Speedferries and Hoverspeed - Good news

[Will]

I have picked up some news that Speedferries is actively seeking two more ships - conventional freight/passenger vessels rather than high speed catamarans. These would be added to the existing route, according to the company 'not as a low cost service but close to the concept' (whatever that may mean). It will primarily carry freight, but will provide overflow capacity for catamaran passengers at peak times.

A second catamaran is also being sought. The ship which was in storage at Boulogne after coming off charter in the middle of last year has now gone to a Norwegian low-cost operator, but Speedferries felt it was too expensive, as a major refit was needed. The company still hopes to have a second ship on the route for summer 2006.

Meanwhile, Hoverspeed, whose owner Sea Containers pulled the plug on its cross-Channel services last year, is reported to be making a possible comeback. Apparently some of the former managers are hoping to revive the Dover/Calais service themselves.

 

[The Riff-Raff Element]

It's interesting that it seems to be the specialist ferry operators who

stick long-term at the cross channel game: whatever one might think of

Brittany Ferries (several words spring to mind) they are there, year

in, year out. Yet every operator who finds themselves as part of a

shipping conglomerate (P&O, Hoverspeed, for example) seem to Go

West. Speedferries (as far as I am aware) are true independents, so,

hopefully, they can steer a clear path round the corporate bull and

spread their influnce along the whole channel. If Hoverspeed can

resurect, all the better. More power to their arms!

[Anton Redman]

IMHO most of the operators loose track of their reason for being in the business. Compare and contrast P & O's retail offerings with BAA's. If you are stuck airside at Heathrow you can buy books which are not available yet in the UK, and a reasonable seletcion of clothes etc.   In contrast the shops on P & O seem ignore the end of duty free, they have booze, cigs and perfume at more than the price you can buy in main land Europe and a selection of DVDs and paperbacks which make Wilkinsons seem attractive.

Even going back to the UK after 8 months in France P & O had no newspapers I would consider reading let along buying.

[Clarkkent]

[quote user="Anton Redman"]

IMHO most of the operators loose track of their reason for being in the business. Compare and contrast P & O's retail offerings with BAA's. If you are stuck airside at Heathrow you can buy books which are not available yet in the UK, and a reasonable seletcion of clothes etc.   In contrast the shops on P & O seem ignore the end of duty free, they have booze, cigs and perfume at more than the price you can buy in main land Europe and a selection of DVDs and paperbacks which make Wilkinsons seem attractive.

Even going back to the UK after 8 months in France P & O had no newspapers I would consider reading let along buying.

[/quote]

The main purpose of any large public company is to provide shareholder return. If a company's established operation fails to provide adequate shareholder return then the board will dump it - irrespective of the operation's historical importance.

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's recent history exemplifies this.

[Clarkkent]

[quote user="Anton Redman"]

IMHO most of the operators loose track of their reason for being in the business. Compare and contrast P & O's retail offerings with BAA's.[/quote]

The main purpose of any large public company is to provide shareholder return. If a company's established operation fails to provide adequate shareholder return then the board will dump it - irrespective of the operation's historical importance.

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's recent history exemplifies this.

[Brilec]

Can I just reply to the original post, and say what good news this is. I had hoped that the recent sale of the ten ticket vouchers etc might have beed a way if introducing capital to the company, lets hope they are successful in this.

The only regret I have regarding Speedferries is the overcrowding at Dover, not their fault. But was there never any possibility of them using the (now old admittedly) facilities in Folkstone?

By comparison to Dover, Boulogne is such a joy to use.

[Cassis]

On a related front, does anyone know whether the plug has been pulled permanently on the Transmanche catamarans from Newhaven to Dieppe?

[bedders]

Let's hope the Hoverspeed management are successful in reviving the Dover/Calais route, as the dedicated terminals at each end are sooo easy to use. On the downside with these boats, i find negotiating the tight turns inside with a 16 ft. long estate not for the fainthearted, perhaps this is to do with my driving though. Does anyone else have the same problems?

[BJSLIV]

does anyone know whether the plug has been pulled permanently on the Transmanche catamarans from Newhaven to Dieppe?

I think the first of the pair is supposed to start in April 2006 .

It a must good sign that it is already in Transmanche colours.

Photo: Conseil Général de la Seine-Maritime

 

 

[Will]

Just to be pedantic, the fast ferries from Newhaven (the Italian-built monohulls as well as the catamarans) were run by Hoverspeed rather than Transmanche, though there was a reciprocal booking arrangement for a short time, i.e. you booked the Transmanche ferries through Hoverspeed in the UK and booked the Hoverspeed ferries through Transmanche in France. As far as I know there are no plans to revive the Newhaven-Dieppe catamaran.

Hoverspeed's parent, Sea Containers, used to own the Port of Newhaven, but it was effectively sold to Transmanche. Although Transmanche would like to continue as owner of both ports, it was looking, last year, for another operator to take over the running of the ships, and at that time it wanted to add a catamaran to the service.

The two new Transmanche ferries, being built in Spain, the first scheduled for delivery in April, are conventional ferries rather than fast catamarans, though they are capable of 22 knots, a reasonable speed for this type of ship. Cote d'Albatre is the first, sister ship Seven Sisters will follow later.