I'm indebted to those splendid chaps at the Oostende (Ostend in old money) Ferries Forum for these glimpses of the Ostend Spirit, the new LD Lines superduperferry which is due to enter service between Ramsgate and Ostend this coming Saturday, 27 March.I'm told it's hard to get any closer to the vessel, which is currently undergoing preparations in Ostend. But these pictures certainly give you a sense of the scale of the thing. It's several orders of magnitude larger than any of the current TransEuropa tubs, and probably at the very limit of what our lovely port can handle. Let's hope the dredging's been done properly!
Of course, in her previous incarnation as the Prins Filip she used to ply the Ostend Ramsgate route in the 90s, so we know she'll fit. It's just that, thanks to our beloved council, a lot less water has flowed under the bridge since then, if you get my drift!
6 comments:
Very nice pictures!
Just heard in the eight bells at Dover that P&O will sail to Belgium again next month. It will be a full service with a sailing every 2 hours to Belgium.
ask why ? too many strikes in France maybe ?
Hello 9.41
I don't think so - every two hours would need two ferries travelling in the same direction for the 4 hour crossing. Not even P&O would put 4 ships on this route. It's just as likely that P&O is being taken over by Euroferries! I think your informant must have been 'one over the eight'.
From thisiskent.co.uk
P&O Ferries has announced it is to restart operations between the Port of Dover and the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.
The firm last operated between the ports in 2002, and from April 7 the company will run its dedicated freighter European Endeavour on the route.
Capable of carrying up to 100 articulated lorries, the vessel will operate one round trip a day with a crossing time of four and a half hours.
Ronny Daelman, the Dover-based operator's freight director, said: "We are building a very strong freight hub in Zeebrugge with our existing routes to Hull, Teesport and Tilbury.
"Our customers tell us they now want a direct service to Dover from the Belgian port and we are pleased to be able to respond accordingly.
"We now believe a freight market for the service has come back and we will provide the ship so long as there is profitable demand."
Is P&O getting scared???
Whatever next Eurof****s announcing a high speed service from Ramsgate to Boulogne?
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