Identity of P&O Ferries’ New Calais – Tilbury Ferry Revealed

By: Steven Tarbox
Date:
Last updated:
CAROLINE RUSS. Stena Line Freight.
CAROLINE RUSS. Stena Line Freight.

Chartered Ro-Ro Currently in Dry Dock

P&O Ferries new Tilbury to Calais ship is currently in dry dock in Portugal according to Nord Littoral (in French).  CAROLINE RUSS is expected to enter service on the new route at the end of September.  The Ernst Russ Reederi owned ship is currently in dry dock at Viana do Castelo.  

CAROLINE RUSS is a sister-ship of MISTRAL which currently operates on P&O’s Liverpool to Dublin route.  The 153m long freight-only vessel was built in 1999 as one of seven sister-ships, and has capacity for around 100 trailers and 12 drivers. She had been on charter to GNV since last year, but previously has been chartered by Stena Line, Corsica Linea, and Transfennica. The Tilbury service will use the single-level linkspan at T4 at Calais. T4 is part of the multimodal terminal at the port and in a separate area from the ferry terminal used by the Dover ferries.

The T4 linkspan at Calais. Built in 2006, it is expected that P&O Ferries will use T4 for their Calais - Tilbury service starting at the end of September 2019. Marad.
The T4 linkspan at Calais. Built in 2006, it is expected that P&O Ferries will use T4 for their Calais – Tilbury service starting at the end of September 2019. Marad.

According to an email sent to hauliers by P&O Ferries the new route is being opened:

“…in response to customer demand for an improved unaccompanied product connecting cargo flows from Calais and Continental rail connections with a location close to London, and therefore supports both your traffic flows and safeguarding your customers’ supply chains with improved BREXIT options.”

The company have yet to publicly announce the route, however.  It is expected that CAROLINE RUSS will operate on the following sailing schedule

Day Arr Tilbury Dep Tilbury Arr Calais Dep Calais
Mon 04:30 11:00 19:00 22:30
Tue 04:30 11:00 19:00 22:30
Wed 04:30 11:00 19:00 22:30
Thurs 04:30 11:00 19:00 22:30
Fri 04:30 11:00 19:00 22:30
Sat 04:30 18:00    
Sun     06:00 21:00

 

As this is a freight only Ro-Ro service the only passengers which will be carried are freight drivers. As with other Ro-Ro vessels accommodation for only 12 passengers is provided.


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