DFDS’ new ferry will be the longest to operate on an English Channel route
DFDS has completed the handover of its new ferry, Côte d’Opale, which will set sail from China next week.
The modern ferry will be the longest to operate on the English Channel when it joins DFDS’ route from Dover to Calais mid-year. DFDS said the ferry will also offer the largest duty-free shopping experience on the Channel.
Côte d’Opale was ordered by DFDS in April 2018 on a 10-year charter from Stena RoRo and has been built at the CMI Jinling (Weihai) shipyard in China. DFDS will operate the ship for an initial decade with an option to buy it after that. The ferry has the capacity to handle growth in both freight and leisure customers post-Brexit and Covid-19.
Côte d’Opale will have improved fuel consumption and less carbon dioxide emissions compared with previous vessels, and will be faster than Calais Seaways, which it is replacing. It will reach a service speed of 20-22 knots and will have two engines instead of four.
DFDS vice president and head of BU channel Filip Hermann said, “We are delighted to take ownership of this new ferry, which will usher in a new era for our services on the Channel. With 3,100 lane metres and space for 1,000 passengers, Côte d’Opale will provide more capacity to help our customers to grow as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and recover from post-Brexit challenges.
“We would like to thank Stena RoRo for the opportunity to bring Côte d’Opale in to the DFDS fleet and for a fantastic co-operation in allowing us to customise its design for our needs. The work completed by the 300 dedicated staff at CMI Jinling (Weihai) shipyard has been impeccable and allowed the delivery of the ferry to us earlier than billed.
“A key strategic focus for our business is to meet our responsibilities to the environment and reduce emissions. Côte d’Opale is just one example of the steps we are taking to deliver on our objective to reduce our environmental impact.”
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