Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries have reached a strategic agreement to share freight and passenger space on their Dover to Calais route. This collaboration aims to reduce customer waiting times and improve the overall traffic flow on this crucial trade and tourism corridor to the EU.
Enhanced Service and Flexibility
Starting this summer, freight customers will be the first to experience the benefits of this agreement, enjoying a seamless “turn up and go” service. Passenger services will follow in a phased rollout, promising greater flexibility and more choices for all travellers.
The partnership is designed to offer faster, more efficient travel for both freight and passenger customers on the cross-channel ferry service. With the potential for reduced waiting times and improved traffic flow, the collaboration between Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries is expected to enhance the travel experience on one of Europe’s busiest routes.
Fleet changes
The two operators are also making changes to their fleets. The P&O Ferries’ vessel, SPIRIT OF BRITAIN will be renamed before replacing Irish Ferries’ ISLE OF INNISFREE on the Dover to Calais route during June.
The ISLE OF INNISFREE will then be redeployed to the Rosslare to Pembroke Dock route, enhancing service options on this crossing which is currently serviced by P&O Ferries’ NORBAY.
Initially OSCAR WILDE will replace NORBAY at Rosslare in early June to allow time for the changeover at Dover to take place. The reintroduction of DUBLIN SWIFT on the Dublin to Holyhead route for the summer season has allowed OSCAR WILDE to temporarily be released from that route.
These changes will mean that Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries will contribute three vessels each to the Dover to Calais route. P&O Ferries’ fleet will consist of the double-ended hybrid ferries P&O LIBERTÉ and P&O PIONEER, supported by SPIRIT OF FRANCE.
Irish Ferries’ fleet will consist of SPIRIT OF BRITAIN (sister-ship to SPIRIT OF FRANCE), ISLE OF INISHMORE, and ISLE OF INISHEER. DFDS, the other operator on the route, also has three vessels on the Calais route.
The SPIRIT OF BRITAIN will initially join Irish Ferries on a two-year bareboat charter at a rate of €20,000 per day with a purchase obligation for €74.8 million at the end of the charter. The total value of the deal is €89.4 million. The ship will receive Irish Ferries livery and internal rebranding before entering service with the company.
Maintaining Independence
While the agreement means shared capacity between the two ferry operators, each company will retain complete control over their commercial operations. This ensures that while efficiency and flexibility are boosted, the unique identity and service standards of each operator remain intact.
Existing Collaboration
It is also worth noting that P&O Ferries already has an existing space share arrangement with DFDS on the Dover to Calais route. It is unclear what impact the new P&O / Irish Ferries deal will have on this existing Space Charter arrangement.
Earlier this week DFDS announced that it is to invest €1bn in six new battery-electric ferries for its cross-channel operation.
