Tuesday 15 January 2013

Euroferries Ramsgate-Boulogne Will it Happen?



New Year New Ferry Service?



I was quite excited to hear the news last October that a fast craft service was to arrive in January 2013 and start a ferry service from Ramsgate to Boulogne in February. Boulogne is a brilliant port right in the town with lots of nice restaurants and shops and in my opinion much better than Calais. So the prospect of going from Ramsgate instead of Dover was the icing on the cake.
I know that Euroferries attempted a start some time ago without success but this time the press releases looked quite promising.
I read as much as I could find and even Thanet Council spokesman said he was cautiously optimistic.
Since this time I have regularly visited the Euroferries' site but no further details have been added. Similarly surfing the web I can find no updates. My original enthusiasm is now changing to disappointment and visiting
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=311037300&header=true shows the vessel is still in port in Australia. Has anyone out there got any news or is this a dead duck?

17 comments:

  1. just another red herring from some joker who thinks he is a shipping tycone or is it to try and attract new shipping lines to use ramsgate

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  2. THEY STILL HAVE TWO WEEKS TO GET IT HERE BUT IS THAT LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE IT THIS MONTH? HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO SAIL THE SHIP HERE??? I THINK MAY BE NOT LIKLY TO HAPPEN THIS TIME EITHER.

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  3. Max. speed 37 knots or about 40 mph, distance say 10500 miles, probably about two weeks at the very minimum more likely three. Would then need trials on route and docking so a February start is looking unlikely. Anyone else got any thoughts on this. Have emailed Euroferries to ask if they have a starting date.

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    Replies
    1. could just be doable mid/end feb then

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    2. its a pity transeuropa dont trial a few trips to see if it would be a viable new service they now have three ships again maybe Gardenia could do some trial sailings when ostend spirit enters service later this month any comments from T/E about this

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  4. Lets keep our fingures crossed. LD lines tried Boulogne but did not carry on due to lack of support. The problem was that their schedule was not appropriate to the needs of travellers.
    Unfortunately we also lost the brilliant Speedferries service due to economic pressures. It would be good to get a service back into Boulogne. For those going South in France it would knock 30 minutes of their road jouney.

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  5. Buzz I take it that Euroferries have not responded to your request for a start date and dout that they will

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  6. austal hull 270 today-29.01.2013-still in port near perth
    maybe euroferries has changed into a virtual company....................
    harry from germany

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  7. Everything has gone quiet and no reply from company to email. I will try Thanet District Council to see if they know anything.

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  8. Reply from Thanet District Council:
    "We have been assured by EuroFerries that the Fast Craft service to Boulogne would start in the Spring but as the vessel is still in Australia it does seem a bit optimistic………….they have been assuring us for several years running that the service would start but to date nothing has happened. I would assume nothing will happen again this year."
    I would speculate that the problem could be one of finance in this current economic climate. We live in hope.

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  9. Forwarded email from one of our readers:
    "I apologise for the fact that the website hasn't been updated. However, it will be once we have further information. The arrival of the vessel is not a fixed date, but we will be releasing more information as we have it.

    Kind regards

    Lynn

    Lynn Lee Msc MCIPR
    Good Company Publicity"

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  10. This is the one received today in response to one sent them by one of our readers:

    Good morning,
    We are still waiting for the vessel to arrive I'm afraid, but I will let you know as soon as it does.

    Kind regards



    Lynn Lee Msc MCIPR
    Good Company Publicity

    Specialising in Strategic Public Relations, Marketing,
    Communications Consultancy, Digital Media & Optimization.

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  11. Update from reader.
    "Euroferries have at least up-dated their website. The reference to
    February has gone and it now just says "starting in 2013". I still
    live in hope."

    I notice vessel still reported as in Australia.

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  12. Vessel charter not proceeding as per Austal press release. Euroferries could not abide by charter conditions. In English means they still have no money or backers 5 years on from first announcement of a new service. Dead duck and not worth further speculation.

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  13. Can we have the truth, please


    Mike S

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