Cote des Dunes ferry
Former names: MS Rodin (MyFerryLink), Seafrance Rodin
Cote des Dunes ferry current position
The current location of Cote des Dunes ferry is in North Sea (coordinates 51.10046 N / 1.39815 E) cruising at speed of 16 kn (30 km/h | 18 mph) en route to CALAIS<-->DOVER. The AIS position was last reported 2 minutes ago.
Current PositionSpecifications of Cote des Dunes ferry
Year of build | 2001 / Age: 24 |
Flag state | France |
Builder | Rauma Shipyard (Rauma, Finland) |
Class | cruiseferry (Ro-Pax ship) |
Ferry route / homeports | English Channel (Dover-Calais) |
Speed | 25 kn / 46 km/h / 29 mph |
Length (LOA) | 186 m / 610 ft |
Beam (width) | 28 m / 92 ft |
Gross Tonnage | 33796 gt |
Passengers | 1500 |
Cars | 400 |
Freight vehicles | 120 |
Last Refurbishment | 2018 |
Sister-ships | Cote des Flandres |
Former names | MS Rodin (MyFerryLink), Seafrance Rodin |
Owner | EUROTUNNEL (The Channel Tunnel Group Ltd) |
Operator | DFDS SEAWAYS |
Cote des Dunes ferry Review
Review of Cote des Dunes ferry
MS Cote des Dunes is a Ro-Ro passenger ferry operated by the Denmark-based company DFDS SEAWAYS. The ship has a maximum capacity of 1,500 passengers and 400 cars (or 120 trucks/trailers). Launched in 2001, she currently serves the England–France ferry route Dover–Calais, with a crossing time of 1.5 hours.
Shipboard facilities, dining, and entertainment
This vessel is not classified as a "cruise ferry" as it does not have passenger cabins and therefore does not provide overnight accommodations. Onboard amenities aboard Cote des Dunes include:
- Restaurant 7 Seas – à la carte menu featuring a wide selection of starters, main courses, gourmet desserts, and premium wines. A kids’ menu ("Happy Pirate") is also available.
- Horizon Snack Bar / Self-Service Restaurant – offers hot dishes, cold appetizers, desserts, and soft drinks.
- Lighthouse Cafe – serves beverages, cocktails, coffee drinks, light snacks, gourmet sweets, fresh fruit and juices, and premium ice cream. Fitted with large TVs (satellite reception) for live sports and music programs.
- Road Kings area – exclusive to truck drivers, with showers, a restaurant, and a quiet lounge.
- Premium Lounge – offers extra privacy with complimentary coffee, tea, cold drinks, snacks, and newspapers.
- Pirates Island / Children's Play Room – an indoor playground designed for kids, equipped with a ball pool, large TV for cartoons, and art tables for drawing.
- Tax Free Sea Shop – a duty-free boutique and convenience store offering special occasion gifts and souvenirs, alcohol (branded spirits and wines), tobacco, luxury perfumes and cosmetics, jewelry, watches, sunglasses, leather goods, confectionery, fashion and accessories, toys, electronics, gourmet sweets, handmade teas, and spices. Shopping promotions are available on each crossing. Payments are accepted in cash or by bank card (VISA, MasterCard, EuroCard). Premium brands include Versace, Elizabeth Arden, Tommy Hilfiger, Moschino, Paco Rabanne, Carolina Herrera, Hugo Boss, Gucci, L'Oréal, DKNY, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, and Face Inc.
- Wi-Fi service and ATM/cash machine (located next to the Information Desk/Reception).
- Reserved Seating Lounge – fitted with comfortable Pullman seats (fully reclining leather armchairs) and large TVs.
- Accessibility – one elevator (1.3 m x 1.6 m) provides access to parking areas, along with wider entrance doors (0.9 m wide) and one wheelchair-accessible public toilet.
The ship’s top deck features a Heli Deck with a helipad used for emergency helicopter landings.
Emergency instructions are displayed at all assembly (muster) stations. Life jackets are distributed at these locations. In the event of an emergency, the use of elevators is prohibited.
Car decks
Car deck safety procedures include:
- Passengers with disabilities or needing assistance should visit the Information Desk (open 24 hours).
- Apply the handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear. Turn off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, and headlights. If applicable, switch off gas cylinders. Lock the vehicle.
- Take only valuables and essential hand luggage from the vehicle.
- Note the location of your vehicle and garage deck/stairway number before leaving the car deck.
- Access to vehicle (cargo) decks is prohibited during the voyage.
- Smoking is strictly forbidden on vehicle decks, in cabins, and in passenger lounges.
- Wait for the official onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.
- To prevent air pollution, do not start your engine until instructed.
The ship operator, DFDS Seaways (fleet, founded in 1866 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark), is a Danish shipping company providing passenger and freight ferry services throughout Northern Europe.
Other DFDS SEAWAYS cruise ships
Cote des Dunes ferry Wiki
The vessel was launched on May 19, 2001, as "SeaFrance Rodin" and entered service with her maiden voyage on November 13. From 2001 to 2012, she was operated by SeaFrance, a French state-owned company (SNCF-owned), which was active from 1996 until its closure in January 2012.
The Cote des Dunes was built by Rauma Shipyard in Finland.
On November 16, 2011, the ferry was laid up in Port Calais following the liquidation of SeaFrance. She resumed service on August 20, 2012, under MyFerryLink—a now-defunct English Channel operator that served the Dover–Calais route from August 2012 to July 2015.
On June 8, 2015, DFDS Seaways announced they had chartered the ferry (along with her sistership) for a two-year period with an option to purchase. In July 2015, both vessels were commandeered and vandalized by striking MyFerryLink staff. Their interiors were completely destroyed. Cote des Dunes entered service for DFDS in January 2016.
Both Cote des Dunes and Cote des Flandres underwent extensive two-month drydock refurbishments at Damen Shipyard Dunkerque. The works included full repainting in DFDS livery, machinery repairs and upgrades (thrusters, rudders), hull and engine steelworks, and a complete interior rebuild.
The ship's powerplant includes two forward-located Wartsila 2V46B diesel engines (total power output 23.4 MW) and two aft-located Wartsila 8L46B engines (total output 15.6 MW). The engines are coupled with two Schelde gearboxes (driven from the aft side), which power two controllable pitch propellers (5 meters in diameter). Stability is provided by two digitally controlled fin stabilizers from ACH Engineering.
Two Becker flap rudders are managed by Porsgrunn steering gear and can be operated independently during harbor maneuvers. The propulsion system also features one aft-located Lips thruster (1.8 MW) and three bow thrusters (each 1,800 kW; combined output 5.4 MW). Four Wartsila 8L20 engines power ABB generators for the ship’s electrical systems.