Cote d'Opale ferry

Former name: AVIC Weihai W0268

Cote d'Opale ferry current position

Cote d'Opale ferry current location is at North Sea (coordinates 51.00841 N / 1.57138 E) cruising at speed of 14.3 kn (26 km/h | 16 mph) en route to CALAIS DOVER CALAIS. The AIS position was reported 7 minutes ago.

Current Position

Specifications of Cote d'Opale ferry

Year of build2021  /  Age: 3
Flag state Cyprus
BuilderAVIC CMI Jinling Weihai Shipyard (Weihai, China)
ClassStena E-Flexer cruiseferry (Ro-Pax ship)
Ferry route / homeportsEnglish Channel (Dover-Calais)
Building costEUR 121 million (USD 149 million)
Speed22 kn / 41 km/h / 25 mph
Length (LOA)216 m / 709 ft
Beam (width)28 m / 92 ft
Gross Tonnage40617 gt
Passengers930
Crew70
Cars120
Freight vehicles160
Decks9
Decks with cabins2
Sister-shipsE-FLEXER series
Former namesAVIC Weihai W0268
Christened bytba
OwnerStena AB Group (via Stena RoRo)
OperatorDFDS SEAWAYS

Cote d'Opale ferry Review

Review of Cote d'Opale ferry

MS Cote d'Opale ferry is a Ro-Pax passenger vessel (currently under construction in China) to be operated by the Denmark-based company DFDS SEAWAYS. The ship has a max capacity of 930 passengers and freight capacity 120 cars plus 160 trucks (trailers). The vessel was launched in May 2020 and since June 2021 is planned to operate on the England-France ferry route Dover-Calais (English Channel crossing time 1,5 hours).

Cabins

MS Cote d'Opale is not a "cruise ferry" vessel as it has no passenger cabins, which means it can't provide overnight stays on board. The other sisterships from the Sten E-Flexer series all have staterooms designated for passengers.

Passengers can book Reserved Seating (Lounge). Reserved seat deals are inclusive of airline type seats (fully reclining leather armchairs), complimentary hot and cold beverages (brand coffee-teas, soft drinks, wine by the glass), snacks, newspapers, magazines.

Cote D'Opale ferry ship (DFDS SEAWAYS)

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

As facilities, the Cote d'Opale ship offers:

  • A La Carte Restaurant (formal venue - gourmet food, fine wines by the glass, specialty drinks and cocktails, children's menus)
  • Buffet Restaurant (self-service dining room, hot and cold meals, kids menus)
  • Barista Coffee Bar (patisserie selling sandwiches, cakes, pastries, fruit salads, yogurt, ice cream, hot/cold drinks, freshly squeezed juices)
  • Wine Bar, Sundeck Bar (opened weather-permitting)
  • Sky Bar Lounge (panoramic)
  • 2x Reserved Seating Lounges (with reclining chairs)
  • Truckers Lounge (truck drivers only bar lounge and restaurant)
  • 2x Children's Rooms (indoor playgrounds with large TV, toys, games, supervised activities)
  • Arcade Video Games (room with arcade machines)
  • Shopping Center (gifts, souvenirs, spirits, wines, tobaccos, brand perfumes and cosmetics, skincare products, leather goods, toys, confectionery, fashion clothing and accessories, gadgets and electronics, designer watches, sunglasses and jewelry, convenience goods and travel essentials). Onboard retail shopping promotions are often held and provide discounted pricing on premium brand merchandise.
  • Internet Room, News Room (lounge), Bureau de Change (currency exchange desk)
  • Media Room (conference center/meeting room)
  • Casino (gambling lounge with table games and slot machines)
  • 2x Cinemas / Movie Lounges (tickets available at the Lobby's Reception / Guest Services Desk)
  • Sun Deck (wooden-decked sunbathing and outdoor relaxation area served by Sundeck Bar)
  • (Sundeck) Smoking Area, Kennels, pet-walking zone
  • free Wi-Fi service, ATM/cash machine (next to Information Desk / Reception).

Midship on Helideck (top deck) is located a helipad - helicopter landing platform used in cases of emergency.

 

All bars and lounges are fitted with large TVs and comfortable seating. All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on the TV screens and at the ship's assembly stations (aka muster stations). Life jackets are issued at the assembly stations. In case of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden.

Cote D'Opale ferry ship (DFDS SEAWAYS)

Pets on the ship

Pets (dogs, cats, and ferrets) can be ferried on the DFDS Cote d'Opale ship, with some requirements on the current France-England itinerary (route).

At all times during the voyage, dogs must be leashed and muzzled, and never left alone. Guide dogs travel for free and are allowed on all passenger decks, but must wear a harness or jacket.

Required are valid EU pet passports, with standard information about the animal's identity, vaccinations (other treatments). Pets also must have approved microchip (or tattoo) and rabies vaccination by an authorized veterinarian. Passengers with pets must arrive at the port at least 1-hour prior to departure.

All animals are subject to the UK Pet Travel scheme rules and must be at least 15 weeks old. EU pet passport and microchips are compulsory. Car passengers can ferry up to 5 animals (per vehicle). These cars receive a colored hanger (placed on the windscreen rear-view mirror until customs are cleared in each port). Pets in vehicles must remain inside at all times. Foot passengers are allowed up to 5 pets, but pre-booking an onboard kennel is required. Children traveling with an animal must be 16 years old. When traveling with 6 or more animals, they must be at least 6 months old.

The cruise ship Cote d'Opale has onboard kennels, including 7x big-sized (100x97x94 cm), 2x medium-sized (100x64x108 cm) and 16 small (100x65x50 cm). Visits of the pet during the voyage are recommended.

Car decks

Follows a list of car decks related safety procedures:

  • Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the ship's Information Desk (open 24-hours).
  • Apply handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear position. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
  • From your vehicle take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
  • Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
  • Access to the ship's vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
  • Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges is forbidden.
  • Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.
  • In order to avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until instructed.

ferry company DFDS SEAWAYS logo - CruiseMapper

The ship operator DFDS Seaways (fleet, 1866-founded, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark) is a Danish shipping company that operates passenger and freight ferry services in Northern Europe.

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The vessel's construction started on May 30, 2019, with the steel-cutting ceremony (yard number W0268) held at AVIC Weihai Shipyard Co (in Weihai, China). By contract (shiporder was signed on February 12, 2018), the shipbuilding cost is DKK 0,9 billion (Danish Krones) or ~EUR 121 million (~USD 149 million).

The vessel's physical construction started on October 15, 2019, with the keel-laying ceremony. During the special event was placed the hull's first block and was announced the newbuild's name - "Cote d'Opale" (Opal Coast).

The ship was launched/floated out from drydock on May 20, 2020, and delivered on May 17, 2021.

Unlike the other E-FLEXER ships, Cote D'Opale's hull design (bow and stern) was slightly changed and the ship has an additional bow thruster (a total of 3x) for better maneuverability. Ship's passenger deck layout was also redesigned (due to the short English Channel crossing time) and without staterooms (unlike the other E-Flexer vessels). The boat (IMO number 9858321) is currently Cyprus-flagged (MMSI 210150000) and registered in Limassol.

The vessel was delivered to DFDS Group on May 17, 2021, or 6 weeks ahead of schedule (planned for June).

 

The shipowner is Stena RoRo (part of Stena AB Group), while DFDS is the ship operator. In 2018, DFDS signed a 10-year bareboat charter deal with STENA. A "bareboat charter" is an arrangement for hiring a ship but without crew or provisions included in the deal. Instead, DFDS rents the ship from STENA and DFDS is responsible for the vessel's crewing and provisioning. On the route Dover-Calais, Cote d'Opale joins the fleetmates Cote des Dunes and Cote des Flandres, replacing Calais Seaways - DFDS fleet's oldest vessel.

The cruise ship is named after Cote d'Opale - northern France's coastal region that faces the English Channel (east) and North Sea (north) and borders Belgium (east) and Picardy (south, historical region, now part of Hauts-de-France). Cote d'Opale's coastline has length 120+ km (75 mi) extending between Belgium and Picardy. The seaside scenery is highlighted by beaches, dunes, swamps, high cliffs. The highest cliffs are named Cap Blanc Nez (132 m / 433 ft) and Cap Gris Nez (50 m / 160 ft). They are located between Calais and Boulogne and are also France's closest points to England. The largest cities of Cote d'Opale are Boulogne-sur-Mer (France's largest fishing port), Calais and Dunkerque (Dunkirk).

"Stena E-Flexer" is a new RO-PAX vessel class introduced by STENA LINE, with a total of 6 such units currently on order / under construction. All these ferries will be chartered to Brittany Ferries, DFDS Seaways and Stena RoRo. After nearly 2 years design period, in April 2016, STENA ordered the first 4x E-Flexer liners from AVIC Weihai, with optional 4x more units of the same class. Initially, the 4x ferries were planned for shipping operations in Irish Sea (homeport Belfast).

Stena E-FLEXER ship technology

E-FLEXER-class ferries were designed by Deltamarin (a subsidiary of AVIC International) specializing in ship design and offshore engineering and construction.

The first six E-FLEXERs have LOA length 215 m (704 ft), width 28 m (91 ft), max draft 6,4 m (21 ft), cargo deck capacity 3100 lanemeters (plus additional space for 120 cars).

The 7th and 8th FLEXERs are larger - 45000 GT-tons, LOA 240 m (790 ft), freight capacity 3600 lanemeters, 263 cabins, passenger capacity 1200. Interior layouts are according to the chartering company's requirements. For their interior were contracted the companies Figura Arkitekter AB (Sweden) and Rheinhold & Mahla GmbH (Germany).

Next are listed all China-built STENA E-FLEXER ships constructed by CMI Jinling (Weihai).

E-FLEXER numberSHIPOPERATORROUTEDELIVERYmisc.
1Stena EstridStena LineHolyhead-Dublin2019 Nov-
2Stena EddaStena LineBelfast-Liverpool2020 Jan-
4Stena EmblaStena LineBelfast-Liverpool2020 Nov-
 GaliciaBrittany Ferries

Portsmouth-Cherbourg-Santander

Rosslare-Cherbourg-Bilbao

2020 Aug-
5Cote d'OpaleDFDS FerriesDover-Calais2021 May-
6SalamancaBrittany Ferries-2021 NovLNG-powered
7Stena EstelleStena LineKarlskrona-Gdynia2022 Mayextended version
8Stena EbbaStena LineKarlskrona-Gdynia2022 Septextended version
9SantonaBrittany Ferries

Portsmouth-Cherbourg-Santander/Bilbao

Rosslare-Cherbourg-Bilbao

2022 DecLNG-powered
10AlasuinuMarine Atlantic (Canada)Newfoundland-Nova Scotia (Channel-Port aux Basques - North Sydney)2024LNG+battery
11Saint-MaloBrittany Ferries

Portsmouth-Caen/Ouistreham

Portsmouth-St Malo

2024 JulLNG+battery
12Guillaume de NormandieBrittany Ferries

Portsmouth-Caen/Ouistreham

Portsmouth-St Malo

2025 MayLNG+battery

The first five E-FLEXERs are powered by two MaK marine diesel engines (model M43C) with total power output 25,2 MW (33,800 hp). The propulsion system is by Caterpillar. Ships. The engines are "LNG-ready" (designed to be compatible with LNG fuel after some modifications) Four E-FLEXERs (ships 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th) are LNG-fueled by the original design.

Stena E-FLEXERs are among the world's most energy-efficient passenger ships ever constructed.