Ferry and logistics operator DFDS this week has won a new five-year contract to continue operating the UK-France route of Newhaven-Dieppe with the latest contract coming into effect on the English Channel next year.
The new contract will begin on 1 January 2023, where DFDS will operate the route on behalf of the French authority, the Syndicat Mixte de Promotion de l’Activité Transmanche (SMPAT).
DFDS has operated the ferry route from the Sussex coast to Normandy since 2012 and will now enter the third contract period on the cross-channel route. The route has two sailings daily between October and April and three sailings in each direction during the peak summer months from May to September.
Afloat adds the UK-France route is marketed as 'Transmanche Ferries' along with the distinctive livery of yellow hulls and funnels of the 18,425grt twins, Seven Sisters and Côte d'Albâtre which ply the most geographically direct route that retraces the historical classic 'London-Paris' capitals link. The route originated from the era of railway owning shipping companies from both sides of the English Channel running 'joint-service' agreements with sailing services beginning in 1862.
Commenting on present day DFDS ferry operations, Jean-Claude Charlo, Head of French Organisation and Route Director, said “We are delighted to be awarded the contract to continue operating the important ferry link between Newhaven and Dieppe. This secures hundreds of local DFDS jobs and enables us to continue our ambitious plans to invest in the route."
He added "We look forward to growing the traffic and will bring significant improvements to the route including new branding and a new schedule, which will increase the frequency during the key summer period. We have a clear vision for the route’s future, and we are excited by the opportunity to realise this over the next five years.”
As alluded the route is served by Seven Sisters and Côte d'Albâtre which Afloat adds were built by Astilleros Barreras SA, Vigo,Spain in 2006. Each can take 600 passengers/300 cars and 62 lorries on the 4 hour route with the ferries named appropriately after geographical locatons to reflect both coasts they connect on the English Channel.
Up to the 1990's ferries among them French flagged and operated, were deployed as relief ferries on the Irish Sea as Afloat recalled, in particular during the Sealink/Sealink British Ferries era including their Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead route.
The Ireland-Wales route however closed when successor Stena Line withdrew the fastferry 'HSS' link with a final sailing in 2014, but continued to run services out of neighbouring Dublin Port on the route to the north Wales port.