Swansea – Cork stops operating

The Swansea – Cork ferry service was closed on 2nd February after the owners, West Cork Tourism Co-operative Society, and the operator, Fastnet Line, failed to secure the funding for the service to continue. For more information on this please visit our news item here.

DFDS & LD Lines to commence Dover – Calais

DFDS Seaways and LD Lines announced that they would commence a jointly operated Dover – Calais service from the 17th February. Initially the LD Lines ship Norman Spirit will operate 5 round trips a day. For more information on this please visit our news item here.

Spirit of France arrives in Dover

The second of P&Os brand new &eur;180million ships – the Sprit of France – has arrived in Dover, and is due to commence operating on the Dover – Calais route today, 9th February. Sister ship to the Sprit of Britain launched in early 2011, she can carry up to 160 lorries, 2000 passengers and 195 cars. The two Spirits are the largest ships to ever operate on the Dover Straits.

Eurotunnel announces sales growth

The Eurotunnel group announced 2011 revenues as being up 16% up year on year to €844million. In total 1.26 million trucks had used Eurotunnel shuttle services in 2011.

Scotland builds world’s first hybrid ferries

Construction on two pioneering battery powered ferries to be operated by Cal Mac commenced in Scotland at the end of January. Designed to cover only short ferry crossings they are reported to be the world’s first roll-on roll-off diesel-electric hybrid ferries. Built to accommodate 150 passengers and 23 cars the first vessel is expected to enter service on the Skye-Raasay route next year.

Viking Line build LNG ferry

ABB are to provide an energy management system for a environmentally friendly ferry being built in Finland. Due to be delivered to Viking Line next year to operate on their Turku – Stockholm route the vessel will run on liquefied natural gas. At 214 meters long, and with a passenger capacity of 2800 it will be the first passenger vessel of its size to be fuelled with LNG. Amongst the environmental benefits the ship will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 to 30% from conventional diesel engines.