Off Radar

It’s been an interesting week in the cross-channel ferry world. On one hand, French newcomer LD Lines has been showing off its second ship on its Portsmouth-Le Havre service, andiving details about two new services being launched in 2009. Both of the new services are from the UK port of Dover to Dieppe and Boulogne. Boulogne, meanwhile, is the scene of the second major event in the week, when the Port Authority arrested low-cost operator SpeedFerries only vessel, the fast cat SpeedOne, for unpaid port dues and taxes. SpeedFerries is unhappy with this action, claiming that they had a written guarantee with the port that no legal action would be taken until a meeting last week to resolve the problem. SpeedFerries also says that it has various counter claims against the port as well as suggesting that it was in collusion with an unnamed French ferry operator which is starting a new service from Boulogne next year. You won’t be surprised to find out that this operator is LD Lines. This is not the first time that SpeedFerries has been in trouble with port authorities on both sides of the channel. It seems that all’s fair in love and war – but not on the cross-channel ferry routes!

Japanese cruise line Peaceboat has ended its charter of the 1970-built Clipper Pacific halfway through the vessel’s world cruise, citing numerous Port State Control deficiencies. Instead, Peaceboat has chartered Kyma Shipmanagement’s 1966-built Mona Lisa to complete the much delayed world cruise.

The French government has taken a 33.34% stake in the two former Aker Yards shipyards in the country, in St. Nazaire and Lorient, which are now owned by South Korea’s STX Group.

Renamed STX France and part of the larger shipbuilding group STX Europe, the French shipyards are now looking to further expand their operations within the cruise and ferry newbuilding markets.

Three weeks earlier than expected, French ferry operator LD Line’s introduced a second vessel on its Portsmouth-Le Havre service last week.

The introduction of the Italian built Norman Voyager doubles the number of crossings on the service to meet the growing demand from both passengers and freight. Norman Voyager, on charter from UK shipowner Epic Shipping for three years, can carry 800 passengers, 200 cars and up to 120 freight vehicles. Onboard facilities include 110 cabins, bars, restaurants and lounges, and a First Class lounge, providing the very highest levels of passenger comfort.

Doubling the choice of sailings for passengers and freight drivers in both directions, Norman Voyager will operate a second daily departure from each port; sailing at 12.00 from Portsmouth and at 23.00 from Le Havre, in addition to the current sailing schedule of fleet mate Norman Spirit, which operates the overnight service from Portsmouth and the day sailing from Le Havre.

Next year, 2009, LD Lines will start two new services from Dover, to Boulogne and Dieppe.

American Cruise Line’s new 104 passenger capacity cruise vessel Independence was launched last week at Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp in Salisbury, Maryland. The vessel is set to enter service in August 2009.