DFDS completes major interior upgrades to Transmanche Ferries two sisterships
Transmanche Ferries two sisters on the Newhaven-Dieppe route have just completed a major mid-life upgrade project (Source: Mike Hood)
Following confirmation of DFDS’s winning bid for a five-year concession to operate the Transmanche Ferries cross-Channel service between the UK (Newhaven) and France (Dieppe) the Copenhagen Ferry giant has completed the mid-life upgrade of the two RoPax ferries that maintain this service – the two 2006-built 18,951gt sisters Côte D’Albâtre and Seven Sisters.
DFDS has operated the Transmanche Ferries service since 2012. The Danish company’s latest five-year deal (2023-2027) will see it paid a subsidy of EUR 26.5 million annually by Syndicat Mixte de Promotion de l’Activité Transmanche (SMPAT), a subsidiary of France’s Department of Seine-Maritime.
The mid-life upgrade work on the two 18-year-old French sisterships was undertaken while they were alongside in the inner harbour at the port of Dieppe. The work carried out saw the reconfiguration of their passenger accommodation areas and public spaces. Specifically, the project saw the following work undertaken:
- Major expansion of existing onboard shop to a new large Duty-Free outlet
- New kids play area
- Fully redesigned and refurbished cabins
- A new 40-pod “hotel” with facilities for freight drivers
- New reclining passenger seating area
London-based SMC Design carried out the interior redesign work, while Greece’s ferry interior outfitting specialists Ippokampos Marine, based in Glyfada, near Piraeus, undertook the work.
Two of the largest projects undertaken saw a significant increase in dedicated accommodation and spaces for freight drivers, and a significant increase in the size of the ferries onboard retail shops, the latter being the consequence of the UK’s recent Brexit.
Prior to the upgrade work in Dieppe, both ferries each featured just cabins for 50 passengers. Now they both boast a new 40-pod capsule “hotel” area. This is aimed specifically at freight drivers using the route, and includes showers, lockers and refreshment facilities. The vessel's original cabins are now for use by passengers only.
Both vessels onboard shop has almost doubled in size and duty-free shopping returns to the Newhaven-Dieppe route in a big way. The onboard shops have been increased in size from 48m2 to 138m2 to meet the increased demand since Brexit.
Following their mid-life upgrade, Côte D’Albâtre and Seven Sisters are set for a further ten years of service life and possibly even longer.
