Transeuropa Ferries
 | |
| Industry | Freight and passenger transportation |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Sally Line |
| Founded | 21 November 1998 |
| Defunct | 25 April 2013 |
| Fate | Bankrupt |
| Headquarters | Ostend, Belgium |
Area served | English Channel |
| Parent | Transeuropa Shipping Lines d.o.o. |
| Website | www.transeuropaferries.com |
TransEuropa Ferries was a freight and passenger ferry company operating between Ramsgate, Kent, UK and Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium from 1998 to 2013, with three or more ships. The company suspended operations on 18 April 2013, and on 25 April 2013 the line filed to initiate bankruptcy procedures.[1]
History
TransEuropa Shipping Lines d.o.o. (TSL) of Koper, Slovenia[2] started a ro-ro freight ferry service between Ramsgate and Ostend on 21 November 1998 following the closure of Sally Line's services and the purchase of assets of Regie voor Maritiem Transport from the Belgian government. TSL's Belgian subsidiary TransEuropa Ferries NV was founded on 1 June 2001 to take over the cross-channel operation.[3]
On 20 July 2004 TransEuropa started a car and passenger ferry service from Ostend to Ramsgate to supplement their existing freight service. Foot passengers were not catered for on this crossing, which typically took four to five hours.[4] Between 2010 and 2011 TransEuropa Ferries operated a joint service on the route with LD Lines.
The company operated via a direct sales channel, declining to sell through travel agents.
On 18 April 2013 the company stopped sailing and on 25 April is filed for bankruptcy[1]
Crews
Habitually operated by Eastern European crews (often Slovenian and Croatian) the service was personal as a result of the high crew-to-passenger ratio; both the transport itself and the catering on board were considerably cheaper than on most other cross-Channel ferries.
Former Fleet
| Vessel | In Service | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Larkspur | 1999 - 2013 | Laid up after TEF Bankruptcy |
| Gardenia | 2002 - 2013 | Laid up after TEF Bankruptcy |
| Ostend Spirit | 2013 | Scrapped 2013 |
| Labrunum | 1993 - 2003 | Scrapped 2011 |
| Wisteria | 1995 - 2000 | Scrapped 2007 |
| Primrose | 1998 - 2010 | Scrapped 2011 |
| Eurovoyager | 1998 - 2010 | Scrapped 2012 |
| Roseanne | 1999 - 2003 | Became Strofades IV with m.c.c.l.; scrapped 2011 after a kidnapping incident |
| Oleander | 2001 - 2010 | Now Sherbatisky with Acciona |
| Begonia | 2002 - 2005 | Now Via Mare |
| Wisteria | 2005 - 2006 | Now Vronskiy with Acciona |
| Ostende Spirit | 2010 - 2011 | Now Calais Seaways with DFDS Seaways |
References
Notes
- ^ a b Kent Online: Ramsgate staff told to go home as TransEuropa Ferries plunged into administration, 26 April 2013. Visited: 3 May 2013
- ^ "ShiipingData.com: Transeuropa Shipping Lines". Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ^ "Website TransEuropa Ferries - History (page offline as operations stopped on 18-4-2013". Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ "Port of Ostend News - 'Larkspur' sets sail for her official maiden trip on the new passenger service Oostende-Ramsgate". 20 July 2004. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
Bibliography
- Smith, Dean (2015). The TransEuropa Years: 1998 - 2013. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 9781906608781.
External links
