Archives
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- April 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
Feature, Freight News, Sea, Road
DFDS puts Sheerness back on the ferry map
[ April 7, 2021 // Chris ]DFDS, is to launch a new freight-only service between Sheerness and Calais, the first regular ferry route to operate from the Peel Ports-owned location for many years.
The service will start on 1 June and will offer one daily sailing in each direction operated by the Gothia, which can carry up to 165 unaccompanied units.
Sheerness, part of Peel Ports’ London Medway cluster, is located in northern Kent and operates 24 hours a day, allowing operators to drop and collect trailers, with no standage charges applied for the first 48 hours. The port is close to the M25 and 40km closer to the M25 than Dover.
The new service will exploit capacity partly enabled by Department of Transport resilience funding in 2019.
The port was the UK terminal for the Olau Line passenger and freight service to Vlissingen, which ceased in 1994. Since then, Sheerness has handled mainly general cargo and trade cars.
DFDS, which already operates regular services aimed mainly at the accompanied market from Dover to Calais and Dunkerque, says there is growing demand for unaccompanied freight services. It is introducing the freight and passenger ship, Cote d’Opale to its Dover to Calais route in July.
The Dover-Calais route will also see the launch of a new Irish Ferries service in June.
Freight sales director Wayne Bullen, said: “Sheerness promises to be a superb ‘partner port’, with an ambitious plan to grow its services over the next decade. We also continue to cement our partnership with the port of Calais and are excited to be expanding our services to the port as it marks the fulfilment of its multi-million-pound expansion project.”
He added that launching a new route was a strong indication of DFDS’ commitment to its customers and would help to boost both the UK and French economies.
The new service will also be one of a handful of services from Calais to serve a port other than Dover, although P&O Ferries did operate a freight service to Tilbury before ceasing the operation at the height of the Covid crisis.
Calais chairman Jean-Marc Puissesseau, said it was: “A clear sign of confidence in the ability of the port to create value for our clients. This new service will perfectly fit with the rail motorways in operation in Calais coming from Italy, Spain and southern France.”
London Medway port director Richard Goffin, Port Director, added: “We’re delighted to welcome a new unaccompanied freight service from DFDS. This is the first ferry service since Olau Line ceased operating in 1994. Over the past year, we have Brexit-proofed a number of our ports, including London Medway, increasing resiliency to handle additional cargo to help reduce delays and maximise efficiencies for customers to provide a more attractive proposition and UK entry point over other southern ports.
“The combination of challenges posed by Brexit and Covid-19, has exposed drivers and haulage companies to vulnerabilities in supply chains worldwide. This has resulted in many cargo owners and carriers re-assessing their transport plans and choosing different ports, different shipping methods, and switching transport modes in order to preserve supply chains. Given current restrictions surrounding international travel, stricter border controls and COVID-19 threats, one of the most standout benefits is that by using driverless methods, the risk of delays associated to those particular challenges is reduced.”
DFDS will provide further information, including a detailed sailing schedule for the route, shortly before the service starts.

Tags: DFDS; Sheerness; Peel Ports; Calais