Norman Spirit will soon be sailing the Dover-Calais route

300 jobs created as Norman Spirit to start crossings on February 17

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Ferry companies DFDS and LD Lines have announced a new Dover-Calais route that will start operation from February 17.

Two ships flying the French flag will be crossing the Channel.

The companies have been considering running new ships on the route since the collapse of SeaFrance.

Initially thge companies will operate the route with the Norman Spirit, and they say a further ferry under the French flag will be added on the Dover Strait as soon as a suitable ship can be made ready.

The companies will hire 300 staff at sea and ashore, and the hiring process, including taking on former SeaFrance staff, has already started.

DFDS and LDA said they were grateful for the support they had received received from the French Government, Chamber of Commerce, the local authorities and the ports.

In a statement they said: “We are confident that our customers and the many people and freight companies that travel between France and Dover will benefit from the flexibility we can now offer with both a northern leg on Dover-Dunkerque and a southern leg on Calais-Dover.

“We therefore look very much forward to being able to welcome passengers as well as freight customers to our new Calais-Dover service, and, in cooperation with our new employees as well as our staff in Dover and Dunkerque, we look forward to providing an attractive and efficient customers service and a sustainable workplace.”

There will be five crossings a day until a second ferry is ready.