howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
we all read yesterday about the problems facing p & o ferries with intense price cutting by eurotunnel.
today it seems that ld lines are experiencing similar problems, staff have been warned of possible job losses.
no official decision has been taken on the future of the dover-boulogne route, however the "norman trader" and "norman bridge" have been put on the market.
taken along with the problems that sea france have been experiencing, seems like troubled times on the channel.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Oh dear! I posted a pic yesterday about DFDS, its on a new thread there somewhere on front of the forum right now. Its a bit of positivety anyway to see a new company coming along and tackling things with gusto. They of course are taking over Norfolkline but are not on the Dover Calais route so possibly not threatened by Eurotunnel.
But sad news there re LD Lines selling their ships. Wasnt aware of that. They are making a brave stab at opening up that old Boulogne route so it will be very sad if it doesnt work out for them...and us. I guess there are just too many carriers. Boulogne might suffer from a lack of immediate motorway facility for the serious drivers/truckers.
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
As far as Eurotunnel is concerned they are just making hay while the sun shines. Some carriers, notably Norfolk Line/DFDS, appreciate that their bread and butter income comes from freight with a bonus from tourist traffic.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
The gaily coloured Norman Bridge photographed soon after its all new fresh paint job. There are two ships of similar shape and hue and plying their trade daily between here and Boulogne. But, has last orders been called on the route? As Howard says above the ships are up for sale.
Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
I came back from Calais yesterday on P&O and it was full of the carriers favourite passengers,cars.Unfortunately the lift from the passenger facility to the car decks refused once again to work stranding those with disabilities to walk down those stairs. There were many dissatisfied passengers joining the freight drivers who given the option wouldn't use P&O. Norfolkline treats the freight industry with respect due to their bread and butter customers.
I haven't used P&O for awhile favouring both the tunnel and Norfolkline but I should add it isn't the staff of P&O to blame it is the company for it's attitude,the staff in general are superb.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
LD are not selling the ships, they don't own them. They have chartered them from the owners, whom I think are Epic Shipping, and will just return them at the end of the charter if the route has not taken off. The crew are all agency staff who will either stay with the ships or go off to work on other ships manned by the agency. From what I have heard from crewmembers who have sailed on them, they are ones to avoid!
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
So LD Lines can just drop the route and fade into oblivion with little consequence! P&O, at a guess, are trying not to spend money on ships they will probably be disposing of before too long. They have 3 new ones due into service in the next 12 months or so. SeaFrance will continue to bimble along being SeaFrance I suppose until the next strike.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
