 300 cars or 52 freight vehicles or combination of both.
“We are delighted to welcome the early start of this new service by LD Lines, which proposes immediately a new travel opportunity for the 700,000 passengers a year who were using the previous service,” said Francis Leroy, President of the Chamber of Commerce Boulogne-sur-Mer Cote d’Opale. “This is excellent news for the port, town and Boulonnais region at the start of the year and is the first step prior to the service increasing from two to six return sailings daily from July 2009 with a second ship.”
The
“Freight and tourist customers will be saving
For tourist traffic on the Dover – Boulogne route, lead-in fares start from £24 one way for car and four passengers and Dover – Dieppe from £29.50 each way for a car and two passengers. Both offers must be booked by
With construction of the
LD Lines cross channel ferry service network will now comprise four routes including
LD Lines is owned by the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group, a leading French shipowner with over 100 years experience in the shipping industry, operating over 60 ships worldwide.
For more information visit www.ldlines.com
Tel : 01303 892631 / 07768 832899
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LD Lines disrupts the Newhaven - Le Havre route
June 2008
Following the introduction of a second daily service between
The Seven Sisters will resume her winter service between Newhaven and
For any further information or alternative booking, please contact lehavretourisme@ldlines.fr .
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Watch the finest sailing ships in the world gather at l’Armada 2008 in Rouen.
June 2008
Taking place only once every five years, the Rouen Armada (July 5 to 14) is a magnificent spectacle of more than 50 tall ships and historic sailing vessels from around the world gathered on the Seine.
It’s also the ideal opportunity to travel to France on the event’s official maritime carriers, LD Lines and Transmanche Ferries. These sister companies operate ferry routes from Newhaven to Dieppe and Le Havre, and from Portsmouth to Le Havre.
This July sees the fifth Armada at the historic city of Rouen on the Seine. The international gathering of elegant ships, yachts and naval vessels attracts more than 10 million visitors and is one of the largest public events staged in France. English ships joining the Armada include The Grand Turk – a replica of an 18th century English frigate which has starred in the series Hornblower. Also from England is The Tenacious – the newest ship to be built by the Jubilee Sailing Trust charity in Southampton.
The Armada opens with The Fleet of Follies raft parade. The tall ships, which will arrive at the port of Rouen on the 4th and 5th of July, will pass under the huge arch of the new Pont Gustave Flaubert – Europe’s tallest vertical lifting bridge. A Grand Parade of Tall ships will leave Rouen for the sea on Bastille Day, with sailors performing breathtaking displays on the rigging.
During the Armada, ships will be open daily for free visits and some will serve lunch on board. Free festivities will take place along ten kilometres of renovated quays along the Seine, including a parade of ships’ crews in uniform, and nightly fireworks and free concerts.
Rouen is within less than one hour’s train journey and a 65-kms drive of Dieppe, and is an hour by train from Le Havre. Both ports offer a wide range of accommodation for visitors. For the first weekend of the Armada, visitors can travel anywhere by train in Upper Normandy for one €.
Transmanche Ferries (www.transmancheferries.co.uk) operates three Summer crossings a day from Newhaven to Dieppe and one daily crossing from Newhaven to Le Havre. LD Lines (www.ldlines.co.uk) operates one daily crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre.
For more details, contact :
Claude Sokolski
+33 (0)679 459 321
csokolski@transmancheferries.com
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LD Lines to introduce a new second ferry in November 2008
March 2008
LD (Louis Dreyfus) Lines is very pleased to announce the introduction of a second vessel on its popular Portsmouth to Le Havre route. The vessel will begin operations in November 2008, and will double the number of crossings to meet the growing demand of the passenger and freight ferry business.
The introduction of this new ferry will also create a completely new route between the ports of Le Havre, France and Rosslare, Ireland.
The new vessel, which has been chosen because of its suitability for Portsmouth to Le Havre, will carry up to 800 passengers in 110 cabins.
Onboard the second ferry there will be a bar, restaurant and various lounges ensuring travellers enjoy a comfortable crossing in the usual high standard they expect from LD Lines.
The new vessel will have a freight capacity of 2250 lane metres, which will allow the transportation of up to 120 trucks. All freight drivers will be given a berth in a cabin.
During the weekdays, LD Lines will operate a second daily departure from each port: sailing at lunchtime from Portsmouth and in the evening from Le Havre. This doubles the choice of sailings for customers in both directions.
In addition to improving its UK service, the French company has also announced the creation of a new crossing to Ireland. Every weekend the ship will make a round trip between the ports of Le Havre (Friday) and Rosslare (Saturday). With a service speed of 24 knots, the new ferry will do the crossing between France and Ireland in only 20 hours.
The new Irish link will serve a growing passenger market as well as meet the requirements of an expanding freight market. For example, many new vehicles produced by Peugeot-Citroën and Renault will be transported on the new LD Lines route by the freight haulage companies Gefco and CAT.
For further information please contact:
- Switch board - +33 (0)1 70 38 60 00
- Press Relations - Claude Sokolski +33 (0)6 79 45 93 21
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LD Lines awarded two "Business Excellence Awards"
Febuary 2008
LD Lines is proud to announce that it has been awardedtwo "Business Excellence Awards" from the Portsmouth Evening News:
- Innovation of the Year 2008
- Team of the Year 2008
LD Lines was also awarded the Innovation of the Year award for the LD Sleeper Seat concept. Passenger who chose a LD Sleeper Seat travel in a spacious lounge with first-class style 180 degress reclining seats and showers. This innovation offers passengers an lower priced alternative to cabins, and is an option that it is still far more comfortable than travelling on a budget airline.
Receiving these awards has encouraged LD Lines to consider increasing its sailing frequency, as well as undertaking more innovation and aiming for even higher customer satisfaction. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal customers for supporting the LD Lines product and for continuing to travel onboard our ferries.
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Louis Dreyfus Armateurs orders two ferry vessels
July 2007
For its
subsidiary LD Lines, Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) has ordered two
ferry vessels (one being an option) at the Singapore
Technologies Marine shipyard (ST Marine).
To reinforce its services in the central part of
the Channel, between Le Havre and Portsmouth, LDA has ordered one ferry
vessel, and has an option for a second one, at the Singapore
Technologies Marine yard. LDA is proud to announce this evolution of
its partnership with ST Marine. The yard is already building two ro-ro
vessels designed to carry large aircraft components for Airbus. These
vessels are due to be delivered to LDA in 2008. This first ferry
vessel will be classed by Bureau Veritas for short international
voyages. Contract price is USD 110 million per ship with delivery
scheduled for the first semester 2010.
A total of 2 fixed cargo decks shall be provided
for about 1,500m cargo lane and 1,000 square meters of hoistable car
decks (combined capacity of about 60 trucks and trailers and 200
passenger cars). Loading and unloading is through stern and bow ramps
at main deck. A total of two passenger decks will allow to accommodate
about 1215 passengers, including :
- 160 cabins (2 beds + 2 pullman beds) ;
- one self service restaurant ;
- one truck drivers restaurant;
- two bars (coffee shop et pub) ;
- one first class lounge equipped with 100 180° reclining seats;
- one 100 reclining seats lounge.
Dimensions :
- Length overall 161.0 m
- Breadth (moulded) 25.60 m
- Depth to main deck 8.30 m
- Depth to upper deck 13.80 m
- Design draught 5.80 m
- Deadweight at design draught 4,000 t
- Maximal draught 6.20 m
- Deadweight at maximum draught 5,250 t
Propulsion :
- Trial 22 knots
- Service speed 19 knots
- 4 medium speed engines MAN 5,600 kW each.
- 3 diesel generators of 1,400 kW each, 400V 50Hz
