DFDS leaves P&O Channel space charter agreement, Irish Ferries joins

The two cross-channel ferry operators entered into a mutual space charter agreement related to the English Channel’s Dover-Calais route to shorten freight customers’ waiting times and improve the flow of traffic across this arterial trade link.

Under the terms of the agreement, freight drivers can board the next available sailing when they arrive at the Port of Dover or the Port of Calais, regardless of which of the two ferry companies is operating the crossing, which helped cut the amount of waiting time at the port.

But with P&O Ferries’ recent agreement to enter into an additional and separate space charter agreement with Irish Ferries on the same route, DFDS said it has decided to end the agreement. In a statement, the company said its assessment concluded that DFDS is in a better commercial position by operating outside a space charter agreement at this point in time.

As for P&O Ferries, chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite said, “We recently announced P&O Ferries would join an ambitious new space charter agreement with Irish Ferries on the Dover-Calais route.”

“This new agreement is founded on a ’load and go’ principle, meaning we will never send out a ship that is not fully loaded for freight at peak. Freight will therefore clear the port at the busiest times up to 25% faster.

“I am delighted to confirm this agreement will commence operation before the end of August, initially for freight customers before being extended to passengers. The existing space charter with DFDS will end in one month’s time. Dover-Calais is the largest commercial route servicing the UK and continental Europe.”