Yesterday's thrilling announcement that LD Lines are starting a service out of our lovely port here in Ramsgate next month has got me thinking. It's a joint venture on the Oostende (Ostend in old money) route with existing operator TransEuropa Ferries.Now as is common knowledge, TEF are having to retire some of their boats this year due to old age. So will the total number of services out of the port actually increase? Or is this just a way of maintaining the existing number of services once the TEF tubs are pensioned off to Greece? In other words, is this not much more than maintaining the status quo while blinding us with LD style smoke and mirrors? If anyone can shed any light on the subject, do post a comment.
18 comments:
Even if the number of boats (and journeys) is the same, making one in to a fast connection will be a net gain for the tourists among us heading for Belgium - and presumably cheaper and more efficient for the operator. Slight reduction in freight capacity, but I don't expect they were operating full much of the time anyway. A net gain, only slightly smokey or mirrored....
Thanks Zumi!
The LD Ostend Spirit will replace a TEF vessel, that's for sure. Which ship is still not certain, but I think it will be the Primrose.
You can no longer make TEF passenger bookings after mid March, it simply says no availability on the website. TEF tell me you will be able to book within two weeks. We will see if it is true. It wouldn't surprise me if all the TEF ships only carry freight in future. I have asked TEF this question and I am still waiting for an answer.
I also want to know if we'll be able to book daytrips, like previously, because with only the Ostend Spirit operating passengers that will be impossible.
By the way, Ostend Spirit will sail under a British flag but TEF will use its own staff. That is a pity, no?
The rumour in Ostend is that LD will eventually buy out TEF, then abandon Ostend (and presumably Ramsgate) for good, effectively having bought up most of the freight traffic across the Channel.
The Diaz brothers who inherited TEF from their father not so long ago are lawyers by trade (like Adrian Gillan from Euroferries). What would they want with a ferry company going forward?
You have a good point as always, however, this (1991 built) ship will provide much greater passenger and tourist vehicle capacity than the older TEF tubs. She has a chequered history and is not so good in a crosswind!
coming to a beach near us soon then
As others have already mentioned the TEF fleet is ageing and it would be expensive to replace with younger tonnage. This arrangement would be an ideal for TEF and also a good opportunity for LD Lines to expand their passenger operations on the Eastern channel.
For Ramsgate it would mean continuing the TEF freight traffic, and with the LD Lines marketing a substanial increase in the passenger trade. Surely a win win situation for all parties including Ramsgate, so in this case 2+2 does equal 5.
It is already possible to book a crossing on the LD Lines web site from 15th March for a car and two passengers for a return fare of £48, which compares well with the Dover ferries
Regarding beaches - it would be 'returning to a beach near you' following the 1994 grounding when she blocked the outer harbour entrance on her maiden voyage under the Sally flag. In fairness it was a 30k souwesterly - gusting 45!
Sorry, best ignore my first comment - I got all excited and thought they meant the little fast boat (Norman Arrow) between Dover and Boulogne, but it's the proper ferry (Norman Spirit) that's being transferred. Not half as exciting... or as fast... so ok for capacity, but nothing much improved for turnaround or day trippability... so maybe it is smoke and mirrors after all.
This is all a little underwhelming to be honest. Coincidentally, I find myself wanting to book a cross-channel ferry to take my car and a few passengers across to Europe for a few days in the summer. I thought "great" I can go from Ramsgate to Ostende but when you look at the restricted sailing times, crossing time (4 hours) and the fact they make you book a cabin for night crossings makes the whole thing not worth pursuing.
Instead I am going on Norfolk Line out of Dover with a 2 hour crossing time, cheaper, 12 crossings a day and arrive in Dunkirk which isn't that much further to drive than arriving in Ostende.
I just seriously wonder how successful the whole thing is going to be for non-freight traffic.
As 03.04 said, a beach near you. Isn't that beach the whole port of Ramsgate at low tide???
Richard, keep a watch out on a little dredger with a big task.
So NO FOOTPASSENGERS, this is a shame!
Footpassengers with their expensive Euros could give a Ramsgate town the boost they needed.
Plenty of shops to spend their Euros, the charity shops, the 99p store, Poundland and Peacocks...
Wow don't the knockers whinge and moan. Trans Europa have been running out of Ramsgate for 12 years on their own account and a couple of years before that for Sally. They have been a steadfast supporter of the port and Ramsgate and Messrs Dias and their company could do withsome support. It will be great to see the Prins Filip back, we just need TDC to do their bit to make sure everything is in place for it when it returns.
Mr Friday no doubt you are the sort of person who always complains and nothing is ever right. TEF supply an excellent service, but well done you have worked out Norfolk line has more sailings, if you wanted to you could use the shuttle and get to Dunkirk even quicker, or hire a plane a fly from manston, the options are endless.
All the talk of footpassengers the reason no-one bothers anymore is that there just aren't enough to warrant the costs involved in getting them on and off !
I watched LD Lines Boulogne/Dover route, under a dozen a trip doesn't cover the cost of the shuttle through the ports.
See Pierre Gehannes blog, he explains it all very well as to why it is only through the late Spring/Summer that they do it.
11:31 some of us so called whiners and wingers actually brought a good deal of business through this Port - and what's your contribution then, a booze trip now and again?
This all stacks up as a wind down and not a wind up, although the wind up, could actually sea some beaches occupied by a large vessel and it will not be Port, eh weaner!!
Anon 11.37. Just making a point that I doubt they will be able to compete with the lines running out of Dover and it is easier to pick an alternative that does nothing for Thanet's economy.
Yes I could use the Eurotunnel but it is too expensive and Calais isn't where I want to be setting off from. Hiring a plane probably wouldn't work as I would need to dangle my car from the landing gear to use the other side. See, clever people think of things like that.
Perhaps I will be proved wrong. After all, if there are plenty of others like you about who will settle for anything with blind acceptance they should do very well indeed.
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