BATEAUX GRANDE VITESSE: 34 knot craft could be travelling from Dover Super-fast ferries may come to port • New company commits to buying five vessels • Craft will be able to carry 1500 passengers

by Mary Graham mgraham@thekmgroup.co.uk

THE Port of Dover is waiting to see whether super-fast ferries will be operating from its docks.

Chikara Shipping, a new com- pany headed by John Airs, who was behind ferry operators Navmed, has committed to buying five BGVS – Bateaux Grande Vitesse.

BGV France confirmed the craft would be run in the Channel and the North Sea but it has not been announced yet whether this will include Dover.

The ferries will be used for roll-on roll-off and passenger services.

The port of Boulogne has been confirmed as the main beneficiary of the plan.

Chikara’s BGVs will run from Boulogne which is gearing up to become a main port for the craft.

The town’s chamber of commerce Has just announced it is investing 20 million euros in a new berth to serve the ferries.

Norwegian company Norferries Has placed an order for three BGVs, Which it intends to run between Boulogne and Sheerness, Dramman and Santander.

Investment

The vessels include the BGV C 160, which is capable of 32 knots in all weather conditions and can carry 94 trailers, and the BGV C 140, which holds 1,500 passengers, 250 cars and 10 coaches and travels at 34 knots.

The Mercury made several attempts to contact Mr Airs, but he did not come back to us.

He was the entrepreneur behind Navmed, which in March announced its intention to run high-speed craft from Dover to Calais and Boulogne, but nothing has been heard from the company since.

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The super fast Bateau Grande Vitesse which could operate from Dover

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