Ferry Time blog

Is there any news about the Dover Harbour Board proposal to privatise the Port of Dover ?

The last I heard, the scheme was under consideration by Her Majesty’s government with a view to agreeing to the sell off. The problem is that the three Dover Calais Ferry operators, P&O Ferries, SeaFrance and NorfolkLine seem to be in dispute with the Harbour board  over the increased harbour fees, and also there is a loose kind of proposal from the Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke which he calls the “People’s Port” and has been criticised by the previous Labour Party MP Gwyn Prosser.

P&O Ferries have written to the UK’s Secretary of State for Transport looking for clarification on the matter.

P&O are not the only shipping line to be concerned by the board’s plans as Norfolkline, SeaFrance and DFDS have also raised the issue on a number of occasions. P&O Ferries CEO Helen Deeble said:

DHB’s proposal is that Opco [the board’s wholly-owned subsidiary as a company limited by shares] should settle a cash sum of £10 million (US$15.7m) on the Port of Dover Community Trust (PDCT), together with a further amount of cash specifically earmarked for (immediate) use to subscribe for securities of Opco having a value of £20 million at the time of sale. The latter element would be cash-neutral to Opco, as the sum contributed for the subscription would return to Opco as paid-up share capital. Opco will also undertake to enter into arrangements to make regular contributions to the PDCT in its early years, so that the PDCT will have an assured income stream during that period.

Does that throw any light on the matter?

Thought not.

P&O Ferries is looking forward to the launch of Spirit of Britain, by far the largest ferry ever designed for the Dover – Calais Ferry route.

The Spirit of Britain ferry is nearing completion prior to starting service in mid January 2011.

The operator P & O Ferries is building a pair of these new ships, the second being Spirit of France which enters service next September.

“This reflects a certain degree of confidence for the long term as the pair of ships are costing the company a cool €360 million,” said a spokesman from P & O.

P&O Ferries New Ships for Dover Calais

Cross channel ferries are coping with extra passenger traffic from people making their way home after bring stranded by flight ban caused by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland.

The Port of Dover is running as if it were August with extra sailings, and plenty of spare capacity including foot passenger spaces. Normal turn-up-and-go fares apply.

Eurostar has put on at least an extra 28 trains and says it has 30,000 standard class one-way seats available from today at £89

Tour operators and airlines however, said the backlog caused by the erupting volcano Eyjafjalloekull is so great that it will take up to 14 days to clear.

Many britons held up in Spain are making their way to northern Spanish ports such as Santander to wait for the ferry crossing to Plymouth or else the royal navy ships which are being diverted to help out.

There were plenty of Ferry operators at the France show 2010 at Earls Court last weekend, from 8th – 10th January.

Some great discounts were available, so for next year find out more about the France show and how to get Ferry tickets via www.thefranceshow.com

Irish Ferries has informed holidaymakers that modern travel links mean they do not have to be ‘a slave to airlines’.

Declan Mescall, the company’s head of passenger sales, encouraged travellers to consider taking ferries to Ireland from Britain next year.

He said that extensive investment by ferry operators in recent years means ‘the time has passed’ that travellers were forced to rely on air travel.

‘Those who choose to go by sea can look forward to features such as club class lounges on board as well as priority boarding and discharge at ports of departure and arrival,’ Mr Mescall added.

The Irish Ferries spokesman also referred to airport congestion and baggage restrictions imposed by airlines as reasons for travellers to consider the option of sea crossings.

Car Park shopping – Get all you need for the festive season in one place at low prices!

Take the car and up to 2 passengers For Just £7.50 return.

Passengers drive onboard, stay onboard for round trip and stock up with Christmas goodies

You must book and travel before the end of December. Additional passengers £5 return.

On Board Offersm

From 4th December, and only whilst stocks last, we will have:

The Famous Grouse Whisky at 2 litres for £24 (normally £15.49 each, High Street £18.99 each)

Teachers Whisky at 2 litres for just £22 (normally £14.29 each, High Street £17.57 each)

Both these offers are available only whilst stocks last!!

Additionally…

from Friday 27th November, until Christmas Eve

Bell’s Whisky – 2 litres for £24 (normally £14.99 each, High Street £17.19 each)

Gordon’s Gin – 2 litres for £20 (normally £13.99 each, High Street £15.99 each)

Kids travel free on all Irish Ferries crossings between 4 July and 31 August when booked by 30 June and 14 days before sailing.

And with a bargain offer of just £59 each-way for a car and driver and £20 for additional adults for midweek travel (Monday to Thursday), a family of four can cross the Irish Sea with their car – in peak season – for as little as £99.

These prices apply on the Pembroke/Rosslare cruise ferry crossing; add £10 for Friday and Sunday travel or £20 on Saturdays. On the Holyhead/Dublin cruise ferry the lead-in is £84 for car and driver or £99 for the fast ferry.

All prices represent savings of up to 30 per cent.

For more information and bookings, please visit http://www.irishferries.co.uk/

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North Sea Routes : Car Ferry Crossings from only £99 each way

If you are within half a day’s drive of Hull and you are quick you could enjoy a short break in either Belgium or Holland for less than £100 each way. There’s a six day summer sale starting today, June 5th 2009.

Twenty Thousand tickets have been put into the sale at a price of only £99 each way, that’s for sailing on
the following North Sea Ferry routes:

• Hull to Rotterdam
• Rotterdam to Hull
• Hull to Zeebrugge
• Zeebrugge to Hull

With night sailings on P&O luxury cruise ferries you can enjoy great
onboard entertainment, delicious food and relax in your own
comfortable ensuite cabin.

When you arrive in Belgium or Holland, you’ll be refreshed and ready
to go and the excellent autoroute motorway connections in Belgium, Holland and
into France mean you’ll be spoilt for choice on where to spend your
short break.

You’ll have to be quick though, tickets are limited and the best fares
will go quickly. Book by 10pm on Wednesday 10th June and travel before
31st December 2009.

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The 13th June is the historic Le Mans 24 hour endurance race in the Pays-de-la-Loire region of France. The race is a hugely popular event and never fails to bring in a big crowd. P&O Ferries is the perfect way to attend this prestigious race and ensure that you and your car get there in style!

The 21st June brings a host of reasons why you would want to cross the channel. Firstly, it is the longest day of the year, which means it is perfect for a daytrip! There are a number of attractions within Calais and it’s surroundings, including the pleasant medieval villages of Ardres and Bergues, which are a short drive and perfect for a long lunch.
The 21st June is also Father’s Day, and what could be a better present than a short hop to France to pick up some of France’s finest wine!

Additionally, the 21st June is the British Grand Prix. This is the biggest motoring event in British racing and attracts F1 fans from far and wide. With Silverstone being less than two and a half hours from Dover, it makes it easily accessible for anyone travelling over from the continent.

Finally, the end of June brings one of the biggest events in the global sporting calendar, and that is of course Wimbledon Tennis Championships. This iconic British tournament is widely regarded as the biggest in the world, and attracts tennis and sports enthusiasts from all over the world. Running for two weeks between the 22nd June and the 5th July, it promises sun, rain, Pimms and great tennis. Thousands of people from all over the continent come to Wimbledon, South London for the Championships, and there is no easier way to get there than by making sure you plan your journey with P&O Ferries.

As if that wasn’t enough, P&O Ferries are running a “You deserve a holiday” competition throughout June. Holidaymakers can cross the channel for £30 each way, to help make sure that the holiday budget goes that bit further.

There is the chance to win an amazing 7 day holiday with accommodation and travel. Anyone who enters the prize draw telling P&O Ferries why their friend deserves a holiday can be in with a chance of winning this great prize.

Make sure you enjoy your summer, starting with P&O Ferries and the month of June!

The first voyage of the new ferry service linking Scotland to mainland Europe has just been completed.

The Scottish Viking, which will sail between Rosyth in Fife and Zeebrugge in Belgium three times a week, finished its maiden voyage and passengers were welcomed off the ship by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond as it arrived into the Scottish port.

He said: “I’m delighted to welcome the Scottish Viking and its first homecoming passengers to Scotland… Maintaining connections with major European markets is vital for Scotland at a time of global economic challenges.

“But not only will the Scottish Viking allow access to important commercial contacts, it will be a boost for the local economy in Fife, and an environmentally friendly route home for Scotland’s friends, family and visitors.”

The ferry, run by Norfolkline, took over the route after it was discontinued by Superfast Ferries in September last year. Its departure from Zeebrugge however was delayed by several hours on Monday when the captain suffered a non-fatal heart attack and a replacement had to be found.

The Scottish Viking was built in an Italian shipyard and registered in Italy, and is therefore required to have an Italian captain on board. However, the ferry service will receive €2 million (£1.8 million) from the Scottish Government through a Waterborne Freight Grant.

As part of his welcome, the First Minister gave each passenger on the Scottish Viking’s maiden journey a special ticket offer for The Gathering, an international clan gathering due to take place in Edinburgh in July.

The Gathering is part of Scotland’s Homecoming Year celebrations, a series of events and festivities taking place throughout 2009 that are designed to put people from across the world back in touch with their Scottish roots.