JULY 25, 2001 High speed car ferry operator Hoverspeed has bucked the market trend by recording an increase in car carryings for the second quarter year period of 2001 - April, May, June - on the key short sea routes from Dover. The company's vehicle carryings rose by 2.8% from 126,307 in 2000 to 129,851 in the same period this year. This is compared to the overall cross channel market from Dover showing an -8.2% decrease for vehicles in 2001 against last year with volumes of 529,865 (2001) and 576,986 in 2000. Hoverspeed passenger carryings for the same three month period also showed a smaller decrease than the overall market at -3.0% compared to -5.2% respectively. This represents 549,821 this year compared to 566,551 in 2000 and for the total cross channel market 3,955,413 in 2001 against 4,174,514 last year. Hoverspeed's Managing Director, Geoffrey Ede said, "In what has been a very tough trading year for the ferry industry, these are very positive results for Hoverspeed. Transforming our fleet this year with Superseacats on the Dover routes, has not only increased our capacity but clearly attracted customers to cross the channel in an exciting new way." From 0700 daily, Hoverspeed's high speed ferries provide an hourly service with up to 10 return sailings from Dover to Calais and three between Dover and Ostend. Superseacats operate from the company's exclusive Dover terminal and each craft has capacity for 700 passengers and 145 vehicles.Press Release Media contact: Nick Stevens, Public Relations Manager Telephone: (01304) 865170 |