Speedferries craft brought by LD Lines?

[f1steveuk]

There are rumours suggesting that LD Lines have either purchased, or made an offer for the old Speedferries Speed One, with a view to putting her back on it's old route, and quite soon. That begs for a couple of questions to be asked!!

[Will]

Before you ask the questions, it's worth pointing out that, as always, some people have been putting two and two together and coming up with completely the wrong answer.

LD Lines did, indeed, announce that it was considering a fast craft. This was reported in Lloyds List last week. Sources in Kent said that this would be one of the latest generation Incat catamarans, similar to (or even one of) a pair that were delivered to Japan last year but withdrawn almost immediately because the rise in fuel costs made them uneconomical on their intended route. At 112m long these are considerably larger than Speed One, and are capable of carrying tucks as well as cars, so would obviously appeal much more to LD's core market than the previous generation of fast ferries.

Yesterday the builders in Australia confirmed that LD Lines had signed an agreement for one of these ships. Rather than one of the Japanese vessels, this is a brand new ship which had been ordered by an Irish chartering company, MGC, specifically for chartering in the European market, and which completed its sea trials at the beginning of the month. Part of the release is reproduced below - the full press release can be viewed at http://www.incat.com.au/domino/incat/incatweb.nsf/v-print-friendly/E16E5D9192D04A83CA2575A100140234?OpenDocument 

Incat is delighted to announce the acquisition of its latest 112 metre high speed catamaran by France’s LD Lines. The largest ever fast ferry to operate on the cross channel routes between England and France will enter service between Dover and Boulogne on 29 May 2009.

The new 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 is 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 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, 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, the Incat fast ferry will then transfer to inaugurate and operate into the first linkspan of the new Hub Port Terminal. The conventional ferry will continue to operate into the current Port of Boulogne berth.