DFDS to open a new England-France ro-ro route

As of 1 June, the Danish shipping & logistics company will be offering a daily round trip between the ports of Sheerness (part of Peel Ports London Medway) and Calais.

The new service is targeted at trailers. DFDS expects that most of the unaccompanied freight that is carried today by its ships on the two Dover Strait routes, Dover-Calais and Dover-Dunkirk, will transfer to the new route.

The Sheerness-Calais will be served by Gothia Seaways (capacity of up to 165 trailers).

"We're delighted to welcome a new unaccompanied freight service from DFDS. This is the first ferry service since Olau Line ceased operating in 1994. Over the past year, we have Brexit-proofed a number of our ports, including London Medway, increasing resiliency to handle additional cargo to help reduce delays and maximise efficiencies for customers to provide a more attractive proposition and UK entry point over other southern ports," Richard Goffin, Port Director, London Medway, commented.

Wayne Bullen, Freight Sales Director, DFDS, added, "Sheerness promises to be a superb 'partner port,' with an ambitious plan to grow its services over the next decade. We also continue to cement our partnership with the port of Calais and are excited to be expanding our services to the port as it marks the fulfilment of its multi-million-pound expansion project."

Photo: PD Ports