SeaFrance Dover-Calais Ferries has today announced its third new generation ferry will be named the SeaFrance Molière. Acquired from French ferry company SNCM and formerly known as the Jean Nicoli, the ship will be renamed after France’s celebrated playwright and is scheduled to launch in summer 2008.
The SeaFrance Molière will have all the advantages of a modern ship, with larger capacity and double decks to aid fast loading and embarkation. The increased economy from a modern large vessel, coupled with monitored speed sailings, will enable SeaFrance to offer a greater environmental performance.
By replacing the SeaFrance Manet and the SeaFrance Renoir, the SeaFrance Molière completes SeaFrance’s fleet renewal programme, which started in 2002 with the arrival of the SeaFrance Rodin. With a passenger capacity of 1,200 and a car deck capacity of 660 cars or 110 trucks, the SeaFrance Molière will more than double the volume of services currently operated by the SeaFrance Manet and the SeaFrance Renoir.
Robin Wilkins, Managing Director of SeaFrance Limited commented, “We are looking forward to welcoming our third new generation ferry, the SeaFrance Molière, to our fleet and believe that she will be greatly appreciated by our customers, being of similar size and quality to the SeaFrance Berlioz and the SeaFrance Rodin. We have chosen the name in continuation of our tradition of celebrating famous French figures from the world of art and culture. The SeaFrance Molière will reflect the distinctive continental atmosphere aboard a SeaFrance ship.”
