Second ferry proposed

PLANS are in hand to operate a second freight ferry on the Newhaven/Dieppe cross-Channel route.

The Sussex Express learned this week that Transmanche Ferries hope to have the new service up and running by the start of the New Year.

Freight traffic on the Sardinia Vera ferry has grown during the summer. It is hoped to build on this success by doubling the capacity of the route with another ferry to meet hauliers needs.

Up to 325 lorry loads were recorded each week in July and Spanish and Portuguese traffic has shown interest in the line.

Steve Forrest, Newhaven operations manager for Transmanche, confirmed a ship was being sought for the cross-Channel route.

Hauliers

Historically, there have always been two ships on the line. With one ship we cannot offer the schedule and number of crossings hauliers need. They want at least four crossings a day.

Transmanche is concerned it will lose business if a driver misses a crossing and, faced with a 12-hour wait for the next sailing, decides to travel from Dieppe to Calais and cross to Dover.

As a result Transmanche has its eye on a bigger, second ferry to work alongside the Sardinia Vera.

The Sardinia Vera can take up to 50 lorries. It is hoped the new vessel would take up to 60.

It has still not been decided whether the new ferry will be tendered for like the Sardinia Vera or purchased.

The Hoverspeed Seacat fast ferry on the route stops at the end of the month for its winter refit and will resume its seasonal service from April 2002.

But while it is out of action the Sardinia Vera will benefit from the foot passengers which traditionally use the fast ferry. Mr Forrest said: From October we will definitely pick up in the tourist market.

The Sardinia Vera will sail throughout the winter with two return weekday crossings, daily at 9am and 9pm from Newhaven, and 4pm and 4am from Dieppe. On Saturday the ferry leaves at 8am and returns at 8pm from Dieppe.

Sunday services will be 8am and 8pm from Newhaven and 4pm from Dieppe. Crossing time is four hours.

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