Tag Archives: Dover

MSC maintains market presence and touts return to ex-UK

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By Phil Davies

MSC maintains market presence and touts return to ex-UK MSC Cruises is maintaining capacity in the UK market despite withdrawing departures from Southampton after this year.

The Italian line is concentrating on fly-Med sailings in 2015 with dedicated charter flights to serve five ships from Venice and its two biggest vessels MSC Fantasia and Preziosa sailing year-round from Barcelona and Genoa.

Regional connecting flights will be commissionable at 5%.

But UK, Ireland and Australia executive director Giles Hawke (pictured) does not rule out a return to ex-UK cruises in the future.

Hawke, speaking ahead of the 2015/16 programme going on sale on Wednesday – the earliest date ever – revealed that the company aims to more than triple UK passenger numbers from 60,000 this year to 200,000 by 2017.

He would not be drawn on when or if MSC would return to ex-UK departures, but said there would be eight calls in either Southampton or Dover next year which will allow agents to make ship visits.

“We will more than replace our ex-UK capacity with our fly-Med programme,” he said, indicating that MSC would be the biggest player in the sector in 2015 with departures covering both the western and eastern Mediterranean.

The company has taken 500 pre-registrations from consumers ahead of the on-sale date and expects strong trade support, with early booking offers such as discounts of up to £200 off the brochure price and free cabin upgrades for bookings made between April and June.

Prices lead in at £499 per person based on a seven-night fly-cruise from Barcelona on newest ship MSC Preziosa on December 6, 2015.

Other options include the first ship with upgraded MSC Yacht Club facilities – MSC Splendida – sailing in northern Europe.

Hawke said: “I believe we will return to ex-UK cruising but first we want to build the brand and consumer demand to justify us having one of our biggest ships operating out of Southampton.

“We want to build a brand that the consumer understands and one that commands the kind of prices it deserves.”

MSC Opera is being withdrawn to be stretched in size alongside three other Lirica-class ships following this year’s season of departures from Southampton.

Plan to revive port of Dover’s Western Docks put forward

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By Phil Davies 

 

A plan to revive the Western Docks at the port of Dover is being put forward to create more than 600 jobs and safeguard a further 140.

It would enable the port to ensure that it has the essential infrastructure in place for future years with the additional opportunity to increase ferry berth capacity in the Eastern Docks through the transfer of cargo operations to the west.

The scheme would protect long-term port capacity and enable the transformation of the waterfront with the potential creation of a new marina in what is being described as acting as a “catalyst” for the regeneration of Dover.

But commitment to major investment will need to be supported and enhanced by increasing the port’s ability to fund such a “massive transformation”.

Dover Harbour Board said it had reviewed a masterplan for the docks over several months and identified a “significant opportunity” to support its customers and the community and provide “the game changer” for which the people of Dover have been waiting for so long.

The Harbour Board’s vision is described as an evolution of previous proposals and “represents a possible way of achieving key benefits of the plan based upon current market conditions and opportunities within the cargo business”.

The Harbour Board said: “Having successfully achieved government approval in 2012 to develop the Western Docks, the Board wishes to seize the opportunity to lock in the many benefits that this could bring just as soon as it possibly can.”

Dover District Council leader Paul Watkins said: “Delivering major port development that protects long term port capacity but delivers jobs and opportunities now whilst creating a catalyst for major regeneration will be a significant boost to the region and shows real commitment to Dover.”

Dover Harbour Board chairman George Jenkins said: “Transforming this part of the port estate can in turn support the wider transformation agenda, one which sees the port and town working together, which the Port of Dover is also championing through its Dover waterfront regeneration project with Dover District Council.

“The people of Dover have waited long enough for Dover’s revival. That revival could start right now, breathing new life into our port and into our community.”

Eurotunnel ferry service wins appeal

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Eurotunnel ferry service wins appeal

Eurotunnel ferry service wins appealEurotunnel is to be allowed to continue to offer ferry services from Dover after it won an appeal against a Competition Commission ruling.

The commission overturned a decision in June to ban Eurotunnel from operating the service for at least two years amid concern it could dominate the crossing.

The commission quashed the decision due to a technical legal point, which means MyFerryLink can operate as normal. The competition body will now reconsider the case and assess whether it has the jurisdiction to review the matter.

Eurotunnel hailed the move as a “victory for the consumer”. Jacques Gounon, chairman and chief executive of Groupe Eurotunnel, said: “We are delighted by the CAT decision, which recognises the benefits and practicalities of our presence in the maritime cross-Channel market.”

Eurotunnel, which runs the channel rail tunnel, including the Le Shuttle Dover to Calais car rail service, bought three ships from Sea France after it went into liquidation in January 2012.