Press Release

The ferry company DFDS inaugurated its new ferry, the Côte d'Opale, on 4 August at an event in the port of Calais in the presence of CEO Torben Carlsen, its godmother Peggy Bouchet, the first woman to row across the Atlantic, and many other guests.

Calais, 5 August 2021 - The inaugural voyage of the Côte d'Opale, which provides crossings between Calais and Dover, officially took place at the end of an inauguration attended by around a hundred guests. The event took place in several parts with a christening ceremony, a visit of the installations and then a dinner on board the ship before its departure for its first rotation. Local politicians, maritime personalities, DFDS directors and journalists were present to witness the launch of the longest ferry to sail the Channel.

With a length of 214 metres, a capacity of 1,000 passengers and the largest duty-free shop in the Channel (1,000m2), the Côte d'Opale left Calais last night at 9.45pm and arrived at around 11.15pm under fireworks in the port of Dover.

Peggy Bouchet, adventurer, sailor and godmother of the Côte d'Opale, declared at the ceremony: "I am very happy to be the godmother of the "Côte d'Opale" because of my attachment to the sea. Before I became the first woman to dare to row across the Atlantic Ocean, I discovered the many similarities between the spirit of adventure and the spirit of enterprise. Whether the boat is small or large, whether the crossing is short or long, the human qualities required remain the same: the required remain the same: audacity, resilience, courage, tenacity, adaptability humility, (also humidity) but also commitment."

Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS, said at the ceremony "At DFDS we are passionate about the environment just like Peggy Bouchet. We care about the social environment as well as the environment of our planet and that is why DFDS respects and supports the labour standards in all the countries we operate in. The Côte D'Opale carries 50% more cargo than the vessel it replaces, reducing the environmental impact per unit transported. This is made possible by the vessel running on two engines instead of four like its predecessor and going faster than the latter. Larger, greener, more comfortable, the Côte d'Opale embodies the Company's vision for the years to come. The restaurants, lounges and other facilities for both passengers and freight drivers provide a unique journey and experience.

With the environmental aspect being a key challenge for DFDS with the aim of being zero-emission by 2055, the ship has been designed with a sustainable and environmentally friendly paint scheme. Equipped entirely with LED lights, it also has two less engines to improve fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions while being faster, reaching a service speed of 20-22 knots.

Like the duty free shop that will soon open in the port of Calais, this new ship operating under the French flag aims to help boost the attractiveness of the excursions between Calais and Dover, and thus benefit these regions from this tourist flow.

To watch the livestream of the christening ceremony, click here. To see all the photos of the event, click here.

-Fin-

For more information, please contact

Hopscotch Europe PAUL FIATTE +33 6 60 28 99 19 pfiatte@hopscotch.eu

Hopscotch Europe CHARLY CHARLES +33 9 70 46 47 60 ccharles@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.