The operator P&O Ferries which has routes on the Irish Sea, North Sea and the Strait of Dover has reintroduced one of its ferries onto the short sea route to Calais.

As KentOnline reports, the ferry Spirit of France which had completed annual dry-docking and refit returned on to the UK-France route on Monday.

Since the reintroduction, P&O now has 184 sailings based on the four ferries in service including the Spirit of Britain.

A spokesman for the firm said: "P&O Ferries aims to provide customers with the best possible ferry experience and in line with these aims we undertake an annual refit of our ships in the Dover – Calais rotation.

Afloat.adds that P&O is to introduce newbuild ferries built in China for the route. They will be the biggest ever to serve the link and that of any operator also competing on the busy short-sea route.

In a new depature is that the new ferries will notably be the first on the route to have a double-ended design. This involves two bridges at both ends as well to the same vehicle bow design which will reduce times spent in port.

The first of the diesel-battery hybird powered twins, P&O Pioneer is expected to enter service this Spring, whereas P&O Liberte is to follow later in the year.

Together, the newbuilds will replace the oldest tonnage of the ferries, the 'Darwin' class Pride of Kent and Pride of Canterbury.