LD Lines has launched a new service between Nantes-Saint-Nazaire in North West France and Gijon in Northern Spain, with a crossing time of 14 hours. The fast-growing ferry line will provide three weekly round trips and represents the first “Motorways of the Sea” ferry service between the two countries.

The launch was attended by Dominique Bussereau, French Secretary of State for Transport, José Blanco López, Spanish Minister for Public Works and Philippe Louis-Dreyfus, President of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs.

The service is being inaugurated by the ship Norman Bridge, carrying unaccompanied and accompanied freight vehicles and passengers.

For tourist passengers a new launch offer is available of £79 single for a car and two passengers, including cabin.

The service represents a significant new addition to the company’s ferry route network as LD Lines’ Managing Director, Christophe Santoni, explains.

“This new link will provide both tourist passengers and freight customers with a unique landbridge between the UK and Northern Spain, crossing via our Portsmouth – Le Havre or Newhaven – Dieppe routes for example, and then onward travel to Spain via Nantes-Saint-Nazaire.

“This is an exciting new development and we also have plans to upgrade the service to a daily frequency, depending on the level of demand the route generates.”

“Motorways of the Sea” is an EU funded programme for projects that move freight traffic from roads to sea, rail and inland waterways.

The new LD Lines’ service will benefit from an EU approved, €30 million subsidy from France and Spain over a four year period and a further €4 million grant from Marco Polo as part of a seven year convention.

LD Lines’ passenger and freight ferry service network includes three cross channel routes: Portsmouth – Le Havre; Newhaven – Dieppe and Ramsgate – Ostend.

For further information visit: www.ldlines.com