Press Release

Following the long-term charter contract with Stena RoRo, the new Côte d'Opale ferry was delivered to DFDS on 17 May, six weeks ahead of schedule. She leaves China today for France where she will enter service in July. At 216 metres, she will be the longest ferry operating on the English Channel.

27 May 2021, Calais - DFDS, multiple winner of the World's Best Ferry Company award, has officially taken delivery of its newest vessel, the Côte d'Opale, which will replace the Calais Seaways on the Calais-Dover routes. The ferry leaves China today for Dover for docking trials and then France where it will enter service in July 2021 and become the longest ferry to operate on the Channel, offering the Channel's largest duty-free shopping experience.

With the arrival of the new vessel, which has a greater capacity for cargo and passengers on board, DFDS is preparing for future growth. This project, following the announcement of the opening of Duty Free shops in Calais and Dunkirk in the coming months, continues in the line of presenting a forward-looking outlook in a post-covid and post-Brexit world and DFDS's desire to offer its passengers an ever more qualitative and up-to-the-minute experience.

"With a capacity of 160 trailers and space for 1,000 passengers and crew, the Côte d'Opale is a great example of how we combine cargo and passenger traffic without compromising the onboard experience. We appreciate Stena's E-Flexer design, which has made it possible to adapt the ferry, in collaboration with Stena, to the requirements of short Channel crossings," says Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS.

"With this ferry, we will be able to offer our passengers a comfortable journey and an extraordinary shopping experience, while at the same time accommodating growth and increasing operational efficiency. Thanks to its large capacity, energy consumption per trailer carried will be significantly reduced compared to the Calais Seaways which will be replaced by the Côte d'Opale."

The cabins have been replaced with extra-large spaces for passengers to relax and enjoy the excellent facilities on board in compliance with health measures. The bow and stern are specially designed to fit the quay facilities of both ports, and in addition she is equipped with a third bow thruster to facilitate the many daily manoeuvres in port.

"Our aim is to adapt the design to the specific wishes of our customers, and together with DFDS we have jointly adapted the ferry's unique design," says Per Westling, CEO of Stena RoRo. "In addition to far-reaching requirements regarding environmental aspects and technology, flexibility is one of the main characteristics of the E-Flexer class."

The Côte d'Opale was ordered by DFDS in April 2018 (based on a ten-year charter from Stena RoRo) and was built at China Merchants Jinling Weihai Shipyard. DFDS will operate the vessel for an initial decade, with an option to purchase thereafter. The ferry has the capacity to handle the growth in freight and leisure customers post-Brexit and Covid-19.

It is more environmentally friendly than the Calais Seaways it replaces. The Côte d'Opale will improve its fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions while being faster, achieving a service speed of 20-22 knots.

About the Côte d'Opale:

Length: 215.9 m Draught: 6.6m Width: 27.8 m Capacity: 3100 linear metres + 120 cars, 1000 passengers and crew

To watch the behind the scenes video of the construction of the Côte d'Opale, click here.

-Fin-

For more information, please contact :

Hopscotch Europe Carla ÉCHÈNE +353 15556 97 26 cechene@hopscotch.eu

About DFDS:

With a network of 27 routes and a fleet of 71 vessels, DFDS is the largest integrated transport and logistics company in Northern Europe. DFDS offers first-class facilities and service, as well as the widest range of ferry routes in Northern Europe.

The Group's activities in France include a freight service between Marseille and Tunis, as well as port operations in Calais, Dunkirk, and Dieppe. In 2020, DFDS was named "Best Ferry Company in the World" for the 10th consecutive year (2011-2020) and "Best Ferry Company in Europe" for the 9th consecutive year (2012-2020).

DFDS operates up to 54 daily services between France and Dover from Dunkirk and Calais. The DFDS network also includes a passenger and freight service between Dieppe and Newhaven offering up to 6 crossings daily. A significant social player, DFDS employs 1,000 French staff and operates five vessels under the French flag. For more information about DFDS, or to find out the latest fares and offers on our UK routes, visit www.dfds.fr.