Dame Kelly to name record-beating Dover-Calais P&O Ferry

Dame Kelly Holmes DBE, the British double gold medal heroine of the Athens Olympics, is to become Godmother to the first of two huge record-beating cross-Channel ferries to sail on the Dover-Calais service.

She has agreed to name the ship OLYMPIC SPIRIT when P&O Ferries takes delivery of the brand new vessel at the end of 2010. An identical sistership will be delivered in the autumn of 2011 and will take the name OLYMPIC PRIDE.

At 49,000 gross tonnes, the new ships enter the record books as the largest ferries ever to operate across the Dover Strait and, at 213 metres in length, will be the longest ships capable of fitting into facilities in the Channel ports.

Helen Deeble, chief executive of the ferry company, said: “We are thrilled that Dame Kelly has agreed to honour us by naming the Olympic Spirit. It’s the perfect combination in the exciting run-up to the 2012 London Olympics.”

With space for more than 160 articulated lorries the two new ships will double the freight carrying capacity of the Pride of Dover and Pride of Calais,  the ships they are replacing, whilst additionally providing a third vehicle deck for up to 200 tourist vehicles. Facilities for up to 1,750 freight drivers and passengers will set a new benchmark in quality standards.

These ships will be as environmentally friendly as possible, offering significant advances in fuel efficiency. They are under construction at STX Europe, in Rauma, Finland and the value of the order to STX is approximately 360 million euros.

The company, and ultimately its customers, will also benefit from the huge economies of scale and lower running costs that such large ships can offer.

Published: 06/04/2010