Portsmouth -
Le Havre -
Portsmouth
LD Lines'
English
Channel
operations
commenced in
October
2005,
operating
between
Portsmouth,
England
and
Le Havre,
France.
This service
was introduced
following the
withdrawal of
P&O Ferries'
longstanding
operation on
this route.
There is one
sailing per
day in each
direction,
with the
Portsmouth-Le
Havre sailing
taking place
overnight.
This uses one
vessel, the
MS Norman
Spirit.
On 28 March
2008 it was
announced that
a second ship
would be
introduced on
the Le Havre
route to
operate
alongside the
Norman
Spirit.
The new ship,
referred to as
the Norman
Voyager in
Pierre
Gehanne's
blog, is
currently
under
construction
in
Italy and
will enter
service in
November 2008.
The new ship
is a near
sister of the
Mersey Viking
and
Lagan Viking
which are
operated by
Norfolkline
on their
Liverpool-Belfast
service. LD
Lines was also
awarded the
Innovation of
the Year award
for the LD
Sleeper Seat
concept
(pictured
right).
Passengers who
chose an LD
Sleeper Seat
travel in a
spacious
lounge with
first-class
style 180
degrees
reclining
seats and
showers. This
innovation
offers
passengers a
lower priced
alternative to
cabins, and is
an option that
it is still
far more
comfortable
than
travelling on
a budget
airline.
Rosslare -
Le Havre -
Rosslare
From November
2008 LD Lines
will open a
weekly
passenger and
freight
service
between Le
Havre and
Rosslare,
Republic of
Ireland.
The new ferry
currently
under
construction
in Italy will
serve the
route
departing from
Le Havre on
Fridays and
returning from
Rosslare on
Saturdays. The
crossing time
is expected to
be 20 hours.
Newhaven - Le
Havre -
Newhaven
LD Lines was
one of 5
companies
invited to
tender for the
operation of
Transmanche
Ferries
service
between
Dieppe and
Newhaven.
P&O Stena Line
operated the
route until
1998 after
which
Hoverspeed
operated the
route until
2004. Because
the French
government did
not want the
route to be
lost, they
started a new
subsidised
company by the
name of
Transmanche
Ferries in
April
2001.
After 5 years
of successful
service and
the arrival of
two newbuilds,
the government
decided to
tender the
line in a
concession.
The contract
to operate the
service was
awarded to LD
Lines on
21 December
2006. For
this service
they will
receive an
annual subsidy
of up to €
14.6 million.
LD Lines
commenced
sailings on
this route on
1 May
2007. In
addition to
three
roundtrips
between Dieppe
and Newhaven
LD Lines
started a
single
roundtrip per
day between
Le Havre
and Newhaven
during high
season using
the MS
Seven Sisters.
General
Information
for LD Lines
Within the
framework of a
public
procurement
contract,
Louis Dreyfus Armateurs has
been selected
to run
Transmanche
Ferries, which
will become a
sister company
of LD Lines.
This
arrangement
will ensure
not only the
continuity and
development of
the
Dieppe-Newhaven
line but also
an increase in
the frequency
of services to
Le Havre.
Le Havre now
benefits from
a new summer
link with
Newhaven, in
addition to
the daily link
with
Portsmouth.
For over 100
years.
LD Lines
is a
subsidiary of
Louis Dreyfus
Armateurs Group,
a major player
in maritime
transport
since 1904,
now with a
fleet of over
60 ships
operating
worldwide.
Partner of the
world’s major
companies
Louis Dreyfus
Armateurs
is active in
shipping and
providing
“tailor made”
industrial
solutions.
"Tailor made"
industrial
solutions
Besides
regular
maritime
transportation,
Louis Dreyfus
Armateurs
has developed
a strong
capacity for
innovation,
offering major
industrial
companies
“made-to-measure”
solutions.
Thus,
Louis Dreyfus
Armateurs
is the
maritime
partner of
Airbus
Industries for
transporting
elements of
the A380 from
European
manufacturers
to Toulouse;
of Alcatel for
the laying of
undersea
cables; of the
Compagnie
Générale de
Géophysique
for off-shore
oil research;
of Gaz de
France for the
transportation
of liquid gas.
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