P&O Ferries completes Spirit of Britain sea trials

P&O Ferries recently completed the first sea trials for Spirit of Britain, the largest ferry ever designed for the Dover strait.

The vessel, which weighs some 49,000 tonnes, is the first of two that are set to be launched on the Dover to Calais ferry route next year.

Constructed by shipbuilding group STX Europe at the Rauma shipyard in Finland, Spirit of Britain is due to go into service at the end of January 2011, followed by sister ship Spirit of France in September.

The vessels are being added to P&O Ferries' fleet at a combined cost of €360 million (£305.6 million), meaning they represent the largest investment in the company's history.

Spirit of Britain and Spirit of France are designed for a life span of 25 years and incorporate a number of world firsts, particularly in terms of hull design and safety.

Travellers taking ferries from Dover to Calais can also sail with SeaFrance, while P&O provides other services including ferries from Hull to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge.

Posted by Andrew Smith