Transeuropa Ferries

Transeuropa Ferries

Industry	Freight transportation
Predecessor	Sally Line
Founded	1998
Headquarters	Ostend, Belgium
Area served	English Channel
Parent	Transeuropa Shipping Lines d.o.o.
Website	www.transeuropaferries.com

TransEuropa Ferries operates a ferry service between Ramsgate, Kent, UK and Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium. TransEuropa Ferries n.v. is the cross channel satellite arm of TransEuropa Shipping Lines d.o.o. (TSL) of Slovenia.

TransEuropa Ferries recently ended its commercial and operating agreement with LD Lines. The companies had collaborated on the Ramsgate–Ostend freight and passenger ferry service, operating one vessel together.

TransEuropa Ferries currently operate two ships on the route, transporting mostly freight vehicles. Since 2004, scheduled sailings started to carry cars and passengers. Crossings typically take four to five hours.

The company operates a direct sales channel, declining to sell through travel agents.

1 History
2 Ships And Crews
3 Previous Operators
4 References
5 External links

History

TransEuropa Shipping Lines started a ro-ro freight ferry service between Ramsgate and Ostend on 21 November 1998 when it bought the assets of Regie voor Maritiem Transport from the Belgian government. The company TransEuropa Ferries N.V. was founded on 01 June 2001.^[1] On 20 July 2004 TransEuropa started a car and passenger ferry service from Ostend to Ramsgate to supplement their existing freight service.^[2]

Ships And Crews

Crews

Compared with other cross-Channel services, Transeuropa's ships are a relatively old generation and offer an alternative to the better-known Dover (UK) to Calais (France) ferries.

Habitually operated by Eastern European crews (often Slovenian and Croatian) the service is personal due to the high crew-to-passenger ratio; both the transport itself and the catering on board are considerably cheaper than on most other cross-Channel ferries.

Current fleet

The TransEuropa fleet, with dates of service.

M/F Larkspur (1999-) - originally Gedser / Viking 2 / Sally Sky / Eurotraveller, built in 1976. Currently sailing on Ramsgate line^[3]
M/F Gardenia (2002-) - originally European Enterpise / European Endeavour built in 1977. Currently sailing on Ramsgate line^[4]

According to the own website of TEF the company operates 5 ships ^[5] but one of the mentioned ship on that list is the Primrose, which is demolished in 2011^[6]

Past fleet

M/F Wisteria (1995-2000) - scrapped 2007 as M/F Al Arabia
M/F Wisteria (2005-2006) - originally MV Prinses Beatrix / MV Duc de Normandie
M/F Roseanne (1999-2003) - originally Reina del Cantabricio built in 1982 for Compania Naviera Astur, Gijon.
M/F Laburnum (1993-2003) - originally Free Enterprise V built in 1970 for Townsend Thoreson.
M/F Begonia (2002-2005) - currently operating for Baltic Scandinavian Lines between Kapellskär and Paldiski
M/F Primrose (1998-2010) originally Princesse Marie Christine, sold to Italy
MS Ostend Spirit (2010-2011) - originally Prins Filip, returned to LD Lines
M/F Oleander (2001-) - originally Pride of Free Enterprise / Pride of Bruges / P&OSL Picardy, built 1980.
M/F Eurovoyager (1998-) - originally Prins Albert, built in 1978. Currently sailing Spain-North Morocco^[7]

Previous Operators

This route has previously been served by Sally Line, and also Holyman, Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT / Oostende Lines) and Schiaffino.

References

^ "TransEuropa Ferries - History". http://www.transeuropaferries.com/index.php?page=static&item=4&tree_root=1. Retrieved 04 May 2009.
^ "Port of Ostend News - 'Larkspur' sets sail for her official maiden trip on the new passenger service Oostende-Ramsgate". 20 July 2004. http://www.portofoostende.be/news/detail2.asp?idnr=213. Retrieved 04 May 2009.
^ Data from AIS transponder via ShipAis.com on 21 august 2010
^ Data from AIS transponder via ShipAis.com on 21 august 2010
^ Website TEF on their fleet, visited 18 July, 2011
^ Ferry Site on Elegant I, visited 19 juli 2011
^ Source: this picture taken in July 2010 in Almeria