New ferry confirmed

A FRENCH ferry boss has confirmed his plans for a second freight and passenger ferry on the Newhaven/Dieppe route.

Speaking from France Denis Bellenger, general director of Transmanche Ferries, told the Sussex Express tenders had been invited for another boat to run alongside the Sardinia Vera.

The aim is for the new boat to start as soon as possible, doubling the freight capacity on the line. The Hoverspeed Seacat fast ferry would continue its seasonal service.

However, the tender process is expected to take four months and it unlikely the second freight ferry would set sail before February.

Mr Bellenger explained it was necessary to have a second boat in order to generate more traffic on the route and make it a success.

Hauliers want at least four crossings a day-something a single ferry cannot provide.

At present lorry drivers face a ten hour wait if they miss a boat or potentially longer if there are mechanical problems.

It was critical for the business to grow said Mr Bellenger. We understand it is quite dangerous with only one boat, it will be more secure to have a second boat.

He admitted there was not enough traffic at the moment for second ferry, but added: We hope if the traffic develops and grows like it was before the summer holiday it will be necessary.

French, Spanish, Italian, and British lorries are already using the service.

We have to increase the traffic, today the traffic is good, but if it is the same in December it is not good, it needs to grow, added Mr Bellenger.

The major stumbling block for Transmanche is finding a ferry the right size for the route. It has not been decided whether the new boat will be bigger or the same size as the Sardinia Vera, which was tendered by Corsica Ferries.

Mr Bellenger said: There are not a lot of boats on the market. We will see what boats are proposed in the tenders.

Transmarche is run by the French consortium which bought Newhaven Harbour.

As part of the port sale deal with Sea Containers, which owns Hoverspeed, it was agreed that Hoverspeed would co-ordinate all advertising in the summer season.

However, now that the summer season has ended and the fast ferry is undergoing a refit, Transmanche will take over advertising.

Some ferry travellers had complained they were unaware of the Transmanche service because of the lack of publicity.

Mr Bellenger said this would change as Transmanche carried out an advertising offensive during the winter months.

For information and reservations on Transmanche Ferries call the Hoverspeed call centre on 08705 240241.