P&O Ferries names record-breaking ships

P&O Ferries has announced that its two record-breaking ships set to come into service next year will be named Spirit of Britain and Spirit of France.

Both vessels are currently under construction in Finland at a cost of more than £330 million.

They will measure 213 metres in length and weigh around 49,000 tonnes, making them the largest ships ever to operate on the Dover to Calais ferry route.

P&O Ferries revealed that the vessels will have the capacity to carry 200 cars and up to 1,750 passengers, as well as 180 articulated lorries.

Olympic gold medal-winning athlete Dame Kelly Holmes has agreed to become godmother to the ferries when they enter service in January 2011.

Dame Kelly is a patron of a Kent County Council service providing grants to young athletes, which is sponsored by P&O Ferries.

SeaFrance also operates ferries from Dover to Calais, while LD Lines offers a Portsmouth to Le Havre ferry service for people planning to visit the Normandy region of France.

Posted by Andrew Smith