A NEW CHALLENGE
FOR LOUIS DREYFUS ARMATEURS
Established in 2003 to conduct and intensify the Ro-Ro diversification implemented by its mother company with the Airbus contract, LD Lines has developed various innovative liner services.
With volumes of 70.000 trucks, 150.000 built up cars and 310.000 passengers in 2006, LD Lines has become within few years of activity a French leader in the Ro-Ro freight and passenger market, operating short sea and ferry lines in both the Mediterranean sea and the Channel.
As a further development to this challenge, Louis Dreyfus Armateurs has signed a public ownership service delegation, as a public-private partnership, with the French Département de la Seine Maritime.
LD Transmanche Ferries has been created to support this delegation. This arrangement not only ensures the continuing development of the Newhaven-Dieppe line but has also made it possible to increase the frequency of cross-channel sailings in the central section of the Western Channel.
WHEN THE SKY TURNS TO THE SEA...
Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (through its subsidiary Fret Sa), jointly with Leif Höegh of Norway, signed a contract in 2002 with Airbus for the maritime transportation of the new A380 aircraft components.
This 20 years contract has necessitated the building of a specially designed vessel, which was built at Jinling Shipyard in China and delivered in 2004. This vessel named Ville de Bordeaux is totally dedicated to the transportation to Bordeaux (France) of the A380 wide-dimensions main components from the various Airbus manufacturing plants in Europe.
It represents a new challenge to Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and Leif Höegh. Through this contract, and for the fist time, Airbus integrates maritime transportation into its components transportation logistics chain.
GLD LINES
THE “SEA MOTORWAYS” CONCEPT
As from January 27th 2005, Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and the Italian Grimaldi Group jointly operate a maritime service for Ro-Ro cargo and passengers between the ports of Toulon and Civitavecchia (Rome).
This new line is commercialized under the name of GLD Lines and operates three weekly departures from each port with the Sorrento. This very recent vessel (delivered in June 2003) has a capacity of 150 trailers and 400 passenger cabins, and a commercial speed of 22 knots allowing a 12 hours voyage in the best safety and comfort conditions.
This new venture between two European shipowners therefore offers road hauliers an opportunity to actively participate in an environmentally sensible logistic that has been promoted for the last few years by the European Commission through the “Sea Motorways” concept.
When Europe aims at seriously reducing air emissions of CO2 and other pollutants to comply with the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol, when European citizens are more and more concerned by road traffic, sea transportation of trucks emerges as a credible, cost-effective, efficient and environment-friendly alternative to "roadonly" logistics schemes.
LD LINES
28 Quai Gallieni
92158 Suresnes Cedex - FRANCE
T. +33 (0)1 70 38 60 60
F. +33 (0)1 70 99 33 76
LD TRANSMANCHE FERRIES
28 Quai Gallieni
92158 Suresnes Cedex - FRANCE
T. +33 (0)1 70 38 60 60
F. +33 (0)1 70 99 33 76
GLD LINES
28 Quai Gallieni
92158 Suresnes Cedex - FRANCE
T. +33 (0)1 70 38 60 70
F. +33 (0)1 70 99 33 76
