DFDS to add Stena Nordica to its Dover-Calais service

DFDS Seaways is to add former Stena Line ship Stena Nordica to its Dover-Calais service.

Stena Nordica will bring DFDS’ Dover-France fleet back up to five vessels and will replace Dieppe Seaways, which was returned to its owner at the end of November.

Before joining Calais Seaways on the Dover-Calais service, the 170m ship will undergo a refit and rebrand. The ship, which has capacity for both passenger and freight customers, is expected to enter service in the next few months.

“We have been looking for a suitable fifth ship on our Dover-France routes to bring our Calais service back up to two vessels,” said Carsten Jensen, senior vice president at DFDS Seaways. “The introduction of the Nordica, coupled with an engine upgrade on Calais Seaways, will help us restore a reliable daily service of up to 20 sailings between Dover and Calais, which is good news for our customers and good news for our loyal crew and operations teams too.”

The ship’s arrival follows the recent UK Competition Appeal Tribunal’s ruling on the SCOP/Eurotunnel case on 9 January, which was welcomed by DFDS Seaways.

“We now have a stable platform for longer-term planning on our Dover-Calais operation, which is not only important for our Dover-based teams, but also our French colleagues who work on the Calais-Dover route,” said Jensen. “Securing this new vessel is an important first step to cementing our plans for this route.”