LD Lines to operate from Port of Ramsgate

[TempsPerdu]

Saw this story this evening:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8504588.stm

No doubt one of our Ferry experts might know more.

Regards
Steve

_________________
À la recherche du temps perdu - In Search of Lost Time and Remembrance of Things Past

[teapot]

Phew at least they haven't quit Dover.

"LD Lines said the Norman Spirit, currently operating between Dover and Boulogne, would be replaced by the Brave Merchant, which will also be renamed. Services will not be disrupted".

Maybe re-name it the Brave Passenger

[ferryguru]

LD Lines are moving the Norman Spirit to Ramsgate and operating the ship to Ostend twice per day. This is in conjunction with TEF. TEF will apparently sell the freight space with LD Lines selling the passenger space etc.

The ship is no stranger to Ramsgate having operated there as the Prins Filip on the Ramsgate to Ostend route, however not without incident. The ship regularly had issues in the port due to its size.

The ex. Brave Merchant that is coming in to replace the Norman Spirit originally ran on the Irish Sea. The ship is no where near as big passenger wise and the estimate of 400 is on the high side and I would not want to be onboard.

The ship is identical to P&O's European Endeavour (interior pictures can be found here). The ship essentially has one lounge / bar area, one restaurant and one reclining seat lounge.

[TempsPerdu]

A further story on the BBC yesterday about this route, apparently a second ship is going to be used

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8580992.stm

Steve

_________________
À la recherche du temps perdu - In Search of Lost Time and Remembrance of Things Past