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All change on the Channel as Irish Ferries debuts and Price of Burgundy returns

[ June 29, 2021   //   ]

Irish Ferries’ Isle of Inishmore set sail on the operator’s inaugural service from Dover to Calais on 29 June. The new route offers five sailings per day in each direction, with sailings from Dover at 04.30, 07.55, 12.45, 17.30 and 23.40. Sailings from Calais are at 03.10, 7.55, 12.45, 17.30 and 22.15. The refurbished vessel offers facilities including a drivers lounge and dedicated new showers.

The new service offers the possibility of joint bookings between the UK and Ireland and between England and France for truckers running between Ireland and the Continent via the UK landbridge. 

Andrew Sheen, Managing Director at Irish Ferries, said: “Our newly-launched route between Dover and Calais brings even more choice for freight customers who can now experience our outstanding service while travelling between the UK and France.”

Doug Bannister, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover, said: “We offer a very warm welcome to Irish Ferries and are delighted to see their operations commence from the UK’s busiest international ro-ro port. There has been considerable work by Port of Dover and all parties associated with this new service launch to get prepared for this day, and we are pleased to see all of those efforts come to fruition. We wish Irish Ferries every success for their new venture with us.”

Meanwhile, P&O Ferries said its Dover/Calais sailings were back to full strength as the Pride of Burgundy – its fifth ship on the route – made its first sailing in over a year.

With capacity to carry 120 lorries, shewill return in freight-only mode, making two return journeys each day. The addition of a fifth ship comes in response to growing demand from British and European customers and will expand options for those requiring rapid and reliable transportation of goods between pivotal markets.

Managing director, Peter Hebblethwaite, said: “I am delighted to see the restoration of our Dover-Calais fleet to its pre-pandemic strength of five, with the resulting increase in departures and frequency enabling us to take back market leadership on the English Channel and further improve our customer service. Pride of Burgundy will reinforce our cost-effective freight service by increasing capacity and flexibility on the route – a vital artery of trade upon which thousands of businesses and consumers rely.”

P&O is offering a joint ‘turn up and go service with DFDS for its freight customers, allowing them to sailing on the next available ship with either operator.

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