Franglais:
Built 1987. 14k tonnes. Right size for quick turnaround on short (Calais /Dover) runs. At 30years old I wonder if she has had the exhaust cleaned up, or will she be contributing to the London smog?
The two P&O boats on the Hull - Zeebrugge boats are the same age.
They are going to be phased out due to new European emissions regulations, according to the grapevine.
The same grapevine says that it isn’t a simple fix, the 30 year old engines can’t be modified enough to get past these new emissions limits.
Replacing the engines would cost P&O more than replacing the boats, so they’re replacing the boats.
From what I understand, the present Hull - Europort boats will be rerouted and two new, bigger boats will come in. They’ll be building another jetty and link-span on the river, or putting another link-span facing the opposite way on the same jetty as the present river terminal.