LD Lines has been given the go-ahead from the Port of Dover for a new Dover - Boulogne freight and passenger service in 2009.

Scheduled to start from July 1, the new service will provide four return sailings daily (two on Sundays), with a crossing time of one hour 45 minutes.

Freight and tourist traffic, including coaches, cars and foot passengers will be carried.

The vessel Norman Spirit, which currently operates on LD Lines’ Portsmouth - Le Havre service, will be replaced on the Western Channel and is then expected to be transferred to operate the new Dover - Boulogne route.

The ship has capacity for 1850 passengers, 700 cars and 110 freight vehicles.

LD Lines Directeur Général Christophe Santoni said: "We are delighted to have now received confirmation from the Port of Dover that our new Dover - Boulogne route has official approval and we look forward to a very positive, long-term working relationship with the Port Authority.

"Our entry into the highly competitive short sea cross channel ferry business is a major development for LD Lines.

"We are convinced that the service will undoubtedly attract new freight and tourist customers, which will benefit both Dover and Boulogne as departure and destination ports."

In the first year of operation the company expects to carry in the region of 120,000 freight vehicles, 133,000 cars and 400,000 passengers.

Bob Goldfield, Chief Executive at the Port of Dover said, "The Port of Dover welcomes the additional capacity at a time when it is planning a second ferry terminal to meet forecasts in traffic growth."

Fares and reservation information for tourist passengers will be published in due course - visit www.ldlines.com

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