CEO David Stretch will be leaving P&O Ferries, to pursue new opportunities outside of the Group.
David Stretch took over the reins at P&O Ferries following the departure of CEO Janette Bell in August 2020.
David Stretch will be replaced in his role by Peter Hebblethwaite, as interim CEO, whilst maintaining his current role.
Peter Hebblethwaite has served both as Director Overnight Routes and Managing Director – RoPax during his three years with the company.
Eni and Fincantieri have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a partnership for promoting initiatives focused on the energy transition. The aim is to create a system of integrated solutions for decarbonization projects in the fields of energy, transport and the circular economy.
P&O is rolling out a new customs clearance service to help firms navigate the new rules for import and exports.
The new service is equipped to assist customers with empty declaration requirements from this month, providing tailored support throughout the last quarter of 2021.
As international trade continues to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, the service will develop the provision of smart logistics solutions, ensuring customers are prepared for evolving requirements and future regulatory changes.
With the UK Government Brexit changes scheduled to be implemented from 1 January 2022, P&O Ferries is also developing a range of digital solutions to help customers with their requirements, which will be rolled out in phases in the months ahead.
PRIDE OF BURGUNDY – P&O Ferries fifth ship on its Dover-Calais route – arrived on 28 June at the Port of Dover, returning to service after being laid up (and even for sale).
The P&O ship arrived the day before the start of Irish Ferries on Dover-Calais, with presently one ship: ISLE OF INISHMORE. Irish Ferries operates up to 10 sailings a day.
PRIDE OF BURGUNDY’s return follows P&O Ferries’ freight space sharing agreement with DFDS on the Dover-Calais route.
Passenger travel is still limited due to Covid-related restrictions. Belgium, France and Spain are “amber list” zones, which requires travellers to go in quarantine when arriving in the UK.
France allows vaccinated travellers from the UK, with a PCR-test.
If not vaccinated you can only travel to France if you have pressing grounds for travel, including tests and quarantine. [France Diplomacy]
Brittany Ferries is suffering from the lack of passengers. In 2 years, the company will have transported only 25% of passengers compared to the usual traffic – and this even though passenger transport represents 80% of its activity. CEO Christophe Mathieu told politicians that “the 2021 season is going to be as catastrophic as that of 2020.” [Source France Bleu]
Good News for Truckers: A Ferry Departure Every 36 Minutes
DFDS and P&O Ferries have entered into a mutual space charter agreement on the Dover-Calais ferry route.
Ferry Shipping News understands this has been under consideration for a long time.
Truck drivers will be able to board the next available sailing on the Dover-Calais route, regardless of which of the two companies is operating the crossing.
It will reduce the time drivers spend waiting at the ports, giving them access to a departure every 36 minutes and reducing gate-to-gate journey times by an estimated 30 minutes.
All commercial activities and relationships with freight customers remain entirely under the control of each operator. The Dover-Calais agreement is similar to space charter agreements entered into by DFDS on routes on the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and in the Mediterranean.
The new agreement is for freight vehicles only and does not apply to sailings on the DFDS Dover-Dunkerque route
DFDS operates three ropax ferries between Dover and Calais (and 3 on Dunkerque):
P&O Ferries operates five ropax ferries on Dover – Calais:
The agreement is expected to start during the summer.
The Port of Dover has welcomed the announcement “as a powerful statement of returning focus to driving the unrivalled benefits of the Dover-Calais crossing: to preserve and maximise the unique advantages of high pace, frequency and capacity provided to supply chains on the shortest sea crossing between the UK and its principal global trading partner – the EU.” [Statement Port of Dover]
P&O Ferries announced the introduction of an additional ship on the Hull – Zeebrugge LoLo service. Container feeder FREYA will join ELISABETH as from 1 June 2021.
P&O Ferries informed its staff that the Hull – Zeebrugge route is to close permanently. PRIDE OF BRUGES and PRIDE OF YORK are to be disposed of.
The same announcement said that PRIDE OF BURGUNDY and EUROPEAN SEAWAY will not be returning to service.
The four ships have been put on the market.
P&O Ferries will reintroduce a fourth ship on Dover-Calais, to satisfy returning freight demand. It will be PRIDE OF CANTERBURY, currently laid up near Edinburgh, together with PRIDE OF BURGUNDY.
PRIDE OF CANTERBURY will enter service on Saturday 3 October in freight-only mode.
CEO of P&O Ferries Janette Bell has decided to stand down after three years in the role. Her interim replacement will be the current Managing Director for Short Routes David Stretch.
She has led the ferry company through the Brexit process, the Covid-19 pandemic, and two new ferries have been ordered.
P&O Ferries Inform Freight Customers About Dover Wharfage Charge
In a letter, P&O Ferries tells its customers that Dover Harbour Board have served all shipping companies a notice of a £5 increase in wharfage charges across all freight unit types.
This increased charge applies to trucks, unaccompanied trailers or vans as from 19 July (ref the letter from Dover Harbour Board).
“We have little choice but to pass on this additional £5 (or €6) charge to our customers as from the same date,” writes P&O Ferries.
