18.05.2011
Ferry Named at Greenwich
CLdN RoRo UK Ltd Media Release
Amandine, sixth ship in a series ordered by CLdN, was named on 19th May 2011 on the Thames at Greenwich. The success of the first four vessels of the class meant a decision was taken before Amandine hit the water to increase the ship’s capacity through the construction of an extra freight deck. Trading on the North Sea and to Ireland, the Amandine with her identical sister Opaline have brought significant additional capacity to CLdN’s routes.
Helen Alexander CBE, Chairman of the Port of London kindly agreed to become Godmother of the new vessel. Since operating its first service on the Thames in 1991 the Cobelfret Group have received strong support from the Port of London Authority and the company now operates up to 8 sailings per day from the Thames.
Amandine like her sister ships is primarily designed for the movement of unaccompanied freight units – essentially the trailers and containers that are seen on the roads today. By moving freight in this manner customers have the ability not to tie up expensive Heavy Goods Vehicles on a sea passage whilst also benefitting from mileage savings in the United Kingdom where goods can be delivered to a port closer to the end customer. Carrying everything from vehicle parts to supermarket supplies, ships such as the Amandine are the unheard workhorses that keep trade moving between the Continent and the United Kingdom.
Carrying the Luxembourg flag the Amandine has a Gross Tonnage of 33,960 tonnes, her cargo decks are capable of carrying up to 336 trailers and containers with an operating speed of 18.5knts.
On passage to the namingAmandine sailed through the Thames Barrier assisted by two tugs from Svitzer Towage before mooring off Greenwich, where the vessel remained for 12 hours. The Naming party met the vessel at Greenwich having sailed down the Thames from St Katharine’s pier onboard the Silver Sturgeon. The voyage from Central London passed through a number of the once bustling wharves of central London heading east along the Thames.
CLdN’s own busy port of Purfleet, which is visible from the QEII Bridge, now handles around 400,000 trailers and containers and 220,000 new cars each year. Purfleet's services to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge run alongside services operated by Cobelfret Ferries NV on behalf of Ford Motor Company linking Ford’s Dagenham engine plant with its continental plants via Flushing.
Vessel details
| Owner | Shiplux VI SA - Luxembourg |
| Charterers | CLdN SA |
| Flag/call sign | Luxembourg / LXAM |
| Length overall | 195,4 m |
| Beam | 30,0 m |
| Draught moulded | 9,65 m |
| Deadweight | 13.320 T |
| Gross Tonnage | 33.960 T |
| Classification | LR + 100 AI - Roll on Roll off cargo ship *IWS,LI,*LMC,UMS,ICC,NAV1,IBS,SCM |
| Capacity | Cassette vessel incl d/s 4595 lm + approx 45 cars Mafi vessel incl d/s 4399 lm + approx 45 cars No d/s 3461 lm + approx 45 cars |
For more information about CLdN RoRo UK please visit the company's website (opens in a new window).
