DFDS has announced the name of their ship for the English Channel due in service in 20201 as the Côte D'Opale.

Named after a region in France adjacent to the English Channel, The Côte D'Opale borders Belgium and is situated opposite the cliffs of the south-east of England. 

On the 30th May the construction of the Côte D'Opale started with the first steel plates being cut in the traditional ceremony. The ship is being built at the AVIC shipyard in Weihai, China and will be launched for operation in 2021 on the Dover<>Calais route. With a capacity for 1,000 passengers and crew, it will be the longest ship on the Channel.

DFDS says that the emphasis has been to provide customers with the best possible service and experience on-board each and every day. Earlier this year DFDS put extensive investment into their ships with the aim to be the best at meeting their customer's needs, also investing in a fleet renewal programme to ensure continued growth. They have also been making an effort to improve the customer experience with passenger comfort, children's play area, familiarity and dynamic food concepts being an important consideration in their design process.

This marks the beginning of further development of the modern sea travel experience as this will be replicated over time across the fleet on the English Channel, which will bear a familiar resemblance to the Côte d'Opale. 

Kasper Moos, Head of Short Routes and Passenger at DFDS has said; 

"We have great pleasure in announcing our new ship will be named the Côte d'Opale and the steel cutting marked a very special and exciting time as the ship starts to take shape in the construction process. The Côte d'Opale will give our passengers a relaxed travel experience with modern food concepts and the largest shopping experience on the channel. We continue to have a clear focus on our customers and take great pride in continually seeking improvements to ensure those special memorable experiences of travelling with DFDS."