Guest Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, jonno said: Karlshamn having triple deck loading linkspans constructed as part of their expansion. Karlshamn prepares for the new ferry – DFDS News (dfds-news.com) According to the spec they have external loading ramps and internal ramps. Edited November 23, 2020 by Guest Link to post Share on other sites
TonyMWeaver Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Hyde Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 Proposed new DFDS ferry. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
RickOShea Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 11 hours ago, Nick Hyde said: Proposed new DFDS ferry. As I commented on another thread - we should be clear that at this stage, this about DFDS and partner organisations seeking funding for the development of a concept. Positive news but a long way short of a newbuild yet https://www.dfds.com/en/about/investors/announcements/announcement#lang=English&id=3843041 Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 7 hours ago, RickOShea said: As I commented on another thread - we should be clear that at this stage, this about DFDS and partner organisations seeking funding for the development of a concept. Positive news but a long way short of a newbuild yet I don't think there was any doubt about that. The articles make it quite clear. Link to post Share on other sites
Cabin-boy Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 29 minutes ago, Danim24 said: I don't think there was any doubt about that. The articles make it quite clear. Anyway, all this talk of hydrogen seems like a lot of hot air. Ed Link to post Share on other sites
Le Quiberon Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 The Princess has just been and the King is heading to dry-dock meaning DFDS are clearly investing in the vessels which is good news! The Newc-Ij route is supposedly doing well due to increase freight volumes which is good. Link to post Share on other sites
RickOShea Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 14 minutes ago, Le Quiberon said: The Princess has just been and the King is heading to dry-dock meaning DFDS are clearly investing in the vessels which is good news! The Newc-Ij route is supposedly doing well due to increase freight volumes which is good. I believe the ships are mostly full of freight which is why the route hasn't been suspended despite no passengers. Link to post Share on other sites
Le Quiberon Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 That’s good to hear. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Tumnus2010 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Just wondering with Moby's current issues whether there is likely to be any revival of the replacement of the DFDS Newcastle boats with the Moby sisters? Personally quite glad the current sisters are still operating as I've still got a twice delayed trip on King Seaways from last year Link to post Share on other sites
Le Quiberon Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 I think it will still go ahead but later than planned. Crazy to think that the new girls could have been in service by now. Link to post Share on other sites
RickOShea Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 30 minutes ago, Le Quiberon said: I think it will still go ahead but later than planned. Crazy to think that the new girls could have been in service by now. They'd have been in service almost a year by now! One was due mid-Feb and one mid-March. I doubt it will ever go ahead. Project was dependent on the nature of the deal agreed. That deal will never be on the table again I would imagine. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Tumnus2010 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Thanks @RickOShea I had read somewhere about the city of Bruges looking to tender for a new passenger link to the UK. Had wondered if that might come from Newcastle and DFDS. They would (I think) have the capacity in North Shields as presumably they still have 2 linkspans? Link to post Share on other sites
RickOShea Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 55 minutes ago, Tumnus2010 said: Thanks @RickOShea I had read somewhere about the city of Bruges looking to tender for a new passenger link to the UK. Had wondered if that might come from Newcastle and DFDS. They would (I think) have the capacity in North Shields as presumably they still have 2 linkspans? I'd say almost zero chance of that route happening and very unlikely to be DFDS unless there was a decision to move from IJmuiden (very unlikely too). Ports can dream all they like of new routes, but there has to be a commercial attractiveness. Also note that second linkspan at Newcastle is quite constrained in many ways. Even the existing DFDS vessels have issues using it, can't recall the specifics. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan_H Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 On 20/02/2021 at 14:18, Tumnus2010 said: Personally quite glad the current sisters are still operating as I've still got a twice delayed trip on King Seaways from last year Me too, I was supposed to be travelling on both in April as part of a re-arranged concert trip, that clearly won't be happening now. They're both (still) lovely ships though so I'm glad they'll be around to enjoy for a while yet, hopefully I'll get on board again before the end of the year. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
jonno Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 5 hours ago, RickOShea said: I'd say almost zero chance of that route happening and very unlikely to be DFDS unless there was a decision to move from IJmuiden (very unlikely too). Ports can dream all they like of new routes, but there has to be a commercial attractiveness. Also note that second linkspan at Newcastle is quite constrained in many ways. Even the existing DFDS vessels have issues using it, can't recall the specifics. With Zeebrugge now working in close partnership with Antwerp might they have decided that freight is their only option for the future? With Dunkerque seemingly going from strength to strength and the port being only an hour from Bruges is this a more realistic option in terms of passenger traffic? DFDS could easily market a mini break, call it 2.5 hours from Dover? Link to post Share on other sites
RickOShea Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 47 minutes ago, jonno said: With Zeebrugge now working in close partnership with Antwerp might they have decided that freight is their only option for the future? With Dunkerque seemingly going from strength to strength and the port being only an hour from Bruges is this a more realistic option in terms of passenger traffic? DFDS could easily market a mini break, call it 2.5 hours from Dover? Absolutely - fine idea. The ferry and hotel short break market is one that DFDS is already experienced in. A lot of places get obsessed about having a ferry when the reality is reaching a target audience and having workable connections is more important. When you look at the volume of passengers handled by Hull - Zeebrugge in recent years Vs the volume of tourists going to Bruges, P&O clearly accounted for a relatively small percentage of the total. Link to post Share on other sites
Tumnus2010 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 (edited) 2 hours ago, RickOShea said: When you look at the volume of passengers handled by Hull - Zeebrugge in recent years Vs the volume of tourists going to Bruges, P&O clearly accounted for a relatively small percentage of the total. Yes, agreed. Although I suspect the one thing P&O did bring was a certain amount of consistency and particularly low season tourism. I've been in Bruges in high summer when it's been heaving, largely with American and Asian tourists. But, also been there many times in the low season where there have still been healthy numbers of coaches taking minicruise passengers to and from the boat. The 2 for 1 deal certainly helped in that regard, and better "value" than the DFDS equivalent. Zeebrugge, like other cruise destinations, must be hoping for the return of the cruise market ASAP. Other than Pont Aven doing festive cruises, is Antwerp used as a cruise destination? Edited February 24 by Tumnus2010 1 Link to post Share on other sites
RickOShea Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 9 minutes ago, Tumnus2010 said: Other than Pont Aven doing festive cruises, is Antwerp used as a cruise destination? I have been there twice on a cruise! That said, that was Cruise and Maritime (RIP). Link to post Share on other sites
rogerpatenall Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Yes - but Antwerp is not a big cruise destination. 15 calls booked in 2021 (but how many will actually happen??), and 10 booked to date for 2022. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
jonno Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 I think Antwerp are building a new cruise terminal which was originally planned to open this year but with covid who knows if the build continued? Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan_H Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 Well another aborted trip from last year involves a hotel in Ostend, and I was planning to use Dover-Dunkerque for that as well - so DFDS have a fair bit of my money still. Personally, I love Ostend and much prefer it over Bruges any day. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 We travelled on one of the last Ramsgate - Ostend crossings, just before it went bust. Loved Ostend, the ferry was just 'weird' - being almost empty (4 cars and 1 truck). We dined on chicken and chips in a deserted restaurant, declining the brussel sprouts offered as a side. The travel up river to the berth at Ostend was scary - the ship didn't seem to slow down and was at times very close to moored craft. Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan_H Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 I saw some photos of the King and Princess looking very smart on shipspotting earlier, presumably fresh from refit. It looks like Princess has lost her Maltese cross on her funnel but King still had hers, as of a couple of days ago anyway. All they need now is some passengers 2 Link to post Share on other sites
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