P&O Ferries

P&O Ferries is one of the largest British ferry companies and celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2012. Ferry services from Dover began in 1976 with a route to Boulogne under the Normandy Ferries brand. In 2006 P&O Ferries was sold to the Dubai-based company DP World.

P&O Ferries operates routes across the English Channel, the North Sea and the Irish Sea. The key route runs from Dover to Calais, with up to 15 crossings a day and a crossing time of around 90 minutes. Other routes connect Hull with Rotterdam and Zeebrugge, and Liverpool and Cairnryan with Belfast and Dublin.

The fleet includes modern ships from several generations. The Spirit of Britain and Spirit of France, both brought into service in 2011/2012, are the largest ferries on the English Channel at 49,000 GT and 210 metres in length. The newest ships are the P&O Pioneer (June 2023) and P&O Liberté (March 2024) of the Fusion class. At 230.5 metres, they are the world's largest double-ended ferries and the first diesel-electric hybrids on Channel routes. They cut CO2 emissions by 40 percent.

Other vessels such as Pride of Kent, Pride of Canterbury and Pride of Burgundy also serve the Dover-Calais route. On board there are restaurants, bars, shops and lounges. Cars, motorhomes, motorcycles and bicycles can be carried. The ships transport both passengers and freight vehicles.